Cayman Islands

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. 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

at birth:

1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

0.95 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.7 male(s)/female

total population:

0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

• no natural freshwater resources;
• drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment;
• trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents;
• no recycling or waste treatment facilities;
• deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use)

urban population:

100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

municipal solid waste generated annually:

60,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

12,600 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

21% (2013 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Cayman Islands

etymology:

the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there

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:

named after English King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

history:

several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)

amendments:

amended 2016, 2020

chief of state:

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018)

head of government:

Premier Wayne PANTON (since 21 April 2021)

cabinet:

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

elections/appointments:

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

description:

unicameral Parliament (21 seats; 19 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)

elections:

last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held on 2025)

election results:

• percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%;
• seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7;
• composition of elected members - men 15, women 4, percent of women 21.1%;
• ex-officio members - men 2

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

• 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;
• a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

name:

"Beloved Isle Cayman"

lyrics/music:

Leila E. ROSS

note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

• vegetables, fruit;
• livestock;
• turtle farming

agriculture:

1.9%

industry:

19.1%

services:

79% (2008 est.)

total:

13.8%

male:

16.4%

female:

11.4% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

production:

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption:

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports:

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports:

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves:

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

total petroleum production:

0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

5,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports:

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports:

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

0 barrels (2021 est.)

production:

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption:

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports:

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports:

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves:

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

• 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

total:

785 km (2007)

paved:

785 km (2007)