Cayman Islands

Affiliation: (overseas territory of the UK)

Introduction Geography People and Society Government Economy Energy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Introduction

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

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
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 264 sq km
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

Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Languages: English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Religions: Protestant 67.8% (includes Church of God 22.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.4%, Presbyterian/United Church 8.6%, Baptist 8.3%,Pentecostal 7.1%, non-denominational 5.3%, Anglican 4.1%, Wesleyan Holiness 2.4%), Roman Catholic 14.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other 7%, none 9.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
Population: 54,914 (July 2013 est.)
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2014 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.4% (male 5,093/female 5,022)
15-24 years: 12.9% (male 3,505/female 3,579)
25-54 years: 44% (male 11,771/female 12,384)
55-64 years: 13.6% (male 3,549/female 3,922)
65 years and over: 10.7% (male 2,870/female 3,219) (2014 est.)
Median age: total: 39.5 years
male: 38.8 years
female: 40.1 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.14% (2014 est.)
Birth rate: 12.13 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate: 14.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2014 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.82% 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.02 years
male: 78.33 years
female: 83.76 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 95.6% of population
total: 95.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population
total: 4.4% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.2% of population
total: 96.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.8% of population
total: 3.8% of population (2012 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.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 13.5%
male: 13.6%
female: 13.3% (2008)

Government

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: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) (2013)
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)
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

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.)
$2.23 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.25 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (2008 est.)
0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $43,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 62.7%
government consumption: 14.8%
investment in fixed capital: 22.3%
exports of goods and services: 57.4%
imports of goods and services: -57.1%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 27.4%
services: 72.3% (2013 est.)
Agriculture - products: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2013 est.)
Labor force: 39,000
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)
4.4% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Budget: revenues: $700.5 million
expenditures: $757.5 million (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 31.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (2013 est.)
1.2% (2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money: $334.3 million (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money: $5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA (31 December 2008)
$183.5 million (31 December 2007)
$188.4 million (31 December 2006)
Exports: $13.9 million (2013 est.)
$15 million (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Imports: $719 million (2013 est.)
$698.1 million (2012 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 (2013 est.)
0.83 (2012 est.)
0.83 (2010 est.)

Energy

Electricity - production: 594 million kWh (2011 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 552 million kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 151,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 3,141 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,754 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 592,800 Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: 37,400 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 96,300 (2012)
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)
Internet users: 23,000 (2008)

Transportation

Airports: 3 (2013)
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
paved: 785 km (2007)
Merchant marine: total: 116
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

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

Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)

This country information was last updated on January 01, 1970.