Turks and Caicos Islands

Internet country code

.tc

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services domestic: NA international: country code - 1-649; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

5,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,700 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; 2 cable television networks) (2004)

Agriculture - products

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

Budget

revenues: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997-98 est.)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

NA (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$4.1 million (1997)

Economy - overview

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002.

Electricity - consumption

4.65 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

5 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports - partners

US, UK

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities

food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Imports - partners

US, UK

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

tourism, offshore financial services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (1995)

Labor force

4,848 (1990 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services

Oil - consumption

0 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day NA (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

10% (1997 est.)

Area

total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Coastline

389 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geographic coordinates

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Geography - note

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2001)

Location

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

frequent hurricanes

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)

Constitution

introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos 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 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002) head of government: Chief Minister Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor

Flag description

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

Government type

NA

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5

National holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Political parties and leaders

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,301; female 3,184) 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 6,696; female 6,036) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 327; female 412) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic groups

black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.25 years male: 72.05 years female: 76.57 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)

Median age

total: 27.2 years male: 27.9 years female: 26.5 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: none adjective: none

Net migration rate

11.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

People - note

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US

Population

19,956 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

3.03% (2004 est.)

Religions

Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.11 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

have received Haitians fleeing economic collapse and civil unrest

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Airports

8 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2000)

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Grand Turk, Providenciales