Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Military - note (Defense note) [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

28,200 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

21,584 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0

Televisions [time series]

6,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget [time series]

revenues: $141.5 million expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. 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 one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. 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.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 80,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Exports [time series]

$10 million (f.o.b., 1993 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]

purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$22,500 (1994 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

4.5% (1994 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

Imports [time series]

$312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

8,061 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 [time series]

7% (1992)

Area [time series]

total area: 260 sq km land area: 260 sq km comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

160 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November) international agreements: NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

important location between Cuba and Central America

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Terrain [time series]

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

George Town

Constitution [time series]

1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Data code [time series]

CJ

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

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995) cabinet: Executive Council - three members are appointed by the governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly

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)

International organization participation [time series]

Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Judicial branch [time series]

Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

British common law and local statutes

Legislative branch (Legislative Assembly) [time series]

election last held 18 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

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

no formal political parties

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate [time series]

33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Population [time series]

34,646 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

4.27% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female all ages: NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Airports [time series]

total: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4 note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1, Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Cayman Brac, George Town

Railways [time series]

0 km