Cayman Islands
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
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, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America Area: total: 262 sq km land: 262 sq km water: 0 sq km 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 Coastline: 160 km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) Land use: arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 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 (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.32 years male: 77.68 years female: 83 years (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.) Net migration rate: 16.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% Median age: total: 37.8 years male: 37.4 years female: 38.2 years (2008 est.) Population: 47,862 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2005) Population growth rate: 2.449% (2008 est.) Languages: English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census) Death rate: 4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2001) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.9% (male 4,774/female 4,759) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,594/female 17,434) 65 years and over: 9% (male 2,022/female 2,279) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 12.43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) 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%, Pentacostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census) Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Constitution Day, first Monday in July Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Government type: British crown colony Political pressure groups and leaders: National Trust other: environmentalists Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU Legislative branch: unicameral 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 Legal system: British common law and local statutes Flag description: blue, 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 Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands Political parties and leaders: United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections 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: 1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994 Executive branch: chief 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: 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 Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western Judicial branch: Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: 546.1 million kWh (2007 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Debt - external: $70 million (1996) Unemployment rate: 4.4% (2004) Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2005) GDP - per capita (PPP): $43,800 (2004 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.939 billion (2004 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $NA Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006) GDP - real growth rate: 0.9% (2004 est.) Labor force: 23,450 (2004) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (2004) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.) Oil - imports: 2,818 bbl/day (2005) Exports: $2.52 million (2004) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Currency (code): Caymanian dollar (KYD) 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. Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Electricity - production: 546.1 million kWh (2007 est.) Imports: $866.9 million (2004) Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995) Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) Oil - consumption: 2,767 bbl/day (2006 est.) Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: $NA Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: $NA Market value of publicly traded shares: $183.5 million (31 December 2007) Currency code: KYD Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods Economic aid - recipient: $390,000 (2004) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Budget: revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: 22,000 (2007) Telephones - main lines in use: 38,000 (2002) Televisions: 7,000 (1997) Internet country code: .ky Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) Radios: 36,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 33,800 (2004) Television broadcast stations: 4 with cable system (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) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 16 (2000) Internet hosts: 4,648 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Cayman Brac, George Town Merchant marine: total: 109 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) Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007) Roadways: total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007) Airports: 3 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 11,790 (2008 est.) Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 9,577 (2008 est.) Military branches: no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2007) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 336 female: 336 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

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