ARCHIVE // TC // 2020

Turks and Caicos Islands

2020 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received and multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations
Internet country code [time series]
.tc
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE expansion points to investment and focus on data; regulatory development; telecommunication contributes to greatly to GDP (2020) | domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available; fixed-line teledensity 11 per 100 persons (2019) | international: country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 6,096 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.12 (2019 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: 247.3 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 224.3 million (2017 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
NA
Economic 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 more than 1 million visitors that arrive annually. Three-quarters of the visitors come by ship. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$24.77 million (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$1.02 billion (2018 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity) - real) [time series]
$632 million (2007 est.) | $568.3 million (2006 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 49% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 21.5% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 69.5% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -56.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 0.5% (2017 est.) | industry: 8.9% (2017 est.) | services: 90.6% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$27,100 (2018 est.) | $25,900 (2017 est.) | $26,000 (2016 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
5.3% (2018 est.) | 4.3% (2017 est.) | 4.4% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA
Imports [time series]
$591.3 million (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
3% (2017 est.)
Industries [time series]
tourism, offshore financial services
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4% (2017 est.) | 0.7% (2016 est.)
Labor force [time series]
4,848 (1990 est.)
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
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA
Unemployment rate [time series]
10% (1997 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
221,800 Mt (2017 est.)
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption [time series]
218.6 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
82,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
235 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
1,420 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
1,369 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 948 sq km | 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 [time series]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m | highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 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]
include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 1.1% (2011 est.) | arable land: 1.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 36.2% (2011 est.) | other: 62.7% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
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
Population distribution [time series]
eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
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) | etymology: named after Sir Francis Cockburn, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844
Citizenship [time series]
see United Kingdom
Constitution [time series]
history: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011) | amendments: NA
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands | abbreviation: TCI | etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus (native to the islands and appearing on the flag and coat of arms), while the Caicos Islands derive from the native term "caya hico" meaning "string of 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 Nigel DAKIN (since 15 July 2019) | head of government: Premier Sharlene CARTWRIGHT-ROBINSON (since 20 December 2016); first female Premier of Turks and Caicos | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly | elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
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 Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
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), UPU
Judicial branch [time series]
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges, as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges appointed by the governor in accordance with the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body of high-level judicial officials; Supreme Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment | subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 members in multi-seat constituencies and a single all-islands constituency directly elected by simple majority vote, 1 member nominated by the premier and appointed by the governor, 1 nominated by the opposition party leader and appointed by the governor, and 2 from the Turks and Caicos Islands Civic Society directly appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 15 December 2016 (next to be held in 2020) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PDM 10, PNP 5; composition - men 15, women 6, percent of women 28.6%
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 UK, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
National holiday [time series]
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June
National symbol(s) [time series]
conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sharlene CARTWRIGHT-ROBINSON] Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]
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. Grand Turk island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria on 22 September 2017 resulting in loss of power and communications as well as damage to housing and businesses.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 21.33% (male 6,077/female 5,852) | 15-24 years: 13.19% (male 3,689/female 3,687) | 25-54 years: 52.51% (male 14,729/female 14,637) | 55-64 years: 7.81% (male 2,297/female 2,069) | 65 years and over: 5.17% (male 1,364/female 1,525) (2020 est.) | population pyramid : The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Central America :: Turks and Caicos Islands Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for the Turks and Caicos Islands. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Birth rate [time series]
14.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Death rate [time series]
3.4 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: total: 94.3% of population | unimproved: total: 5.7% of population (2017 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.9% of GDP (2018)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
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: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official)
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 80.3 years | male: 77.6 years | female: 83.3 years (2020 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
Median age [time series]
total: 34.6 years | male: 34.9 years | female: 34.4 years (2020 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: none | adjective: none
Net migration rate [time series]
8.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People - note [time series]
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US
Population [time series]
55,926 (July 2020 est.)
Population distribution [time series]
eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Population growth rate [time series]
2% (2020 est.)
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 Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: total: 88% of population | unimproved: total: 12% of population (2017)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 9 years | male: NA | female: NA (2015)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.7 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 93.6% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 1.77% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
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 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 6 (2013) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) | under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 2 (2013) | under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
VQ-T (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 4 | by type: general cargo 1, other 3 (2019)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 22
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Roadways [time series]
total: 121 km (2003) | paved: 24 km (2003) | unpaved: 97 km (2003)