ARCHIVE // TC // 2011

Turks and Caicos Islands

2011 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
while there are no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations broadcasting (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.tc
Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]
8,969 (2010) country comparison to the world: 127
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
3,700 (2010) country comparison to the world: 217
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
25,100 (2004) country comparison to the world: 205
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $345 million expenditures: $374.5 million (2010 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
162.8 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
175 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$169.2 million (2000) country comparison to the world: 181
Exports - commodities [time series]
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$216 million (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 214
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 1% industry: 23.9% services: 75.2%
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$11,500 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
4.9% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$175.6 million (2000) country comparison to the world: 204
Imports - commodities [time series]
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 1.5% (2009 est.)
Investment (gross fixed) [time series]
44.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Labor force [time series]
4,848 (1990 est.) country comparison to the world: 219
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Oil - consumption [time series]
500 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - imports [time series]
470 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
10% (1997 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 948 sq km country comparison to the world: 186 land: 948 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
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
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Geographic coordinates [time series]
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Geography - note [time series]
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Irrigated land [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 2.33% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (2005)
Location [time series]
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
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]
frequent hurricanes
Natural resources [time series]
spiny lobster, conch
Terrain [time series]
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital [time series]
name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Constitution [time series]
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009, S.I. 2009/701 - effective 14 August 2009 - suspended Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the constitutional right to trial by jury, and imposed direct British rule
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI
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 Damian (Ric) TODD (since 12 September 2011) head of government: Governor Damian (Ric) TODD (since 12 September 2011); note - the office of premier is suspended by the Order in Council, effective 14 August 2009 cabinet: under provisions of the Order in Council, the cabinet is suspended effective 14 August 2009 and replaced by an Advisory Council appointed by the governor (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch note: following an investigation into allegations of widespread corruption and misconduct within the Turks and Caicos Government, the UK foreign minister directed the governor to bring into effect on 14 August 2009 an Order in Council suspending Ministerial government and the House of Assembly, and imposing direct rule pending completion of reform milestones
Flag (Flag description) [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 displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation [time series]
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
Legislative branch [time series]
under provisions of the Order in Council, the unicameral House of Assembly is dissolved and all seats vacated for a period of up to two years; in the interim, a Consultative Forum, appointed by the governor, will be established elections: last held on 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: under provisions of the Order in Council, all seats in the House of Assembly are vacated
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "This Land of Ours" lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
National holiday [time series]
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.
Military
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 11,842 females age 16-49: 11,755 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 338 female: 342 (2010 est.)
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 5,188/female 5,008) 15-64 years: 73.2% (male 16,653/female 16,156) 65 years and over: 4% (male 813/female 1,001) (2011 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
17.76 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Death rate [time series]
2.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 218
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2001 census)
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: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 134 male: 15.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 79.11 years country comparison to the world: 40 male: 76.39 years female: 81.97 years (2011 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1970 est.)
Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]
GRAND TURK (capital) 6,000 (2009)
Median age [time series]
total: 30.4 years male: 30.8 years female: 30.1 years (2011 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: none adjective: none
Net migration rate [time series]
20.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
People - note [time series]
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
Population [time series]
44,819 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Population growth rate [time series]
3.485% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Religions [time series]
Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.8%, other 14% (2001)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 94% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 6% of population total: 4% of population (2000)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2005)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.052 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.7 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 93% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
Illicit drugs [time series]
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Transportation
Airports [time series]
8 (2010) country comparison to the world: 165
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Merchant marine [time series]
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008) country comparison to the world: 150
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Roadways [time series]
total: 121 km country comparison to the world: 211 paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2003)