Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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Background:
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The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.
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Population:
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36,273 (July 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 22% (male 3,836; female 4,156)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 12,335; female 12,929)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 1,399; female 1,618) (2002 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.03% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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13.45 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Death rate:
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5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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12.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2002 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 0.86 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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9.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.18 years
female: 81.59 years (2002 est.)
male: 76.38 years
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Total fertility rate:
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2.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA%
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
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Ethnic groups:
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mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
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Religions:
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United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
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Languages:
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English
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK
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Government type:
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British crown colony
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Capital:
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George Town
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Administrative divisions:
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8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, first Monday in July
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Constitution:
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1959, revised 1972 and 1992
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Legal system:
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British common law and local statutes
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch
head of government: W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
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Judicial branch:
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Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
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Political parties and leaders:
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there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations; National Team [leader NA]; Democratic Alliance [leader NA]; Team Cayman [leader NA]; United Democratic Party [leader NA]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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Flag description:
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blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
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Economy - overview:
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With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $1.18 billion (1999 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.5% (2000)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $30,000 (1999 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.3% (2000)
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Labor force:
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19,820 (1995)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
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Unemployment rate:
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4.1% (1997)
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Budget:
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revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
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Industries:
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tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA%
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Electricity - production:
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355 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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330.15 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000)
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
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Exports:
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$1.2 million (1999)
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Exports - commodities:
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turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
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Exports - partners:
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mostly US
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Imports:
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$457.4 million (1999)
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, manufactured goods
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Imports - partners:
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US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
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Debt - external:
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$70 million (1996)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA
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Currency:
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Caymanian dollar (KYD)
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Currency code:
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KYD
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Exchange rates:
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Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March
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Railways:
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0 km
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Highways:
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total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved: 102 km
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Waterways:
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none
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Ports and harbors:
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Cayman Brac, George Town
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Merchant marine:
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total: 121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,034,181 GRT/3,191,597 DWT
ships by type: bulk 24, cargo 4, chemical tanker 34, container 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 40, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Bahrain 2, China 1, Germany 4, Greece 27, Hong Kong 3, Italy 2, Japan 1, Norway 14, Sweden 13, United Kingdom 15, United States 35 (2002 est.)
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Airports:
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3 (2001)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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