Cayman Islands




                                  Header


Affiliation:
     (dependent territory of the UK)


                                 Geography


Location:
     Caribbean, in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, nearly halfway between
     Cuba and Honduras
Map references:
     Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
     260 sq km
land area:
     260 sq km
comparative area:
     slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
     0 km
Coastline:
     160 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
     200 nm
territorial sea:
     3 nm
International disputes:
     none
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
Land use:
arable land:
     0%
permanent crops:
     0%
meadows and pastures:
     8%
forest and woodland:
     23%
other:
     69%
Irrigated land:
     NA sq km
Environment:
current issues:
     NA




natural hazards:
     subject to hurricanes
international agreements:
     NA
Note:
     important location between Cuba and Central America


                                  People


Population:
     31,790 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
     4.33% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
     15.06 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
     4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
     33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
     8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
     77.1 years
male:
     75.37 years
female:
     78.81 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
     1.46 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
     Caymanian(s)
adjective:
     Caymanian
Ethnic divisions:
     mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups
     20%
Religions:
     United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist,
     Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages:
     English
Literacy:
     age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
total population:
     98%
male:
     98%
female:
     98%
Labor force:
     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)


                                Government


Names:
conventional long form:
     none
conventional short form:
Digraph:
     CJ
Type:
     dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
     George Town
Administrative divisions:
     8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay,
     West End, Western
Independence:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday:
     Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution:
     1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system:
     British common law and local statutes
Suffrage:
     18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
     Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government:
     Governor and President of the Executive Council Michael GORE (since 15
     September 1992)
cabinet:
     Executive Council; 3 members are appointed by the governor, 4 members
     elected by the Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch:
     unicameral
Legislative Assembly:
     election last held November 1992 (next to be held November 1996);
     results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)
Judicial branch:
     Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
     no formal political parties
Member of:
     CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
     none (dependent territory of the UK)




Flag:
     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


Overview:
     The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of foreign
     currency earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist
     industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors
     from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods
     needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest
     standards of living in the region.
National product:
     GDP - exchange rate conversion - $670 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
     4.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
     $23,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
     1.5% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
     7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues:
     $141.5 million
expenditures:
     $160.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
     $2.6 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
     turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
partners:
     mostly US
Imports:
     $262.2 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
     foodstuffs, manufactured goods
partners:
     US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt:
     $15 million (1986)
Industrial production:
     growth rate NA%
Electricity:
capacity:
     74,000 kW
production:
     256 million kWh
consumption per capita:
     8,780 kWh (1992)




Industries:
     tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building
     materials, furniture making
Agriculture:
     minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Illicit drugs:
     a major money-laundering center for illicit drug profits;
     transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and
     Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
     US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western
     (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),  $35
     million
Currency:
     1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
     Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:
     1 April - 31 March


                              Communications


Highways:
total:
     160 km (main roads)
paved:
     NA
unpaved:
     NA
Ports:
     George Town, Cayman Brac
Merchant marine:
     30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 368,037 GRT/581,060 DWT, bulk 9,
     cargo 8, chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 3, passenger-cargo 1,
     roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
note:
     a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
     3
usable:
     3
with permanent-surface runways:
     2
with runways over 3,659 m:
     0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
     0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
     2
Telecommunications:
     35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and
     1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access
     international services; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV






                              Defense Forces


Branches:
     Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note:
     defense is the responsibility of the UK