Cayman Islands

Internet country code

.ky

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-345; 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

17,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

1 with cable system

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming

Budget

revenues: $265.2 million expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997)

Currency

Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Currency code

KYD

Debt - external

$70 million (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

NA (1999)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

355.2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

381.9 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Exports

$1.2 million (1999)

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners

mostly US

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$457.4 million (1999)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2002)

Labor force

19,820 (1995)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)

Oil - consumption

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (1997)

Area

total: 262 sq km land: 262 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

160 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Environment - current issues

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

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2001)

Location

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

George Town

Constitution

1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002) 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) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; the chief secretary is appointed by the governor

Flag description

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

Government type

British crown colony

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

Legislative branch

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Political parties and leaders

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

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

13.11 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

4.76 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.81 years male: 77.21 years female: 82.45 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)

Median age

total: 36.5 years male: 36.2 years female: 36.8 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate

18.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2004 est.)

Population

43,103 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.71% (2004 est.)

Religions

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

Airports

3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2000)

Merchant marine

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 (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors

Cayman Brac, George Town