Cayman Islands

The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands 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.

highest point:

1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m

lowest point:

Caribbean Sea 0 m

noun:

Caymanian(s)

adjective:

Caymanian

total:

41.3 years (2025 est.)

male:

40.3 years

female:

42 years

at birth:

1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

82.5 years (2024 est.)

male:

79.8 years

female:

85.2 years

• no natural freshwater resources;
• trash washing up or being deposited on beaches;
• no recycling or waste-treatment facilities;
• deforestation

urban population:

100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Cayman Islands

etymology:

Spanish explorers named the islands in the early 16th century, using the Carib word for marine crocodiles, caiman

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)

etymology:

originally named Hogstyes, the town was renamed in honor of English King GEORGE III (1738-1820) around 1800

chief of state:

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)

head of government:

Premier André Martin EBANKS (since 6 May 2025)

cabinet:

Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier

election/appointment process:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• governor appointed by the monarch;
• following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier

legislature name:

Parliament

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

21 (directly elected and appointed)

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

4/14/2021

parties elected and seats per party:

independent (12); PPM (7)

percentage of women in chamber:

23.8%

expected date of next election:

2025

highest 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)

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

note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

description:

• a blue field with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag;
• the coat of arms has a pineapple, a turtle, a shield with a golden lion and three green stars, and a scroll below the shield with the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

meaning:

• the pineapple represents ties to Jamaica;
• the turtle represents the Caymans' seafaring tradition;
• the lion symbolizes Great Britain;
• the green stars represent the three islands;
• the white and blue wavy lines on the coat of arms represent the sea

• the Queen of England approved the Cayman Islands' coat of arms -- which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958;
• the shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman;
• the green turtle stands for the islands’ seafaring history, the rope under it for the thatch-rope industry, and the pineapple for historical ties with Jamaica;
• the motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage

title:

"Beloved Isle Cayman"

lyrics/music:

Leila E. ROSS

history:

adopted 1960; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; _____

title:

"God Save the King"

lyrics/music:

unknown

history:

official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

• dominant offshore banking territory;
• services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity;
• recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering;
• large tourism sector;
• does not have any welfare system;
• high standard of living

agriculture:

0.5% (2022 est.)

industry:

8.2% (2022 est.)

services:

85.4% (2022 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

• vegetables, fruit;
• livestock;
• turtle farming

• 4 TV stations;
• cable and satellite subscription services offer international programming;
• government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations;
• 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman

total ports:

2 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

0

very small:

2

ports with oil terminals:

2

key ports:

Cayman Brac, Georgetown