Internet country code [time series]

.ky

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

4,648 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

22,000 (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: reasonably good system domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

33,800 (2004)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 with cable system (2004)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget [time series]

revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Debt - external [time series]

$70 million (1996)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 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 2.1 million in 2003, with about half from the US. 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 - consumption [time series]

546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

546.1 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$2.52 million (2004)

Exports - commodities [time series]

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners [time series]

mostly US (2006)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$NA

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

$1.939 billion (2004 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$43,800 (2004 est.)

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

0.9% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$866.9 million (2004)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners [time series]

US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)

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]

4.4% (2004)

Labor force [time series]

23,450 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$130 million (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,767 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

2,818 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.4% (2004)

Area [time series]

total: 262 sq km land: 262 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Geography - note [time series]

important location between Cuba and Central America

Irrigated land [time series]

NA

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)

Location [time series]

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

hurricanes (July to November)

Natural resources [time series]

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Terrain [time series]

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

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)

Constitution [time series]

1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005) head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

blue, 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 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

Government type [time series]

British crown colony

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU

Judicial branch [time series]

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

British common law and local statutes

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

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

United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections

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

National Trust other: environmentalists

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 11,790 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 9,577 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 336 female: 336 (2008 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2007)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 4,774/female 4,759) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,594/female 17,434) 65 years and over: 9% (male 2,022/female 2,279) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.43 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.8% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.32 years male: 77.68 years female: 83 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 37.8 years male: 37.4 years female: 38.2 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate [time series]

16.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

47,862 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.449% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentacostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 12 years female: 13 years (2001)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

Airports [time series]

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 109 by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 2, chemical tanker 42, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 107 (Denmark 3, Germany 15, Greece 16, Italy 4, Japan 13, Norway 1, Singapore 10, UK 3, US 42) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Cayman Brac, George Town

Roadways [time series]

total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007)