ARCHIVE // KY // 2009

Cayman Islands

2009 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet country code [time series]
.ky
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
21,428 (2009) country comparison to the world: 102
Internet users [time series]
23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 186
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 (2008) country comparison to the world: 172
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
33,800 (2004) country comparison to the world: 202
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
4 with cable system (2004)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Budget [time series]
revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)
Debt - external [time series]
$70 million (1996) country comparison to the world: 191
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]
507.8 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
546 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Exchange rates [time series]
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)
Exports [time series]
$2.52 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 216
Exports - commodities [time series]
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$1.939 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 182 $1.922 billion (2003 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.) country comparison to the world: 14
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
0.9% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 177
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$866.9 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 173
Imports - commodities [time series]
foodstuffs, manufactured goods
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) country comparison to the world: 74
Labor force [time series]
23,450 (2004) country comparison to the world: 200
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 107 $183.5 million (31 December 2007) $188.4 million (31 December 2006)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - consumption [time series]
3,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Oil - imports [time series]
3,294 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 168
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
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) country comparison to the world: 54
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 264 sq km country comparison to the world: 210 land: 264 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
Government
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]
The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, 6 November 2009
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: Premier McKeeva BUSH (since 6 November 2009) cabinet: The Cabinet (six members appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members of 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 as premier
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
parliamentary democracy
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]
Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal; Summary Court
Legal system [time series]
British common law and local statutes
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 elected by popular vote and 2 ex officio members from The Cabinet; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 May 2009 (next to be held not later than May 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 9, PPM 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]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
National Trust other: environmentalists
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
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. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Military
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: 9,735 females age 16-49: 10,145 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 334 female: 345 (2009 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 (2008)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 4,824/female 4,783) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,994/female 17,884) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 2,139/female 2,411) (2009 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
12.36 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Death rate [time series]
4.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.8% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 150
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: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 169 male: 7.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Languages [time series]
English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 80.44 years country comparison to the world: 16 male: 77.8 years female: 83.14 years (2009 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: 38.1 years male: 37.7 years female: 38.6 years (2009 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Net migration rate [time series]
16.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 3 note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2009 est.)
Population [time series]
49,035 country comparison to the world: 207 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2009 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.394% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34
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%, Pentecostal 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: 1.01 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 (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.88 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 100% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Illicit drugs [time series]
major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 196
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 109 country comparison to the world: 49 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 country comparison to the world: 186 paved: 785 km (2007)