Broadcast media [time series]

no local terrestrial TV stations; broadcasts from the Bahamas, multi-channel cable, and satellite TV available; state-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters, with a total of about 15 stations

Internet country code [time series]

.tc

Internet users [time series]

percent of population: 93.5% (2022)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 25,085 (2004 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2004 est.)

Agricultural 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.)

Current account balance [time series]

$172.709 million (2018 est.) $35.016 million (2017 est.) $247.081 million (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview [time series]

British Caribbean island territorial economy; GDP and its tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; major biodiversity locale; US dollar user; fossil fuel dependent; negative trade balance; increasing unemployment

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

$826.824 million (2018 est.) $602.581 million (2017 est.) $741.173 million (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities [time series]

plastics, shellfish, carbonates, tobacco, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners [time series]

Gabon 27%, USA 25%, Zimbabwe 17%, Czechia 8%, UAE 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.745 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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

agriculture: 0.4% (2024 est.) industry: 9.3% (2024 est.) services: 72.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Imports [time series]

$544.219 million (2018 est.) $484.842 million (2017 est.) $438.041 million (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities [time series]

refined petroleum, cars, aluminum structures, furniture, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners [time series]

USA 73%, Dominican Republic 4%, Italy 3%, Japan 3%, China 2% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries [time series]

tourism, offshore financial services

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8.5% (2022 est.) 5% (2021 est.) 2.3% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]

$1.554 billion (2024 est.) $1.471 billion (2023 est.) $1.293 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate [time series]

5.6% (2024 est.) 13.7% (2023 est.) 14.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita [time series]

$33,400 (2024 est.) $31,800 (2023 est.) $28,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances [time series]

0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Electricity [time series]

installed generating capacity: 94,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 252.088 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 12.912 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 100%

Electricity generation sources [time series]

fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum [time series]

refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions [time series]

447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate [time series]

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Environmental issues [time series]

limited natural freshwater resources

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 1.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 11.1% (2023 est.) other: 87.9% (2023 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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, D.C.

Climate [time series]

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Coastline [time series]

389 km

Elevation [time series]

highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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 (2022)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 1.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 11.1% (2023 est.) other: 87.9% (2023 est.)

Location [time series]

two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti; note - although the Turks and Caicos Islands do not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically they are often designated as being Caribbean

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

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 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)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCA etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus, which is native to the islands and appears on the flag and coat of arms; the name Caicos may derive from caya hico , a phrase meaning string of islands in the Lucayan (Arawak) language, or from the Spanish word cayo , meaning "rock"

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

embassy: 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: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023) head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly election/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party as the premier

Flag [time series]

description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the right half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus

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 court(s): 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) 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 note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Legal system [time series]

mixed system of English common law and civil law

Legislative branch [time series]

legislature name: House of Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 21 (directly elected or appointed) electoral system: mixed scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/07/2025 parties elected and seats per party: PNP (16); PDM (2); independents (1) percentage of women in chamber: 27.3% expected date of next election: 2029

National anthem(s) [time series]

title: "This Land of Ours" lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL history: serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

National symbol(s) [time series]

conch shell, Turk's cap cactus

Political parties [time series]

People's Democratic Movement or PDM Progressive National Party or PNP

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

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 in 2017.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20.4% (male 6,288/female 6,056) 15-64 years: 73.2% (male 22,232/female 22,011) 65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,869/female 1,983)

Birth rate [time series]

12.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage [time series]

women married by age 15: 0% (2020) women married by age 18: 23.3% (2020) men married by age 18: 5.1% (2020)

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

0.4% (2020 est.)

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

59.3% (2020 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 36.6 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure [time series]

2.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 9.8% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)

Gross reproduction rate [time series]

0.83 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 81.3 years (2024 est.) male: 78.5 years female: 84.1 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)

Median age [time series]

total: 36.6 years (2025 est.) male: 36.5 years female: 36.1 years

Nationality [time series]

noun: none adjective: none

Net migration rate [time series]

8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

People - note [time series]

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US

Population [time series]

total: 60,439 (2024 est.) male: 30,389 female: 30,050

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]

1.73% (2025 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]

urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.7% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

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

total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 14 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees: 8 (2024 est.)

Airports [time series]

9 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

VQ-T

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 2

Ports [time series]

total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 2 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, Providenciales