Cayman Islands
none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
British crown colonyIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Cayman Islands as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.
Geography
Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
17 fieldsClimate
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 23% other: 69% (1993 est.)
Environment - current issues
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.21% (male 3,807; female 4,084) 15-64 years: 69.74% (male 12,102; female 12,676) 65 years and over: 8.05% (male 1,318; female 1,540) (2001 est.)
Net migration rate
12.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Sex ratio
at birth: 0.86 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.03 years male: 76.24 years female: 81.43 years (2001 est.)
Religions
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
British crown colony; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
19 fieldsAdministrative divisions
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
- Governor and President of the Executive Council Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999) head of government: Kurt TIBBETTS (since November 2000) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- the governor is appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Political parties and leaders
- there are no formal political parties but the following loose groupings act as political organizations;
- National Team;
- Democratic Alliance;
- Team Cayman
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate)
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.
32 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. 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 1.2 million visitors in 1997. 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.
Budget
revenues: $265.2 million expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine
total: 106 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,656,452 GRT/2,643,036 DWT ships by type: bulk 21, cargo 5, chemical tanker 27, container 4, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Finland 1, Greece 11, Norway 3, UK 3, US 3 (2000 est.)
Military
Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cayman Islands.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cayman-islands/2001.