Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 3,200 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman

Internet country code [time series]

.ky

Internet users [time series]

total: 55,148 (2021 est.) percent of population: 81.1% (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021) domestic: 53 per 100 fixed-line and 150 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021) international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 36,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 100,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products [time series]

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Budget [time series]

revenues: $874.5 million (2017 est.) expenditures: $766.6 million (2017 est.)

Credit ratings [time series]

Moody's rating: Aa3 (1997) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance [time series]

-$821.404 million (2021 est.) -$827.492 million (2020 est.) -$646.843 million (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview [time series]

dominant offshore banking territory; services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity; recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering; large tourism sector; does not have any welfare system; high standard of living

Exchange rates [time series]

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - 0.833 (2021 est.) 0.833 (2020 est.) 0.833 (2019 est.) 0.833 (2018 est.) 0.833 (2017 est.)

Exports [time series]

$4.054 billion (2021 est.) $3.951 billion (2020 est.) $4.205 billion (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities [time series]

ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners [time series]

Malta 30%, Norway 22%, Seychelles 16%, Grenada 8%, US 5% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$6.601 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 62.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 2.6% (2020 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 59.6% (2020 est.) imports of goods and services: -45.8% (2020 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 0.5% (2022 est.) industry: 8.2% (2022 est.) services: 85.4% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Imports [time series]

$2.743 billion (2021 est.) $2.51 billion (2020 est.) $2.743 billion (2019 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities [time series]

ships, refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, gold (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners [time series]

US 47%, Italy 19%, Turkey 7%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 4% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.45% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries [time series]

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2% (2017 est.) -0.63% (2016 est.) -2.35% (2015 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$5.467 billion (2022 est.) $5.199 billion (2021 est.) $4.956 billion (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

5.16% (2022 est.) 4.9% (2021 est.) -4.95% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$79,600 (2022 est.) $76,300 (2021 est.) $73,600 (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances [time series]

0.15% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.17% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.16% of GDP (2020 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$216.8 million (2020 est.) $183.5 million (2019 est.) $162.074 million (2018 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 13.8% (2015 est.) male: 16.4% female: 11.4%

Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]

718,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 718,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity [time series]

installed generating capacity: 175,000 kW (2022 est.) consumption: 697.351 million kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.117 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources [time series]

fossil fuels: 96.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita [time series]

144.845 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum [time series]

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Air pollutants [time series]

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.55 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Environment - current issues [time series]

no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment; trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents; no recycling or waste treatment facilities; deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use)

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal [time series]

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources [time series]

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling [time series]

municipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12,600 tons (2013 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2013 est.)

Area [time series]

total : 264 sq km 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 [time series]

highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.) forest: 52.9% (2018 est.) other: 35.9% (2018 est.)

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 economic zone: 200 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

Population distribution [time series]

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Terrain [time series]

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

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) etymology: named after English King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

Citizenship [time series]

see United Kingdom

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) amendments: amended 2016, 2020

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands etymology: the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023) head of government: Premier Juliana O'CONNOR-CONNOLLY (since 15 November 2023) cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor

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; a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70 subordinate courts: Summary Court

Legal system [time series]

English common law and local statutes

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Parliament (21 seats; 19 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025) election results: percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; elected seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; ex-officio members 2; composition - men 16, women 5, percentage women 23.8%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Beloved Isle Cayman" lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

National symbol(s) [time series]

green sea turtle

Political parties [time series]

Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP People's Progressive Movement or PPM

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands 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. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456) 65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)

Birth rate [time series]

11.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

NA

Current health expenditure [time series]

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49) [time series]

51.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 32.6 youth dependency ratio: 22.3 elderly dependency ratio: 10.4 potential support ratio: 9.6 (2021)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 97.4% of population total: 97.4% of population unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.1% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Cayman Islander 35.4%, Jamaican 24.8%, Filipino 5.5%, British 5.3%, American 5.2%, Honduran 4.2%, Canadian 3.3%, Indian 2.1%, Cuban 1.6%, Nicaraguan 1%, other 11.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth

Gross reproduction rate [time series]

0.9 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.) note: data represent main language spoken at home

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.) male: 79.8 years female: 85.2 years

Literacy [time series]

total population: 98.9% NA male: 98.7% NA female: 99% (2021) NA

Major urban areas - population [time series]

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

Median age [time series]

total: 41.2 years (2024 est.) male: 40.3 years female: 42 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian

Net migration rate [time series]

12.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

total: 66,653 male: 32,379 female: 34,274 (2024 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Population growth rate [time series]

1.75% (2024 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 60.8% (includes Church of God 19.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.7%, non-denominational 8.3%, Baptist 6.9%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Presbyterian/United Church 5.7%, Anglican 2.8%, Wesleyan Holiness 1.5%, Methodist 0.5%), Roman Catholic 13.6%, Hindu 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 4.8%, none 16.7%, unspecified 1.4% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 95.6% of population total: 95.6% of population unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.82 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering

Airports [time series]

3 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

VP-C

Heliports [time series]

5 (2024)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 130 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6

Ports [time series]

total ports: 2 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Cayman Brac, Georgetown

Roadways [time series]

total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007)