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Cayman Islands



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Introduction - Cayman Islands:
CountryCayman Islands

BackgroundThe 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.

Location - Cayman Islands:
LocationCaribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Geographic coordinates19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map referencesCentral America and the Caribbean

Areatotal: 262 sq km
land: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area comparative1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries0 km

Coastline160 km

Maritime claimsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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

Terrainlow-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation extremeslowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Natural resourcesfish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

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

Irrigated landNA

Natural hazardshurricanes (July to November)

Environment current issuesno natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Geography noteimportant location between Cuba and Central America

People - Cayman Islands:
Population46,600
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2007 est.)

Age structure0-14 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.)

Dependency statusoverseas territory of the UK

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

Population growth rate2.496% (2007 est.)

Birth rate12.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate17.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2007 est.)

Sex ratioat 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.)

Infant mortality ratetotal: 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.)

Life expectancy at birthtotal population: 80.2 years
male: 77.57 years
female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate1.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Hiv aids adult prevalence rateNA

Hiv aids people living with hiv aidsNA

Hiv aids deathsNA

Nationalitynoun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groupsmixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

ReligionsUnited Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

LanguagesEnglish

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

Government - Cayman Islands:
Country nameconventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Government typeBritish crown colony

Capitalname: 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)

Administrative divisions8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Independencenone (overseas territory of the UK)

National holidayConstitution Day, first Monday in July

Constitution1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994

Legal systemBritish common law and local statutes

Suffrage18 years of age; universal

Executive branchchief 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

Legislative branchunicameral 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

Judicial branchSummary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political parties and leadersUnited Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; Peoples 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 leadersNA

International organization participationCaricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the usnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the usnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag descriptionblue, 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

Economy - Cayman Islands:
Economy overviewWith 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.

Gdp purchasing power parity $1.939 billion (2004 est.)

Gdp official exchange rate NA

Gdp real growth rate0.9% (2004 est.)

Gdp per capita ppp $43,800 (2004 est.)

Gdp composition by sectoragriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force23,450 (2004)

Labor force by occupationagriculture: 1.4%
industry: 12.6%
services: 86% (1995)

Unemployment rate4.4% (2004)

Population below poverty lineNA%

Household income or consumption by percentage sharelowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate consumer prices 4.4% (2004)

Budgetrevenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004)

Agriculture productsvegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

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

Industrial production growth rateNA%

Electricity production400 million kWh (2004)

Electricity consumption372 million kWh (2004)

Electricity exports0 kWh (2004)

Electricity imports0 kWh (2004)

Oil production0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil consumption2,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil exportsNA bbl/day

Oil importsNA bbl/day

Oil proved reserves0 bbl

Natural gas production0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas consumption0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports$2.52 million (2004)

Exports commoditiesturtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports partnersmostly US (2006)

Imports$866.9 million (2004)

Imports commoditiesfoodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports partnersUS, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)

Debt external$70 million (1996)

Economic aid recipient$390,000 (2004)

Currency code Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Exchange ratesCaymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.8496 (2006)

Communications - Cayman Islands:
Fiscal year1 April - 31 March

Telephones main lines in use38,000 (2002)

Telephones mobile cellular17,000 (2002)

Telephone systemgeneral assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services
international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stationsAM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Television broadcast stations4 with cable system (2004)

Internet country code.ky

Internet hosts8,611 (2006)

Internet users9,909 (2003)

Transportation - Cayman Islands:
Airports3 (2006)

Airports with paved runwaystotal: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports with unpaved runwaystotal: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadwaystotal: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2002)

Merchant marinetotal: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12, Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1, Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)

Ports and terminalsCayman Brac, George Town

Military - Cayman Islands:
Military branchesno regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force

Manpower available for military servicemales age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military servicemales age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)

Military notedefense is the responsibility of the UK

Manpower reaching military service age annuallymales age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)

Disputes internationalnone


This page was last updated on 16 September, 2007
Source: CIA >>>

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