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  Cayman Islands  
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
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  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2004.


This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004


Map of Cayman Islands

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Cayman Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.
   Geography    Cayman Islands
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 262 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
160 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
hurricanes (July to November)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
important location between Cuba and Central America
   People    Cayman Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
43,103 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 21.4% (male 4,608; female 4,616)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 14,858; female 15,593)
65 years and over: 8% (male 1,607; female 1,821) (2004 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 36.5 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 36.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.71% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.11 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
18.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 9.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79.81 years
male: 77.21 years
female: 82.45 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
   Government    Cayman Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
British crown colony
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
George Town
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
British common law and local statutes
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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; the chief secretary is appointed by the governor
head of government: Chief Secretary W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 17 November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms 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
   Economy    Cayman Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.8% (2002)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,820 (1995)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.1% (1997)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
381.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
355.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.2 million (1999)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
mostly US
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$457.4 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA (1999)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
KYD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17,000 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-345; 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 with cable system
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ky
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
   Transportation    Cayman Islands
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2000)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,827,837 GRT/4,555,974 DWT
by type: bulk 27, cargo 7, chemical tanker 36, container 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 33, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: Germany 9, Greece 25, Hong Kong 3, Italy 14, Norway 4, Singapore 1, Spain 11, Sweden 13, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 18, United States 43
registered in other countries: 2 (2003 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.)
   Military    Cayman Islands
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the UK
   Transnational Issues    Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004


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