The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Central America and the Caribbean

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

0 km

160 km

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

NA

hurricanes (July to November)

no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

important location between Cuba and Central America

50,209

2.338% (2010 est.)

12.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

16.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population

1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.)

NA

NA

NA

mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentecostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census)

English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

2.8% of GDP (2005)

overseas territory of the UK

parliamentary democracy

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, 6 November 2009

British common law and local statutes

18 years of age; universal

unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 members elected by popular vote and 2 ex officio members from The Cabinet; to serve four-year terms)

Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal; Summary Court

People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]

National Trust

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

a blue field, 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 crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 93,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2008, including almost 300 banks, 800 insurers, and 10,000 mutual funds. 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 1.9 million in 2008, with about half 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.

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

1.1% (2008 est.)

0.9% (2004 est.)

$43,800 (2004 est.)

39,000

4% (2008)

4.4% (2004)

NA%

4.1% (2008)

4.4% (2004)

$334.3 million (31 December 2008)

$5.23 billion (31 December 2008)

$NA (31 December 2008)

$183.5 million (31 December 2007)

$188.4 million (31 December 2006)

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

NA%

546 million kWh (2007 est.)

507.8 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

3,294 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$13.8 million (2008)

$2.52 million (2004)

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

$876.5 million (2004)

$866.9 million (2004)

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

$70 million (1996)

$NA

$NA

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)

38,000 (2008)

33,800 (2004)

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2009)

4 with cable system (2004)

.ky

21,428 (2009)

23,000 (2008)

3 (2009)

Cayman Brac, George Town

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2008)

defense is the responsibility of the UK

none

major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)