CAYMAN ISLANDS
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
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%
Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Note: important location between Cuba and Central America
PEOPLE
Population: 27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)
Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)
Ethnic divisions: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates
of various ethnic groups
Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations
Language: English
Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever
attended school (1970)
Labor force: 8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%,
construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business
managers 5.9% (1979)
Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: none
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)
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July
1991
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council
(cabinet)
Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);
Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council
Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held
November 1992); results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(15 total, 12 elected)
Communists: none
Member of: CDB, IOC
Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK;
US--none
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 export 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.
GDP: $342 million, per capita $13,670 (1989); real growth
rate 15% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1988)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $76 million; expenditures $56 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)
partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt: $15 million (1986)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced,
9,710 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
building materials, furniture making
Agriculture: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock;
turtle farming
Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7
million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-88), $35.0 million
Currency: Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar
(CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--1.20 (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: 160 km of main roads
Ports: George Town, Cayman Brac
Merchant marine: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 372,732
GRT/604,395 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off
cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 9 bulk; note--a flag of
convenience registry
Airports: 3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
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; stations--2 AM, 1 FM,
no TV
DEFENSE FORCES
Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
