Turks and Caicos Islands

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

Agriculture - products

corn, beans; fish

Budget

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

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid

recipient : ODA, $NA

Economy - 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

NA kW

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

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

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $84.5 million (1993 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1993 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (1993 est.)

Imports

total value: $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 price index

NA%

Labor force

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

Unemployment rate

12% (1992)

Area

total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

389 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Environment - current issues

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Environment - international agreements

party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Geography - note

30 islands (eight inhabited)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land : 2% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 98% (1993 est.)

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 hazards

frequent hurricanes

Natural resources

spiny lobster, conch

Terrain

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution

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

Country name

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

Data code

TK

Dependency status

dependent territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996) head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor

Flag description

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

Government type

NA

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 branch

unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

National capital

Grand Turk

National holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure

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

Birth rate

12.3 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

5.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

black

Infant mortality rate

12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.42 years male: 73.49 years female: 77.1 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: none adjective: none

Net migration rate

11.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

14,631 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

1.88% (1997 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 total population: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US TUVALU

Airports

7 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 2 (1996 est.)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Railways

0 km