Cayman Islands
British crown colonyIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Cayman Islands as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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 since 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 fieldsLand useshare of 262 sq km
Climate
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Environment - current issues
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
People
19 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Net migration rate
18.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2005 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.89 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Religions
United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Government
British crown colony; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)
19 fieldsLegislative Assembly, 15 seats, elected 11 May 2005one dot, one seat
Administrative 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 Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
- head of government:
- Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)
- 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;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held 2009)
- election results:
- percent of vote - NA%; seats - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Political parties and leaders
- no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections;
- United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH];
- People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS]
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Flag description
- blue, 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 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.
34 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1994 est.)
Electricity
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 1998, 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 in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. 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.
Exchange rates
Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- reasonably good system
- domestic:
- liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services
- international:
- country code - 1-345;
- 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica);
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 129 ships by typeships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,827,837 GRT/4,555,974 DWT
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Military
No regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Cayman Islands.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cayman-islands/2005.