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Central America and the Caribbean
Page last updated: May 23, 2024
The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate Crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed, and the islands remain a British overseas territory. Grand Turk Island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti; note - although the Turks and Caicos Islands do not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically they are often designated as being Caribbean
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Central America and the Caribbean
Total: 948 km²
Land: 948 km²
Water: 0 km²
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Total: 0 km
389 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Spiny lobster, conch
Agricultural land: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 36.2% (2018 est.)
Other: 62.7% (2018 est.)
0 km² (2022)
Eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Frequent hurricanes
Include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited
Total: 60,439
Male: 30,389
Female: 30,050 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 205; male 205; total 205
Noun: none
Adjective: none
Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
English (official)
Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 6,288/female 6,056)
15-64 years: 73.2% (male 22,232/female 22,011)
65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,869/female 1,983)
2023 population growth:
Total dependency ratio: 36.8
Youth dependency ratio: 22.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 13.9
Potential support ratio: 7.2 (2021)
Total: 36.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 36.5 years
Female: 36.1 years
1.77% (2024 est.)
13 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
3.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
8.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 81.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 78.5 years
Female: 84.1 years
1.7 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.83 (2024 est.)
34.4% (2019/20)
Improved: total: 94.3% of population
Unimproved: total: 5.7% of population (2017)
NA
NA
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 88% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 12% of population (2017)
0.4% (2019/20) NA
59.1% (2023 est.)
Women married by age 18: 23.3%
Men married by age 18: 5.1% (2020 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Total: 9 years
Male: NA
Female: (2015) NA
Destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US
Limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Agricultural land: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 36.2% (2018 est.)
Other: 62.7% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.)
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Abbreviation: TCI
Etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus (native to the islands and appearing on the flag and coat of arms), while the Caicos Islands derive from the native term "caya hico" meaning "string of islands"
Parliamentary democracy
Overseas territory of the UK
Name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
Time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: named after Sir Francis COCKBURN, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844
None (overseas territory of the UK)
None (overseas territory of the UK)
Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June
History: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)
Amendments: NA
Mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
See United Kingdom
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023)
Head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly
Elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
Description: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats; 15 members in multi-seat constituencies and a single all-islands constituency directly elected by simple majority vote, 1 member nominated by the premier and appointed by the governor, 1 nominated by the opposition party leader and appointed by the governor, and 2 from the Turks and Caicos Islands Civic Society directly appointed by the governor, and 2 ex-officio members; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 19 February 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNP 14, PDM 1; composition - men 11, women 3, percentage women 27.3%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges, as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges appointed by the governor in accordance with the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body of high-level judicial officials; Supreme Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Edwin ASTWOOD]
Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
Conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
Name: "This Land of Ours"
Lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL
Note: serves as a local anthem; as an overseas territory of the UK, "God Save the King" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
British Caribbean island territorial economy; GDP and its tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; major biodiversity locale; US dollar user; fossil fuel dependent; negative trade balance; increasing unemployment
$946.893 million (2022 est.)
$891.613 million (2021 est.)
$817.993 million (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
6.2% (2022 est.)
9% (2021 est.)
-26.78% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$20,700 (2022 est.)
$19,800 (2021 est.)
$18,500 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$1.139 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
4% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
Agriculture: 0.5% (2017 est.)
Industry: 8.9% (2017 est.)
Services: 90.6% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 8; industry 209; agriculture 209
Household consumption: 49% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 21.5% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 69.5% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -56.4% (2017 est.)
Corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Tourism, offshore financial services
5% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
0% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $247.3 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $224.3 million (2017 est.)
$172.709 million (2018 est.)
$35.016 million (2017 est.)
$247.081 million (2016 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$826.824 million (2018 est.)
$602.581 million (2017 est.)
$741.173 million (2016 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Togo 61%, US 13%, Zimbabwe 6%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3%, Central African Republic 2% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Fertilizers, shellfish, plastics, sulfur, soybean oil (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$544.219 million (2018 est.)
$484.842 million (2017 est.)
$438.041 million (2016 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
US 75%, Dominican Republic 6%, Italy 3%, Switzerland 2%, China 2% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, furniture, aluminum structures (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
NA
The US dollar is used
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 85,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 231.618 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 12.5 million kWh (2019 est.)
Comparison rankings: imports 131; exports 112; installed generating capacity 187; transmission/distribution losses 23; consumption 184
Fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
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: 1,600 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.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
1,369 bbl/day (2015 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.)
245,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 245,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
0 Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 25,085 (2004 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2004 est.)
General assessment: is connected to the internet via a single submarine fiber-optic cable (Arcos-1), which links the US and several Caribbean countries (2023)
Domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 9 per 100 persons (2021)
International: country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)
No local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received and multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations
.tc
Total: 37,008 (2022)
Percent of population: 93.5% (2022)
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 22
VQ-T
9 (2024)
Total: 121 km
Paved: 24 km
Unpaved: 97 km (2003)
Total: 3 (2023)
By type: general cargo 1, other 2
Total ports: 3 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Small: 0
Very small: 2
Size unknown: 1
Ports with oil terminals: 1
Key ports: Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe