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Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly
one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 260 sq km
land: 260 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:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 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 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster
tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 69% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Environment—current issues: no natural fresh water
resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: important location between Cuba and
Central America
Population: 39,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.66 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999
est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to
the US
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999
est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates
of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern,
Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive
Council John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
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
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18
seats, three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA
November 2000)
election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—National
Team coalition 9, independents 6
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of
Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),
CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas
territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the
upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white
disk 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—overview: With no direct taxation, the islands
are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies
were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost
600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion.
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
1.2 million visitors in 1997. 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—$930 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5.5% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$24,500
(1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1997)
Labor force: 19,820 (1995)
Labor force—by occupation: service workers 18.7%,
clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%,
directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996)
Budget:
revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures
of $NA (1997)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: vegetables, fruit; livestock,
turtle farming
Exports: $2.65 million (1996)
Exports—commodities: turtle products, manufactured
consumer goods
Exports—partners: mostly US
Imports: $379.4 million (1996)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports—partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands
Antilles, Japan
Debt—external: $70 million (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1—0.83
(3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth
station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4 (the four stations
have a total of six frequencies), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved: 102 km
Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,264,113 GRT/1,970,959
DWT
ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 11, container
4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 22,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier
1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from
11 countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark
2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money laundering and
drug transshipment
Source: 1999 CIA World Factbook
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