Airports [time series]

3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

160 km of main roads

Merchant marine [time series]

33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 372,732 GRT/604,395 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 9 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry

Ports [time series]

George Town, Cayman Brac

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming

Budget [time series]

revenues $76 million; expenditures $56 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $35.0 million

Electricity [time series]

74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 9,710 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates [time series]

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--1.20 (fixed rate)

Exports [time series]

$1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.); commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods; partners--mostly US

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$15 million (1986)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April-31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$342 million, per capita $13,670 (1989); real growth rate 15% (1988)

Imports [time series]

$136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.); commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods; partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.2% (1988)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

160 km Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

within the Caribbean hurricane belt

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 8%; forest and woodland 23%; other 69%

Natural resources [time series]

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Note [time series]

important location between Cuba and Central America

Terrain [time series]

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Area (Total area) [time series]

260 km2; land area: 260 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Capital [time series]

George Town

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

none

Constitution [time series]

1959, revised 1972

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--none

Executive branch [time series]

British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987); Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)

Legal system [time series]

British common law and local statutes

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

none

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

CDB, IOC

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July 1991

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

no formal political parties

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18 Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held November 1992); results--percent of vote NA; seats--(15 total, 12 elected)

Government type (Type) [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate [time series]

13 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

Languages (Language) [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian

Net migration rate [time series]

33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

Population [time series]

27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.4 children born/woman (1991)