Central America and Caribbean :: Turks and Caicos Islands
(overseas territory of the UK)
page last updated on April 28, 2010
Flag of Turks and Caicos Islands
Location of Turks and Caicos Islands
 
Map of Turks and Caicos Islands
Introduction ::Turks and Caicos Islands
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.
Geography ::Turks and Caicos Islands
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
21 45 N, 71 35 W
total: 948 sq km
country comparison to the world: 185
land: 948 sq km
water: 0 sq km
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
389 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Current Weather
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
spiny lobster, conch
arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2005)
NA
frequent hurricanes
limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
People ::Turks and Caicos Islands
23,528 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 3,556/female 3,426)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 8,107/female 7,394)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 518/female 527) (2010 est.)
total: 28 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 27.3 years (2010 est.)
2.491% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
20.44 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
4.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
8.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
urban population: 92% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
total: 13.43 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 130
male: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 75.64 years
country comparison to the world: 78
male: 73.32 years
female: 78.07 years (2010 est.)
2.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
NA
NA
NA
noun: none
adjective: none
black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%
Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)
English (official)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)
NA
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
Government ::Turks and Caicos Islands
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI
overseas territory of the UK
NA
name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009, S.I. 2009/701 - effective 14 August 2009 - suspended Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the constitutional right to trial by jury, and imposed direct British rule
based on laws of England and Wales with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008)
head of government: Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 14 August 2009); note - the office of premier is suspended by the Order in Council, effective 14 August 2009
cabinet: under provisions of the Order in Council, the cabinet is suspended effective 14 August 2009 and replaced by an Advisory Council appointed by the governor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
note: following an investigation into allegations of widespread corruption and misconduct within the Turks and Caicos Government, the UK foreign minister directed the governor to bring into effect on 14 August 2009 an Order in Council suspending Ministerial government and the House of Assembly, and imposing direct rule for a period of up to two years
under provisions of the Order in Council, the unicameral House of Assembly is dissolved and all seats vacated for a period of up to two years; in the interim, a Consultative Forum, appointed by the governor, will be established
elections: last held on 9 February 2007 (next to be held by July 2011)
election results: under provisions of the Order in Council, all seats in the House of Assembly are vacated
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]
NA
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Economy ::Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
$216 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
$NA
4.9% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$11,500 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
4,848 (1990 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
10% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)
4% (1995)
country comparison to the world: 123
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
tourism, offshore financial services
NA%
12 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
11.16 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
80 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$169.2 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 184
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
$175.6 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 202
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
$NA
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Turks and Caicos Islands
3,700 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 217
25,100 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 204
general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available
international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)
0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)
.tc
9,445 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Transportation ::Turks and Caicos Islands
8 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 163
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
total: 121 km
country comparison to the world: 211
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 152
Grand Turk, Providenciales
Military ::Turks and Caicos Islands
males age 16-49: 5,062
females age 16-49: 4,772 (2010 est.)
male: 229
female: 223 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Turks and Caicos Islands
have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe