CAYMAN ISLANDS
Geography People Government Economy Transportation Communications Defense Forces
CAYMAN ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Cayman Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of
the way from Cuba to Honduras
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
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CAYMAN ISLANDS - MAJOR CITIES
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Latitude, Internat'l Time
Population Longitude Phone Code Zone
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GEORGE TOWN 14,000 19.18N, 81.23W 809- GMT-5
West Bay 7,000 19.22N, 81.24W 809- GMT-5
Savannah 2,000 19.17N, 81.18W 809- GMT-5
Bodden Town 1,000 19.17N, 81.15W 809- GMT-5
Breakers N/A 19.18N, 81.12W 809- GMT-5
Gun Bay N/A 19.19N, 81.06W 809- GMT-5
Botabano N/A 19.22N, 81.23W 809- GMT-5
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Area:
total area: 260 sq km
land area: 260 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 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
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
Note: important location between Cuba and Central America
@Cayman Islands:People
Population: 33,192 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.3% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.79 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (1995 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)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%
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)
@Cayman Islands:Government
Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Digraph: CJ
Type: 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 (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
Michael GORE (since 15 September 1992)
cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members are appointed by the governor, 4
members elected by the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly: election last held November 1992 (next to be
held November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(15 total, 12 elected)
Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
Member of: 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
Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75%
of foreign currency earnings) and offshore financial services, with
the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to
visitors from North America. 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.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $700 million (1993
est.)
National product real growth rate: 1.4% (1991)
National product per capita: $23,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues: $141.5 million
expenditures: $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991)
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)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 80,000 kW
production: 230 million kWh
consumption per capita: 6,899 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
building materials, furniture making
Agriculture: minor production of 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
Economic aid:
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-89), $35 million
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 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
@Cayman Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways:
total: 160 km (main roads)
paved: NA
unpaved: NA
Ports: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:
total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 321,434 GRT/583,348 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil
tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
note: a flag of convenience registry; UK owns 6 ships, India 5, Norway
3, US 3, Greece 1, Sweden 1, UAE 1
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Cayman Islands:Communications
Telephone system: 35,000 telephones
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 0
televisions: NA
@Cayman Islands:Defense Forces
Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
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