Turks and Caicos Islands

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

7,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

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

Telephones

1,359 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands

Televisions

NA Defense

Agriculture

corn, beans; fish

Budget

revenues: $31.9 million (1995) expenditures: $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.

Electricity

capacity: 9,050 kW production: 11.1 million kWh consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $80.8 million (1992 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP per capita

$6,000 (1992 est.)

GDP real growth rate

-1.5% (1992 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US

Imports

$42.8 million (1993) commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials partners: US, UK

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing, tourism, offshore financial services

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

4,848 (1990 est.) by occupation: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture

Unemployment rate

12% (1992)

Area

total area: 430 sq km land area: 430 sq km comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

389 km

Environment

current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater natural hazards: frequent hurricanes international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Geographic note

30 islands (eight inhabited)

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Grand Turk

Constitution

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

Data code

TK

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 1953) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993) who was appointed by the queen head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) was appointed by the governor cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council

Flag

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

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Legislative Council

elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

National holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Political parties and leaders

Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN

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

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

Death rate

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

Ethnic divisions

African

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.4 years male: 73.46 years female: 77.07 years (1996 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: none adjective: none

Net migration rate

13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

14,302 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.14% (1996 est.)

Religions

Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)

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

1.86 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports

total: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Highways

total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Railways

0 km