Cayman Islands

NAIndependence none (dependent territory of the UK)

Cayman Islands as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 91 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalGeorge Town

Position19 30 N, 80 30 W

Area260 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of

Populationas each edition published it

37,716 people July 1998 est. · 26,356 in 1990

Population growth% a year

4.22% 1998 est. · 4.35% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 36.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.1 years 1998 est. · 77.1 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.34 children per woman 1998 est. · 1.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$23,800 1996 est. · $23,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.5% 1996 est. · 4.4% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of | the way from Cuba to Honduras

18 fields

Land useshare of 260 sq km

permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 8%forests and woodland 23%other 69% (1993 est.)arable land 0% in all

Area

260sq km

land: 260 sq kmwater: 0 sq km1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

160km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

43m

The Blufflowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Location

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

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

Environment-current issues

no natural fresh water resources, drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment

Environment-international agreements

party to:: NA
signed, but not ratified:: NA

Geography-note

important location between Cuba and Central America

People

14 fields

Population

37,716

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 4.22% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

13.95Death

4.98Net migration

33.2

Net migration: note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)77.1

75.37 · 78.81

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1970 est.)98%

98% · 98%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Ethnic groups

mixed 40%white 20%black 20%expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Net migration rate

33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Infant mortality rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Caymanian(s)
adjective:: Caymanian

Religions

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

Government

NA; Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); Governor and President of the Executive Council John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)

19 fields

Legislative Assembly, 6 seats, elected 20 November 1996one dot, one seat

independents 6

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Cayman Islands

Administrative divisions

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:: Governor and President of the Executive Council John Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)
cabinet:: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections:: none;
the queen is a hereditary monarch;
the governor is appointed by the queen

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results:: percent of vote-NA; seats-National Team coalition 9, independents 6

Judicial branch

Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag description

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

With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving | offshore financial center; 28,000 foreign companies do business with | the 600 registered banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed | $500 billion.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$860million

purchasing power parity · (1996 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$23,800

purchasing power parity · (1996 est.)

Real growth rate

4.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.1%

(1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1994 est.)

agriculture 1.4%industry 3.2%services 95.4% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$141.5 millionExpenditures

$160.7 million (1991)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Fixed lines

21,584

(1993 est.)

Economy-overview

With no direct taxation, the Islands are a thriving offshore financial center; 28,000 foreign companies do business with the 600 registered banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. 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 million visitors in 1995 and again in 1996. 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.

Labor force

total:: 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)

Unemployment rate

7% (1992)

Industries

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Electricity-capacity

75,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production

230 million kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

6,929 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

vegetables, fruit;
livestock;
turtle farming

Exports

total value:: $3.4 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities:: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners:: mostly US

Imports

total value:: $333 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities:: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners:: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Debt-external

$NA

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1-0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March Communications

Telephone system

domestic:: NA
international:: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios

28,200 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1995)

Televisions

6,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

7 fields

Merchant marine, 54 ships by typeone square, one ship · ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 751,113 GRT/1,139,958 DWT

bulk 4cargo 8chemical tanker 4container 5oil tanker 6refrigerated cargo 18roll-on/roll-off cargo 7specialized tanker 1vehicle carrier 1countries: Greece 11, US 8, UK 5, Cyprus 1, Finland 1, India 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden 1, and Switzerland 1 (1997 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 10

Networkskm

Highways

406Railways

Highways: paved: 304 km · unpaved: 102 km

Highways

total:: 406 km
paved:: 304 km
unpaved:: 102 km

Ports and harbors

Cayman Brac, George Town

Airports

3 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Military

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

2 fields

Military branches

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)

Military-note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes-international

none

Illicit drugs

vulnerable to drug money-laundering and drug transshipment CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Introduction

1 field

Current issues

In 1996, the Central African Republic experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms. Continuing violence in 1997 between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government has destroyed many businesses in the capital, reducing tax revenues and exacerbating the government's problems in meeting expenses.

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cayman Islands.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cayman-islands/1998.

How to cite ← 1997 edition 1999 edition →