Cayman Islands

Introduction ::Cayman Islands

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. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Geography ::Cayman Islands

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

Geographic coordinates:

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Area:

total: 264 sq km

country comparison to the world: 211

land: 264 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

160 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

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

Terrain:

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: The Bluff on Cayman Brac 43 m

Natural resources:

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use:

arable land: 0.83%

permanent crops: 2.08%

other: 97.08% (2011)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues:

no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Geography - note:

important location between Cuba and Central America

People and Society ::Cayman Islands

Nationality:

noun: Caymanian(s)

adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups:

mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Languages:

English (official) 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

Religions:

Protestant 67.7% (Church of God 25.5%, Presbyterian/United Church 9.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 8.4%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 6.7%, Anglican 3.9%, non-denominational 5.7%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other religions 4%, other 6.5%, none 6.1%, unspecified 3.2% (2007)

Population:

53,737 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 207

note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2013 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 5,030/female 4,962)

15-24 years: 12.9% (male 3,436/female 3,516)

25-54 years: 44.6% (male 11,662/female 12,283)

55-64 years: 13.2% (male 3,388/female 3,729)

65 years and over: 10.7% (male 2,707/female 3,024) (2013 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.3 years

male: 38.6 years

female: 39.8 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.19% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 44

Birth rate:

12.17 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

Death rate:

5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 179

Net migration rate:

15.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population

country comparison to the world: 7

note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2013 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

GEORGE TOWN (capital) 28,000 (2011)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.35 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 168

male: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.91 years

country comparison to the world: 23

male: 78.23 years

female: 83.64 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.86 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 147

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 96% of population

total: 96% of population

unimproved:

urban: 4% of population

total: 4% of population (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 96% of population

total: 96% of population

unimproved:

urban: 4% of population

total: 4% of population (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Education expenditures:

NA

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 98.9%

male: 98.7%

female: 99% (2007 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 12 years

male: 11 years

female: 13 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 13.5%

country comparison to the world: 95

male: 13.6%

female: 13.3% (2008)

Government ::Cayman Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

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)

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Constitution:

The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, 6 November 2009

Legal system:

English common law and local statutes

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Helen KILPATRICK (since 6 September 2013)

head of government: Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013)

cabinet: The Cabinet (six members are appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly)

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition appointed by the governor as premier

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (21 seats; 18 members elected by popular vote, Speaker, and 2 ex officio members - Deputy Governor and Attorney General; to serve four-year terms)

elections: last held on 22 May 2013 (next to be held in 2017)

election results: percent of vote by party - PPM 36.1%, UDP 27.8%, C4C 18.6%, independents 11.9%, PNA 5.7%; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 3, C4C 3, independent 2, PNA 1

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges)

note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70

subordinate courts: Summary Court

Political parties and leaders:

People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]

United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Coalition for Cayman or C4C

National People's Alliance or PNA

National Trust

other: environmentalists

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Flag description:

a blue field, 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 crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

National anthem:

name: ""Beloved Isle Cayman""

lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS

note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as a territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, ""God Save the Queen"" is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy ::Cayman Islands

Economy - overview:

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 93,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2008, including almost 300 banks, 800 insurers, and 10,000 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 1.9 million in 2008, with about half from the US. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

$2.23 billion (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.1% (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 160

0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$43,800 (2004 est.)

country comparison to the world: 18

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 71.5%

government consumption: 1.7%

investment in fixed capital: 25.9%

exports of goods and services: 70.5%

imports of goods and services: -69.7%

(2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 0.2%

industry: 27.6%

services: 72.2% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Labor force:

39,000

country comparison to the world: 198

note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1.9%

industry: 19.1%

services: 79% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 30

4.4% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $669.2 million

expenditures: $709.6 million (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

29.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 93

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-1.8% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.2% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 17

1.3% (2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$334.3 million (31 December 2008)

country comparison to the world: 164

Stock of broad money:

$5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2008)

country comparison to the world: 114

$183.5 million (31 December 2007)

$188.4 million (31 December 2006)

Exports:

$15 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 207

$16.6 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Imports:

$698.1 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

$698.8 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -

0.83 (2012 est.)

0.83 (2011 est.)

0.83 (2010 est.)

Energy ::Cayman Islands

Electricity - production:

593.5 million kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - consumption:

555.6 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 167

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 177

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 169

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

152,600 kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 118

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 170

Crude oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 116

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

3,141 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 180

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

Refined petroleum products - imports:

4,491 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 161

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 121

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

273,500 Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 192

Communications ::Cayman Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,200 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 170

Telephones - mobile cellular:

95,100 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 193

Telephone system:

general assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity

domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004

international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media:

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman (2007)

Internet country code:

.ky

Internet hosts:

23,472 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 114

Internet users:

23,000 (2008)

country comparison to the world: 189

Transportation ::Cayman Islands

Airports:

3 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 196

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Roadways:

total: 785 km

country comparison to the world: 188

paved: 785 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 116

country comparison to the world: 46

by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 3, chemical tanker 61, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, vehicle carrier 16

foreign-owned: 102 (Germany 3, Greece 9, Italy 7, Japan 23, Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 57) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

Military ::Cayman Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2012)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,238 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 9,981

females age 16-49: 10,417 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 333

female: 342 (2010 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues ::Cayman Islands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)"