Central America and Caribbean :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- ## Introduction :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Background:
  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.

- ## Geography :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Location:
  two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
  Geographic coordinates:
  21 45 N, 71 35 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 948 sq km
  land: 948 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Area - comparative:
  2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  389 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
  Terrain:
  low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m
  Natural resources:
  spiny lobster, conch
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 1.1%
  arable land 1.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
  forest: 36.2%
  other: 62.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  frequent hurricanes
  Environment - current issues:
  limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
  Geography - note:
  about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

- ## People and Society :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Nationality:
  noun: none
  adjective: none
  Ethnic groups:
  black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006)
  Languages:
  English (official)
  Religions:
  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 Witnesses 1.8%, other 14%
  Population:
  50,280 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 212
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22.01% (male 5,637/female 5,429)
  15-24 years: 14.64% (male 3,614/female 3,748)
  25-54 years: 53.37% (male 13,598/female 13,238)
  55-64 years: 5.7% (male 1,558/female 1,309)
  65 years and over: 4.27% (male 958/female 1,191) (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 31.9 years
  male: 32.2 years
  female: 31.5 years (2014 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.3% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Birth rate:
  16.13 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Death rate:
  3.1 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Net migration rate:
  9.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 92.2% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  GRAND TURK (capital) 5,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 10.65 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 79.69 years
  male: 76.94 years
  female: 82.57 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 43
  Total fertility rate:
  1.7 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 87% of population
  rural: 87% of population
  total: 87.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13% of population
  rural: 13% of population
  total: 12.9% of population (2007 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 81.4% of population
  rural: 81.4% of population
  total: 81.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 18.6% of population
  rural: 18.6% of population
  total: 18.6% of population (2007 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  People - note:
  destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US

- ## Government :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
  abbreviation: TCI
  Dependency status:
  overseas territory of the UK
  Government type:
  NA
  Capital:
  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
  Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Independence:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011) (2012)
  Legal system:
  mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter BECKINGHAM (since 9 October 2013)
  head of government: Premier Rufus EWING (since 13 November 2012)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly
  elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 members in multi-seat constituencies and a single all-islands constituency directly elected by simple majority vote and 4 appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier and opposition party; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 9 November 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
  election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNP 8, PDM 7
  Judicial branch:
  highest resident court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of other judges as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
  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 appointed until mandatory retirement at age 65, but can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment
  subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Oswald SKIPPINGS]
  People's Progressive Party
  Progressive National Party or PNP [Rufus EWING]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  International organization participation:
  Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Flag description:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
  National symbol(s):
  conch shell, Turks Head cactus
  National anthem:
  name: "This Land of Ours"
  lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL
  note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)

- ## Economy :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Economy - overview:
  The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the more than 1 million visitors that arrived in 2013. Three-quarters of the visitors came by ship. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $632 million (2007 est.)
  $568.3 million (2006 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 209
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $NA
  GDP - real growth rate:
  11.2% (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $29,100 (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 23.4%
  government consumption: 18.9%
  investment in fixed capital: 57.6%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 76.2%
  imports of goods and services: -76.1%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 1.1%
  industry: 23.3%
  services: 75.7% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
  Industries:
  tourism, offshore financial services
  Industrial production growth rate:
  3% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Labor force:
  4,848 (1990 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 221
  Labor force - by occupation:
  note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
  Unemployment rate:
  10% (1997 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $451.5 million
  expenditures: $468.2 million (2014 est.)
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  2.5% (2014 est.)
  2.5% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Exports:
  $24.77 million (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Exports - commodities:
  lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
  Imports:
  $591.3 million (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 190
  Imports - commodities:
  food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
  Debt - external:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  the US dollar is used

- ## Energy :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Electricity - production:
  185 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 186
  Electricity - consumption:
  172.1 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  48,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 35
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 127
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  990 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  1,063 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 194
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  159,400 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202

- ## Communications :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Telephone system:
  general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
  domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available
  international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received and multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)
  Television broadcast stations:
  0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)
  Internet country code:
  .tc

- ## Transportation :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Airports:
  8 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 162
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 6
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 2
  under 914 m:
  2 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 121 km
  paved: 24 km
  unpaved: 97 km (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales

- ## Military :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 11,842
  females age 16-49: 11,755 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 338
  female: 342 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

- ## Transnational Issues :: TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

- Disputes - international:
  have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
  Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe