World Countries Info The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the
18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a
British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.
Geography of the Cayman Islands
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Location:
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Caribbean, island group in
Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras |
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Geographic coordinates:
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19 30 N, 80 30 W |
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Area:
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total: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 262 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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160 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; warm,
rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters
(November to April) |
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Terrain:
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low-lying limestone base
surrounded by coral reefs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, climate and beaches
that foster tourism |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes (July to
November) |
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Environment - current issues:
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no natural fresh water
resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
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Geography - note:
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important location between
Cuba and Central America
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Population of the Cayman Islands
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Population:
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43,103 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 21.4% (male 4,608;
female 4,616)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 14,858; female 15,593)
65 years and over: 8% (male 1,607; female 1,821) (2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 36.5 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 36.8 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.71% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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13.11 births/1,000 |
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Death rate:
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4.76 deaths/1,000 |
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Net migration rate:
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18.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 8.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 9.64 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.81 years
male: 77.21 years
female: 82.45 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%,
expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% |
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Religions:
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United Church (Presbyterian and
Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic |
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Languages:
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English |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK |
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Government type:
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British crown colony |
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Capital:
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George Town |
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Administrative divisions:
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8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South
Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, first Monday in July |
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Constitution:
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1959, revised 1972 and 1992 |
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Legal system:
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British common law and local statutes |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the
monarch; the chief secretary is appointed by the governor
head of government: Chief Secretary W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members
elected by the Legislative Assembly) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats,
three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held 17 November 2004)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands
Court of Appeal |
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Political parties and leaders:
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no national teams (loose groupings of
political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or
UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS] |
Economy
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More
than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost
600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was
opened in 1997. 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 1.2 million in
1997, with 600,000 from the US. 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.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion
(2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.7% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $35,000 (2002
est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% (2002 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.8% (2002) |
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Labor force:
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19,820 (1995) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services
86% (1995) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.1% (1997) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997) |
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Industries:
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tourism, banking, insurance and finance,
construction, construction materials, furniture |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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381.9 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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355.2 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle
farming |
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Exports:
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$1.2 million (1999) |
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Exports - commodities:
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turtle products, manufactured consumer
goods |
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Exports - partners:
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mostly US |
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Imports:
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$457.4 million (1999) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, manufactured goods |
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Imports - partners:
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US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands
Antilles, Japan |
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Debt - external:
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$70 million (1996) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA (1999) |
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Currency:
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Caymanian dollar (KYD) |
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Currency code:
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KYD |
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Exchange rates:
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Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29
October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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