Cayman Islands

parliamentary democracyIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)

Cayman Islands as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 136 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 (on Grand Cayman), UTC-5
Position19 30 N, 80 30 W
Area264 sq km
LocationCaribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Populationas each edition published it
54,914 people July 2013 est. · 26,356 in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.14% 2014 est. · 4.35% in 1993
Median ageyears
39.5 years 2014 est. · 36.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
81.02 years 2014 est. · 77.1 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.86 children per woman 2014 est. · 1.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6.21 deaths per 1,000 live births 2014 est. · 10 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$43,800 2004 est. · $23,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1.1% 2008 est. · 4.4% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

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Land useshare of 264 sq km

arable land 0.83%permanent crops 2.08%other 97.08% (2011)
Area
264sq km
country comparison to the world: 211land: 264 sq kmwater: 0 sq km1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
160km
land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Highest point
43m
The Bluff on Cayman Braclowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

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

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

25 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)

2,870
65 and over10.7%
3,219
3,549
55-6413.6%
3,922
11,771
25-5444%
12,384
3,505
15-2412.9%
3,579
5,093
0-1418.4%
5,022
MaleFemale
Population
54,914
(July 2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 207note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2014 est.)growth rate: 2.14% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 45

Per 1,000 population

Birth
12.13 (2014 est.)Death
5.41 (2014 est.)Net migration
14.71
Net migration: note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2014 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2014 est.)81.02
78.33 · 83.76Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)6.21
7.1 · 5.31Literacy (2007 est.)98.9%
98.7% · 99%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2014 est.)39.5
38.8 · 40.1Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2008)13.5%
13.6% · 13.3%
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 24 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 167 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school · Youth unemployment ages 15-24 country comparison to the world: 94

Ethnic groups

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

Religions(2010 est.)

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.)
Urban population
100%of total population
(2011)rate of urbanization: 0.82% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)Major urban areas - population: GEORGE TOWN (capital) 28,000 (2011)
Improved drinking water
95.6%of population
improved: urban: 95.6% of populationunimproved: urban: 4.4% of populationtotal: 4.4% of population (2012 est.)
Improved sanitation
96.2%of population
improved: urban: 96.2% of populationunimproved: urban: 3.8% of populationtotal: 3.8% of population (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Caymanian(s)
adjective:
Caymanian

Languages

English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Net migration rate

14.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 7 note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2014 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.9 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

36.1%
PPM 36.1%UDP 27.8%C4C 18.6%independents 11.9%PNA 5.7%last held on 22 May 2013 (next to be held in 2017)

Legislative Assembly, 18 seats, elected 22 May 2013one dot, one seat

PPM 9UDP 3C4C 3independent 2PNA 1

Percent of vote

PPM 36.1%UDP 27.8%C4C 18.6%independents 11.9%PNA 5.7%

Country name

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Cayman Islands

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)

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) (2013)

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 (six members are appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly); (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
elections:
  • the monarchy is hereditary;
  • the governor appointed by the monarch;
  • following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition appointed by the governor as premier

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (21 seats; 18 members elected by popular vote, Speaker, and 2 ex officio members - Deputy Governor and Attorney General; to serve four-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%, independents 11.9%, PNA 5.7%; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 3, C4C 3, independent 2, PNA 1

Judicial branch

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); 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 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

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center.

30 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$2.25billion
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 189$2.23 billion (2003 est.)official exchange rate: $2.25 billion (2008 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$43,800
(2004 est.)country comparison to the world: 17
Real growth rate
1.1%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 1720.9% (2004 est.)industrial production growth: 1.5% (2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 134
Inflation, consumer prices
1.8%
(2013 est.)country comparison to the world: 571.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)

agriculture 0.3%industry 27.4%services 72.3% (2013 est.)

By end use% of GDP

Household consumption
62.7%Government consumption
14.8%Fixed capital
22.3%Exports
57.4%Imports
-57.1%
(2013 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$700.5 millionExpenditures
$757.5 million (2013 est.)

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.

Agriculture - products

  • vegetables, fruit;
  • livestock;
  • turtle farming

Industries

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

Labor force

39,000 country comparison to the world: 198 note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007)

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: 31

Taxes and other revenues

31.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Stock of narrow money

$334.3 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 168

Stock of broad money

$5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) $183.5 million (31 December 2007) · $188.4 million (31 December 2006) country comparison to the world: 106

Exports

$13.9 million (2013 est.) · $15 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Imports

$719 million (2013 est.) · $698.1 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar - 0.83 (2013 est.) · 0.83 (2012 est.) · 0.83 (2010 est.)

Energy

23 fields

Installed generating capacity, 151,000 kW(2010 est.)

Fossil fuels 100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)Nuclear fuels 0% · Hydroelectric plants 0% · Other renewable sources 0%
Electricity production
594 million (2011 est.)Electricity consumption
552 million (2010 est.)Refined petroleum imports
3,754 (2010 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
3,141 (2011 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Communications

7 fields
Mobile cellular
96,300
(2012)
Internet users
23,472
(2012)
Fixed lines
37,400
(2012) · country code .ky

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)

Internet users

23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Transportation

6 fields

Merchant marine, 116 ships by type

bulk carrier 19cargo 3chemical tanker 61liquefied gas 1passenger 1petroleum tanker 5refrigerated cargo 10vehicle carrier 16foreign-owned: 102 (Germany 3, Greece 9, Italy 7, Japan 23, Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 57) (2010)

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

country comparison to the world: 188

paved:
785 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

Military

No regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2012)

5 fields

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.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Illicit drugs

major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Cayman Islands.” The World Factbook 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/cayman-islands/2014.