Cayman Islands

Internet country code

.ky

Internet hosts

4,888 (2007)

Internet users

9,909 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: reasonably good system domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

17,000 (2002)

Television broadcast stations

4 with cable system (2004)

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)

Currency (code)

Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Debt - external

$70 million (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

$390,000 (2004)

Economy - overview

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. 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 2.1 million in 2003, with about half 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

372 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production

400 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.8496 (2006)

Exports

$2.52 million (2004)

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners

mostly US (2006)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.9% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$866.9 million (2004)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners

US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2004)

Labor force

23,450 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$130 million (2005)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Unemployment rate

4.4% (2004)

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 (Cayman Brac) 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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)

Location

Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group 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

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

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)

Constitution

1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994

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); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005) head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005) 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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business

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; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

National holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Political parties and leaders

United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections

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, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)

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: 20.3% (male 4,746/female 4,730) 15-64 years: 71% (male 16,135/female 16,964) 65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,892/female 2,133) (2007 est.)

Birth rate

12.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 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: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.2 years male: 77.57 years female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 37.5 years male: 37.1 years female: 37.9 years (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate

17.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2007 est.)

Population

46,600 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate

2.496% (2007 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: 1.003 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.951 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.887 male(s)/female total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 124 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,953,923 GRT/4,597,716 DWT by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 11, chemical tanker 41, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: 122 (Denmark 3, Germany 17, Greece 23, Italy 10, Japan 6, Norway 2, Singapore 10, Sweden 1, UK 9, US 41) (2007)

Ports and terminals

Cayman Brac, George Town

Roadways

total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2002)