Cayman Islands

Internet country code

.ky

Internet hosts

21,428 (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

Internet users

23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 186

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 (2008) country comparison to the world: 172

Telephones - mobile cellular

33,800 (2004) country comparison to the world: 202

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)

Debt - external

$70 million (1996) country comparison to the world: 191

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

507.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

546 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)

Exports

$2.52 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 216

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.939 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $1.922 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 14

GDP - real growth rate

0.9% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$866.9 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 173

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2004) country comparison to the world: 74

Labor force

23,450 (2004) country comparison to the world: 200

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 107 $183.5 million (31 December 2007) $188.4 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 183

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Oil - consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Oil - imports

3,294 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

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) country comparison to the world: 54

Area

total: 264 sq km country comparison to the world: 210 land: 264 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 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

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

The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, 6 November 2009

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: Premier McKeeva BUSH (since 6 November 2009) cabinet: The Cabinet (six members appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly) elections: 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 as premier

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

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal; Summary Court

Legal system

British common law and local statutes

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 elected by popular vote and 2 ex officio members from The Cabinet; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2009 (next to be held not later than May 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 9, PPM 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 11,790 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 9,735 females age 16-49: 10,145 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 334 female: 345 (2009 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2008)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.6% (male 4,824/female 4,783) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,994/female 17,884) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 2,139/female 2,411) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

12.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Death rate

4.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 150

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: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 169 male: 7.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.44 years country comparison to the world: 16 male: 77.8 years female: 83.14 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 38.1 years male: 37.7 years female: 38.6 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate

16.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 3 note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2009 est.)

Population

49,035 country comparison to the world: 207 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

2.394% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Religions

Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentecostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2001)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)

Airports

3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 196

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 109 country comparison to the world: 49 by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 2, chemical tanker 42, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 107 (Denmark 3, Germany 15, Greece 16, Italy 4, Japan 13, Norway 1, Singapore 10, UK 3, US 42) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Cayman Brac, George Town

Roadways

total: 785 km country comparison to the world: 186 paved: 785 km (2007)