Turks and Caicos Islands
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues
Introduction	Back To Top
Background: The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.
Geography	Back To Top
Land boundaries: 0 km Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps Geography - note: about 40 islands (eight inhabited) Area: total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti Coastline: 389 km Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Irrigated land: NA Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes Land use: arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005)
People	Back To Top
Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 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: 75.19 years male: 72.91 years female: 77.59 years (2008 est.) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.) Net migration rate: 9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) Ethnic groups: black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10% People - note: destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US Median age: total: 27.8 years male: 28.5 years female: 27 years (2008 est.) Population: 22,352 (July 2008 est.) Education expenditures: NA Population growth rate: 2.644% (2008 est.) Languages: English (official) Death rate: 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2005) Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.7% (male 3,497/female 3,374) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 7,640/female 6,929) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 435/female 477) (2008 est.) Birth rate: 21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Religions: Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Government	Back To Top
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Government type: NA Political pressure groups and leaders: NA 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), UPU Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2 Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas 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 Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) Country name (Goverment): conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK] Capital: name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October Constitution: Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006) Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008) head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (chief minister since 15 August 2003, sworn in as premier on 9 August 2006); note - the office of premier was created in the 2006 constitution cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK) Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Economy	Back To Top
Electricity - consumption: 9.3 million kWh (2006 est.) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Debt - external: $NA Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.) Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2005) GDP - per capita (PPP): $11,500 (2002 est.) GDP (purchasing power parity): $216 million (2002 est.) GDP (official exchange rate): $NA Exchange rates: the US dollar is used GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (2000 est.) Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Oil - imports: 83.78 bbl/day (2005) Exports: $169.2 million (2000) Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Currency (code): US dollar (USD) Economy - overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2007 est.) Imports - commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials Industries: tourism, offshore financial services Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.) Population below poverty line: NA% Electricity - production: 10 million kWh (2006 est.) Imports: $175.6 million (2000) Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) Labor force - by occupation: note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) Oil - consumption: 80 bbl/day (2006 est.) Currency code: USD Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Exports - commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells Economic aid - recipient: $4.1 million (1997) 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: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.) Fiscal year: calendar year Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Communications	Back To Top
Internet users: NA Telephones - main lines in use: 5,700 (2002) Televisions: NA Internet country code: .tc Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003) Radios: 8,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,700 (1999) Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003) Telephone system: general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (2000) Internet hosts: 2,352 (2008)
Transportation	Back To Top
Ports and terminals: Grand Turk, Providenciales Merchant marine: registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008) Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007) Roadways: total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2003) Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007) Airports: 8 (2007)
Military	Back To Top
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 222 female: 214 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues	Back To Top
Disputes - international: have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

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