ARCHIVE // TC // 1996

Turks and Caicos Islands

1996 Edition — territory

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Communications
Military - note (Defense note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
7,000 (1992 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
fair cable and radiotelephone services domestic: NA international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
1,359 (1988 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands
Televisions [time series]
NA Defense
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
corn, beans; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $31.9 million (1995) expenditures: $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures of $NA
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economic overview [time series]
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 9,050 kW production: 11.1 million kWh consumption per capita: 860 kWh (1992)
Exchange rates [time series]
US currency is used
Exports [time series]
$6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells partners: US, UK
Debt - external (External debt) [time series]
$NA
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $80.8 million (1992 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]
$6,000 (1992 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
-1.5% (1992 est.)
Illicit drugs [time series]
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
Imports [time series]
$42.8 million (1993) commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials partners: US, UK
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force [time series]
4,848 (1990 est.) by occupation: majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence agriculture
Unemployment rate [time series]
12% (1992)
Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 430 sq km land area: 430 sq km comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Coastline [time series]
389 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater natural hazards: frequent hurricanes international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]
30 islands (eight inhabited)
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: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%
Location [time series]
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas
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]
spiny lobster, conch
Terrain [time series]
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital [time series]
Grand Turk
Constitution [time series]
introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988
Data code [time series]
TK
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 1953) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993) who was appointed by the queen head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) was appointed by the governor cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council
Flag [time series]
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Independence [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
International organization participation [time series]
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court
Legal system [time series]
based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Legislative branch (Legislative Council) [time series]
elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN
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)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate [time series]
12.85 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
African
Infant mortality rate [time series]
12.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.4 years male: 73.46 years female: 77.07 years (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98%
Nationality [time series]
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate [time series]
13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
14,302 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.14% (1996 est.)
Religions [time series]
Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
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]
1.86 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 7 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Ports [time series]
Grand Turk, Providenciales
Railways [time series]
0 km