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Central America and Caribbean :: Cayman Islands (overseas territory of the UK)

- ## Introduction :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Background:
  The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.

- ## Geography :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Location:
  Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
  Geographic coordinates:
  19 30 N, 80 30 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 264 sq km
  land: 264 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Area - comparative:
  1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  160 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
  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
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: The Bluff on Cayman Brac 43 m
  Natural resources:
  fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 11.2%
  arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 8.3%
  forest: 52.9%
  other: 35.9% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  NA
  Natural hazards:
  hurricanes (July to November)
  Environment - current issues:
  no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
  Geography - note:
  important location between Cuba and Central America

- ## People and Society :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Nationality:
  noun: Caymanian(s)
  adjective: Caymanian
  Ethnic groups:
  mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
  Languages:
  English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
  Religions:
  Protestant 67.8% (includes Church of God 22.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.4%, Presbyterian/United Church 8.6%, Baptist 8.3%,Pentecostal 7.1%, non-denominational 5.3%, Anglican 4.1%, Wesleyan Holiness 2.4%), Roman Catholic 14.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other 7%, none 9.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
  Population:
  56,092 (July 2013 est.)
  note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 18.26% (male 5,158/female 5,084)
  15-24 years: 12.76% (male 3,542/female 3,615)
  25-54 years: 43.49% (male 11,894/female 12,500)
  55-64 years: 13.93% (male 3,712/female 4,104)
  65 years and over: 11.56% (male 3,047/female 3,436) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Median age:
  total: 39.7 years
  male: 39 years
  female: 40.3 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  2.1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Birth rate:
  12.11 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Death rate:
  5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Net migration rate:
  14.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population
  note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 4
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 100% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 1.54% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  GEORGE TOWN (capital) 31,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 6.08 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 6.95 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 81.13 years
  male: 78.43 years
  female: 83.88 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 26
  Total fertility rate:
  1.86 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 144
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 97.4% of population
  total: 97.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 2.6% of population
  total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 95.6% of population
  total: 95.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 4.4% of population
  total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Education expenditures:
  NA
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 98.9%
  male: 98.7%
  female: 99% (2007 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 24.2%
  male: 32%
  female: 16.6% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86

- ## Government :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Cayman Islands
  etymology: the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there
  Dependency status:
  overseas territory of the UK
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
  geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W
  time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  daylight saving time: a decision has been made to introduce DST in the archipelago for the first time beginning in 2016; a date for implementation is pending, though it seems likely it will match the date used in the US and Canada
  Administrative divisions:
  6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay
  Independence:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  National holiday:
  Constitution Day, first Monday in July
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) (2015)
  Legal system:
  English common law and local statutes
  Citizenship:
  see United Kingdom
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Helen KILPATRICK (since 6 September 2013)
  head of government: Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013)
  cabinet: The Cabinet (6 members selected from the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier)
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 22 May 2013 (next to be held in 2017)
  election results: percent of vote by party - PPM 36.1%, UDP 27.8%, C4C 18.6%, PNA 5.7%, independent 11.9%; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 3, C4C 3, PNA 1, independent 2
  Judicial branch:
  highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
  judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70
  subordinate courts: Summary Court
  Political parties and leaders:
  People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]
  United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Coalition for Cayman or C4C
  National People's Alliance or PNA
  National Trust
  other: environmentalists
  International organization participation:
  Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK)
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica
  Flag description:
  a blue field with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
  National symbol(s):
  green sea turtle
  National anthem:
  name: "Beloved Isle Cayman"
  lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS
  note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as a territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

- ## Economy :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Economy - overview:
  With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 93,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2008, including almost 300 banks, 800 insurers, and 10,000 mutual funds. 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 1.9 million in 2008, with about half from the US. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $2.507 billion (2014 est.)
  $2.465 billion (2013 est.)
  $2.435 billion (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 191
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $2.25 billion (2008 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.7% (2014 est.)
  1.2% (2013 est.)
  1.6% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 161
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $43,800 (2004 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 63.3%
  government consumption: 14.8%
  investment in fixed capital: 22.2%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 55.5%
  imports of goods and services: -55.8% (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 0.3%
  industry: 28.2%
  services: 71.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
  Industries:
  tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Labor force:
  39,000
  note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 1.9%
  industry: 19.1%
  services: 79% (2008 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  4% (2008)
  4.4% (2004)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $788.1 million
  expenditures: $763.4 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  35% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  1.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 27
  Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1% (2014 est.)
  1.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 60
  Stock of narrow money:
  $334.3 million (31 December 2008)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Stock of broad money:
  $5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $NA
  $183.5 million (31 December 2007)
  $188.4 million (31 December 2006)
  Exports:
  $15.2 million (2014 est.)
  $13.9 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Exports - commodities:
  turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
  Imports:
  $705.3 million (2014 est.)
  $719 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $NA
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -
  0.83 (2014 est.)
  0.83 (2013 est.)
  0.83 (2012 est.)
  0.83 (2011 est.)
  0.83 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Electricity - production:
  587 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 160
  Electricity - consumption:
  545.9 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 122
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 132
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  150,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 168
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  3,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  3,730 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 130
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 78
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  473,000 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181

- ## Communications :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 32,900
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 170
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 91,100
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 166 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity
  domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
  international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Eastern Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS), and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 0 (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  4 with cable system (2004)
  Internet country code:
  .ky
  Internet users:
  total: 43,600
  percent of population: 79.4% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189

- ## Transportation :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Airports:
  3 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
  Roadways:
  total: 785 km
  paved: 785 km (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Merchant marine:
  total: 116
  by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 3, chemical tanker 61, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, vehicle carrier 16
  foreign-owned: 102 (Germany 3, Greece 9, Italy 7, Japan 23, Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 57) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

- ## Military :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 12,238 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 9,981
  females age 16-49: 10,417 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 333
  female: 342 (2010 est.)
  Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

- ## Transnational Issues :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Illicit drugs:
  major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)

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