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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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(overseas territory of the UK)
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| page last updated on June 14, 2011 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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Click flag or map to enlarge 
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view 1
photo
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| of Turks and Caicos Islands |
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| Introduction ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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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.
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| Geography ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
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21 45 N, 71 35 W
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total: 948 sq km
country comparison to the world: 185
land:
948 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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389 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
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tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
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low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Flamingo Hill 48 m
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spiny lobster, conch
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arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
97.67% (2005)
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NA
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frequent hurricanes
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limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
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about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
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| People ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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44,819 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
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0-14 years: 22.7% (male 5,188/female 5,008)
15-64 years:
73.2% (male 16,653/female 16,156)
65 years and over:
4% (male 813/female 1,001) (2011 est.)
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total: 30.4 years
male:
30.8 years
female:
30.1 years (2011 est.)
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3.485% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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17.76 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
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2.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
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20.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
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urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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GRAND TURK (capital) 6,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.052 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 (2011 est.)
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total: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 134
male:
15.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
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total population: 79.11 years
country comparison to the world: 40
male:
76.39 years
female:
81.97 years (2011 est.)
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1.7 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
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NA
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NA
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NA
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improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
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improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 4% of population (2000)
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noun: none
adjective:
none
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black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2001 census)
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Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Roman Catholic 11.4%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.8%, other 14% (2001)
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English (official)
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
98%
male:
99%
female:
98% (1970 est.)
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total: 11 years
male:
11 years
female:
12 years (2005)
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NA
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destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
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| Government ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form:
Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation:
TCI
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overseas territory of the UK
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NA
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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
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
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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
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mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
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18 years of age; universal
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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 )
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
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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
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Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
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People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]
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NA
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Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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none (overseas territory of the UK)
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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 displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
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name: "This Land of Ours"
lyrics/music:
Conrad HOWELL
note:
serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
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| Economy ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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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.
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$216 million (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
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$NA
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4.9% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
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$11,500 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
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agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
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4,848 (1990 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
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note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
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10% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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revenues: $47 million
expenditures:
$33.6 million (1997-98 est.)
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4% (1995)
country comparison to the world: 116
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corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
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tourism, offshore financial services
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NA%
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12 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
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11.16 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
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NA bbl/day (2009 est.)
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NA (2007 est.)
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NA bbl/day (2007 est.)
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0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
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0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
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$169.2 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 184
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lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
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$175.6 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 203
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food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
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$NA
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the US dollar is used
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| Communications ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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3,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 216
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25,100 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 204
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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)
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while there are no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations broadcasting (2007)
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.tc
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8,969 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
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| Transportation ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
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total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
2 (2010)
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total: 1
under 914 m:
1 (2010)
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total: 121 km
country comparison to the world: 211
paved:
24 km
unpaved:
97 km (2003)
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registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 160
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Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
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| Military ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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males age 16-49: 11,842
females age 16-49:
11,755 (2010 est.)
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male: 338
female:
342 (2010 est.)
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defense is the responsibility of the UK
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| Transnational Issues ::Turks and Caicos Islands |
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have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
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transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
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