Cayman Islands

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3,200 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.)

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

Internet country code

.ky

Internet users

total: 53,233 (2020 est.) percent of population: 81% (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021) domestic: introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions; nearly 55 per 100 fixed-line and 152 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020) international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, 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) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 36,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 100,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2020 est.)

Agricultural products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget

revenues: 874.5 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 766.6 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Moody's rating: Aa3 (1997) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

-$492.6 million (2017 est.) -$493.5 million (2016 est.)

Economic overview

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 65,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2017, including more than 280 banks, 700 insurers, and 10,500 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 2.1 million in 2016, with more than three-quarters from the US.

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - 0.82 (2017 est.) 0.82 (2016 est.) 0.82 (2015 est.) 0.82 (2014 est.) 0.83 (2013 est.)

Exports

$4.13 billion (2019 est.) $3.96 billion (2018 est.) note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

recreational boats, gold, broadcasting equipment, sulfates, collector's items (2019)

Exports - partners

Netherlands 82%, Spain 11% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 62.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.5% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -64.2% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.) industry: 7.4% (2017 est.) services: 92.3% (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$2.7 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $2.52 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

recreational boats, ships, gold, refined petroleum, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

Netherlands 56%, United States 18%, Italy 8%, Switzerland 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2017 est.) -0.6% (2016 est.)

Labor force

39,000 (2007 est.) note: nearly 55% are non-nationals

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.78 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.61 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $4.409 billion (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

1.7% (2014 est.) 1.2% (2013 est.) 1.6% (2012 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$73,600 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $71,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars $69,573 (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

4% (2008) 4.4% (2004)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% male: 16.4% female: 11.4% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

808,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 808,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 174,000 kW (2020 est.) consumption: 655.165 million kWh (2019 est.) exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 40 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 97.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

175.578 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 5,500 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.55 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Environment - current issues

no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment; trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents; no recycling or waste treatment facilities; deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use)

Land use

agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12,600 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2013 est.)

Area

total: 264 sq km 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

highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 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 economic zone: 200 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) etymology: named after English King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) amendments: amended 2016, 2020

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

embassy: 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: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018) head of government: Premier Wayne PANTON (since 21 April 2021) cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament 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; a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Government type

parliamentary democracy; 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 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 Parliament (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 14 April 2021 (next to be held on 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; composition of elected members - men 15, women 4, percent of women 21.1%; ex-officio members - men 2

National anthem

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

National holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

National symbol(s)

green sea turtle

Political parties and leaders

Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP [Ezzard MILLER] People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Roy McTAGGART]

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 and security forces

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.75% (male 5,535/female 5,457) 15-24 years: 11.86% (male 3,673/female 3,675) 25-54 years: 41.37% (male 12,489/female 13,140) 55-64 years: 14.78% (male 4,398/female 4,755) 65 years and over: 14.24% (male 4,053/female 4,769) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

11.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Death rate

5.97 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 32.6 youth dependency ratio: 22.3 elderly dependency ratio: 10.4 potential support ratio: 9.6 (2021)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.4% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

mixed 40%, White 20%, African descent 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.04 years male: 79.35 years female: 84.79 years (2022 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age

total: 40.5 years male: 39.7 years female: 41.2 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate

12.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Physicians density

NA

Population

64,309 (2022 est.) note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman

Population distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Population growth rate

1.83% (2022 est.)

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

improved: urban: 95.6% of population total: 95.6% of population unimproved: 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: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% male: 16.4% female: 11.4% (2015 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering

Airports

total: 3 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-C

Merchant marine

total: 160 by type: bulk carrier 32, container ship 1, general cargo 1, oil tanker 23, other 103 (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

Roadways

total: 785 km (2007) paved: 785 km (2007)