Cayman Islands

Broadcast media

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman (2007)

Internet country code

.ky

Internet users

total: 45,242 | percent of population: 79.0% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Telephone system

general assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity | domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions dramatically | international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 34,116 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 95,656 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 167 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

revenues: $844.9 million | expenditures: $725 million (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

5.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7

Economy - overview

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. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland. | 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.

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - | 0.82 (2016 est.) | 0.82 (2015 est.) | 0.82 (2014 est.) | 0.83 (2013 est.) | 0.83 (2012 est.)

Exports

$47.6 million (2016 est.) | $45 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.507 billion (2014 est.) | $2.465 billion (2013 est.) | $2.435 billion (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 62.6% | government consumption: 14.7% | investment in fixed capital: 22.4% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 59.3% | imports of goods and services: -59% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.3% | industry: 7.5% | services: 91.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800 (2004 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2014 est.) | 1.2% (2013 est.) | 1.6% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$585.2 million (2016 est.) | $579.5 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.6% (2016 est.) | -2.3% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26

Labor force

39,000 | note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1.9% | industry: 19.1% | services: 79% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$315.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $183.5 million (31 December 2007) | $188.4 million (31 December 2006) | country comparison to the world: 116

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of narrow money

$334.3 million (31 December 2008) | country comparison to the world: 176

Taxes and other revenues

37.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Unemployment rate

4% (2008) | 4.4% (2004) | country comparison to the world: 49

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

500,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - consumption

587 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - installed generating capacity

132,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - production

624 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity access

population without electricity: 5,726 | electrification - total population: 91% | electrification - urban areas: 91% | electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 126

Refined petroleum products - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,984 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Area

total: 264 sq km | land: 264 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 211

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

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m | highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m

Environment - current issues

no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 11.2% | arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 8.3% | forest: 52.9% | other: 35.9% (2011 est.)

Location

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

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

Population - distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Capital

name: George Town (on Grand Cayman) | geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W | time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Cayman Islands | etymology: the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Helen KILPATRICK (since 6 September 2013) | head of government: Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013) | cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70 | subordinate courts: Summary Court

Legal system

English common law and local statutes

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Legislative Assembly (21 seats; 19 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 24 May 2017 (next to be held in 2021) | election results: percent of vote by party - independent 44.7%, PPM 31.2%, CDP 24.1%; seats by party - independent 9, PPM 7, CDP 3

National anthem

name: "Beloved Isle Cayman" | lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS | note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as a territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July (1959)

National symbol(s)

green sea turtle

Political parties and leaders

People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Alden MCLAUGHLIN] | Cayman Democratic Party or CDP [McKeeva BUSH]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Coalition for Cayman or C4C | People's National Alliance or PNA | National Trust | other: environmentalists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 5,298/female 5,224) | 15-24 years: 12.41% (male 3,601/female 3,654) | 25-54 years: 42.52% (male 12,123/female 12,727) | 55-64 years: 14.47% (male 4,030/female 4,427) | 65 years and over: 12.59% (male 3,425/female 3,932) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

12 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Death rate

5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Drinking water source

urban: 97.4% of population | rural: NA | total: 97.4% of population | urban: 2.6% of population | rural: NA | total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

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: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Languages

English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.3 years | male: 78.6 years | female: 84.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school | total population: 98.9% | male: 98.7% | female: 99% (2007 est.)

Major infectious diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

GEORGE TOWN (capital) 31,000 (2014)

Median age

total: 40 years | male: 39.3 years | female: 40.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) | adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate

13.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population | note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Population

58,441 | note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 205

Population distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Population growth rate

2.01% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Religions

Protestant 67.8% (includes Church of God 22.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.4%, Presbyterian/United Church 8.6%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 7.1%, non-denominational 5.3%, Anglican 4.1%, Wesleyan Holiness 2.4%), Roman Catholic 14.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other 7%, none 9.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 95.6% of population | total: 95.6% of population | urban: 4.4% of population | total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female | total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.85 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.8% | male: 16.4% | female: 11.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

3 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 196

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-C (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 116 | by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 3, chemical tanker 61, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, vehicle carrier 16 | foreign-owned: 102 (Germany 3, Greece 9, Italy 7, Japan 23, Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 57) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 46

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 (2015)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

Roadways

total: 785 km | paved: 785 km (2007) | country comparison to the world: 190