Central America and Caribbean :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • Introduction :: 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.

  • Geography :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
    19 30 N, 80 30 W
    Central America and the Caribbean
    total: 264 sq km
    land: 264 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 211
    1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
    0 km
    160 km
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
    tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
    low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
    mean elevation: NA
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
    highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m
    fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
    agricultural land: 11.2%
    arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 8.3%
    forest: 52.9%
    other: 35.9% (2011 est.)
    NA
    majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman
    hurricanes (July to November)
    no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants
    important location between Cuba and Central America

  • People and Society :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • 58,441
    note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 205
    noun: Caymanian(s)
    adjective: Caymanian
    mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
    English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (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.)
    0-14 years: 18% (male 5,298/female 5,224)
    15-24 years: 12.41% (male 3,601/female 3,654)
    25-54 years: 42.52% (male 12,123/female 12,727)
    55-64 years: 14.47% (male 4,030/female 4,427)
    65 years and over: 12.59% (male 3,425/female 3,932) (2017 est.)
    total: 40 years
    male: 39.3 years
    female: 40.7 years (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 50
    2.01% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 48
    12 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 172
    13.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
    note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 5
    majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman
    urban population: 100% of total population (2017)
    rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    GEORGE TOWN (capital) 31,000 (2014)
    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: 0.91 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
    total: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    total population: 81.3 years
    male: 78.6 years
    female: 84.1 years (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 28
    1.85 children born/woman (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    improved:
    urban: 97.4% of population
    rural: NA
    total: 97.4% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 2.6% of population
    rural: NA
    total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 95.6% of population
    total: 95.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 4.4% of population
    total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
    NA
    definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
    total population: 98.9%
    male: 98.7%
    female: 99% (2007 est.)
    total: 13.8%
    male: 16.4%
    female: 11.4% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 86

  • Government :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • 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
    overseas territory of the UK
    parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
    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)
    6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    Constitution Day, first Monday in July (1959)
    several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) (2016)
    English common law and local statutes
    see United Kingdom
    18 years of age; universal
    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: Cabinet selected from the Legislative Assembly 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 Legislative Assembly (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 24 May 2017 (next to be held in 2021)
    election results: percent of vote by party - independent 44.7%, PPM 31.2%, CDP 24.1%; seats by party - independent 9, PPM 7, CDP 3
    highest resident 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
    People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Alden MCLAUGHLIN]
    Cayman Democratic Party or CDP [McKeeva BUSH]
    Coalition for Cayman or C4C
    People's National Alliance or PNA
    National Trust
    other: environmentalists
    Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica
    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
    green sea turtle
    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 :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • 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. Nearly 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy a standard of living comparable to that of Switzerland.
    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.
    $2.507 billion (2014 est.)
    $2.465 billion (2013 est.)
    $2.435 billion (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    $2.25 billion (2008 est.)
    1.7% (2014 est.)
    1.2% (2013 est.)
    1.6% (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    $43,800 (2004 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    household consumption: 62.6%
    government consumption: 14.7%
    investment in fixed capital: 22.4%
    investment in inventories: 0.1%
    exports of goods and services: 59.3%
    imports of goods and services: -59% (2016 est.)
    agriculture: 0.3%
    industry: 7.5%
    services: 91.4% (2016 est.)
    vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
    tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
    2.4% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 97
    39,000
    note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 198
    agriculture: 1.9%
    industry: 19.1%
    services: 79% (2008 est.)
    4% (2008)
    4.4% (2004)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    NA%
    lowest 10%: NA%
    highest 10%: NA%
    revenues: $844.9 million
    expenditures: $725 million (2016 est.)
    37.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    5.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 7
    1 April - 31 March
    -0.6% (2016 est.)
    -2.3% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 26
    $334.3 million (31 December 2008)
    country comparison to the world: 176
    $5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    $315.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
    $183.5 million (31 December 2007)
    $188.4 million (31 December 2006)
    country comparison to the world: 116
    $47.6 million (2016 est.)
    $45 million (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 204
    turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
    $585.2 million (2016 est.)
    $579.5 million (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189
    foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels
    $NA
    $NA
    Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -
    0.82 (2016 est.)
    0.82 (2015 est.)
    0.82 (2014 est.)
    0.83 (2013 est.)
    0.83 (2012 est.)

  • Energy :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • population without electricity: 5,726
    electrification - total population: 91%
    electrification - urban areas: 91%
    electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)
    624 million kWh (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 163
    587 million kWh (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
    132,000 kW (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 173
    100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 4
    0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 119
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)
    country comparison to the world: 119
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 128
    4,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    3,984 bbl/day (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 120
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 168
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 84
    0 cu m (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    500,000 Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181

  • Communications :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • total subscriptions: 34,116
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    total: 95,656
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 167 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 193
    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 boosted subscriptions dramatically
    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) (2015)
    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)
    .ky
    total: 45,242
    percent of population: 79.0% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 189

  • Transportation :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • number of registered air carriers: 1
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 (2015)
    VP-C (2016)
    3 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    total: 3
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
    914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
    total: 1
    914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)
    total: 785 km
    paved: 785 km (2007)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    total: 116
    by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 3, chemical tanker 61, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 10, vehicle carrier 16
    foreign-owned: 102 (Germany 3, Greece 9, Italy 7, Japan 23, Switzerland 1, UK 2, US 57) (2010)
    country comparison to the world: 46
    major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

  • Military and Security :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2012)
    defense is the responsibility of the UK

  • Transnational Issues :: CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • none
    major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe