Cayman Islands

Branches

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

28,200 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

21,584 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

0

Televisions

6,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Agriculture

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

revenues: $141.5 million expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Currency

1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview

With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. 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 one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. 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

capacity: 80,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Exports

$10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods partners: mostly US

External debt

$15 million (1986)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

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

GDP per capita

$22,500 (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.5% (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs

a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Imports

$312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods 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)

1.8% (1995 est.)

Labor force

8,061 by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

Unemployment rate

7% (1992)

Area

total area: 260 sq km land area: 260 sq km comparative area: 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

Environment

current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geographic note

important location between Cuba and Central America

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 8% forest and woodland: 23% other: 69%

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

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m

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

Data code

CJ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995) cabinet: Executive Council - three members are appointed by the governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly

Flag

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk 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

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Judicial branch

Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

Legislative Assembly

election last held 18 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

National holiday

Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Political parties and leaders

no formal political parties

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Age structure

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate

14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Infant mortality rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate

33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Population

34,646 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

4.27% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports

total: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Highways

total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km

Merchant marine

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1, Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)

Ports

Cayman Brac, George Town

Railways

0 km