The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Cayman Islands

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Cayman Islands

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(dependent territory of the UK)

Map

Location: 19 30 N, 80 30 W -- Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

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Flag

Description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

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Geography

Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 260 sq km
land area: 260 sq km
comparative area: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 8%
forest and woodland: 23%
other: 69%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: important location between Cuba and Central America

People

Population: 34,646 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.27% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.52 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic divisions: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council John OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council - three members are appointed by the governor, four members are elected by the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: election last held 18 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 12
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Economy

Economic overview: With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center. 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 one million visitors in 1995 for the first time. 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $750 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.5% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $22,500 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 8,061
by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues: $141.5 million
expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 80,000 kW
production: 230 million kWh
consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Illicit drugs: a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits; transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $10 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners: mostly US
Imports: $312 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt: $15 million (1986)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.83 (18 November 1993), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation

Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 406 km
paved: 304 km
unpaved: 102 km
Ports: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 283,734 GRT/432,610 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4
note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 1 ship, India 1, Norway 1, US 3, Sweden 1, and UAE 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)

Defense

Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Cayman Islands

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).