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Central America and the Caribbean
Page last updated: July 24, 2024
The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands 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.
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 km²
Land: 264 km²
Water: 0 km²
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Total: 0 km
160 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 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
Highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.)
Forest: 52.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 35.9% (2018 est.)
NA
Majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman
Hurricanes (July to November)
Important location between Cuba and Central America
Total: 66,653
Male: 32,379
Female: 34,274 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 203; male 204; total 204
Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian
Cayman Islander 35.4%, Jamaican 24.8%, Filipino 5.5%, British 5.3%, American 5.2%, Honduran 4.2%, Canadian 3.3%, Indian 2.1%, Cuban 1.6%, Nicaraguan 1%, other 11.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent population by country of birth
English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)
Note: data represent main language spoken at home
Protestant 60.8% (includes Church of God 19.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.7%, non-denominational 8.3%, Baptist 6.9%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Presbyterian/United Church 5.7%, Anglican 2.8%, Wesleyan Holiness 1.5%, Methodist 0.5%), Roman Catholic 13.6%, Hindu 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 4.8%, none 16.7%, unspecified 1.4% (2021 est.)
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456)
65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 32.6
Youth dependency ratio: 22.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.4
Potential support ratio: 9.6 (2021)
Total: 41.2 years (2024 est.)
Male: 40.3 years
Female: 42 years
1.75% (2024 est.)
11.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
12.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman
Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 79.8 years
Female: 85.2 years
1.82 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.9 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 97.4% of population
Total: 97.4% of population
Unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population
Total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
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
51.4% (2023 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2019)
Total population: 98.9% NA
Male: 98.7% NA
Female: 99% (2021) 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)
Tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Agricultural land: 11.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 8.3% (2018 est.)
Forest: 52.9% (2018 est.)
Other: 35.9% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.13% 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: 0.55 megatons (2016 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
Parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK
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)
Etymology: named after English King GEORGE III (1738-1820)
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, the first Monday in July (1959)
History: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)
Amendments: amended 2016, 2020
English common law and local statutes
See United Kingdom
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)
Head of government: Premier Juliana O'CONNOR-CONNOLLY (since 15 November 2023)
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 in 2025)
Election results: percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; elected seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; ex-officio members 2; composition - men 16, women 5, percentage women 23.8%
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
Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP [Ezzard MILLER]
People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Roy McTAGGART]
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
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
Green sea turtle
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)
Dominant offshore banking territory; services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity; recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering; large tourism sector; does not have any welfare system; high standard of living
$5.467 billion (2022 est.)
$5.199 billion (2021 est.)
$4.956 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
5.16% (2022 est.)
4.9% (2021 est.)
-4.95% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$79,600 (2022 est.)
$76,300 (2021 est.)
$73,600 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars
$6.601 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
2% (2017 est.)
-0.63% (2016 est.)
-2.35% (2015 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Moody's rating: Aa3 (1997)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.)
Industry: 7.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 92.3% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 7; industry 215; agriculture 215
Household consumption: 62.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 14.5% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 65.4% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -64.2% (2017 est.)
Vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
3.45% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
39,000 (2007 est.)
Note: nearly 55% are non-nationals
4% (2008)
4.4% (2004)
Total: 13.8% (2015 est.)
Male: 16.4%
Female: 11.4%
0.15% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.17% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.16% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $874.5 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $766.6 million (2017 est.)
4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
-$821.404 million (2021 est.)
-$827.492 million (2020 est.)
-$646.843 million (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$4.054 billion (2021 est.)
$3.951 billion (2020 est.)
$4.205 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Malta 30%, Norway 22%, Seychelles 16%, Grenada 8%, US 5% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$2.743 billion (2021 est.)
$2.51 billion (2020 est.)
$2.743 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
US 47%, Italy 19%, Turkey 7%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 4% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Ships, refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, gold (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$216.8 million (2020 est.)
$183.5 million (2019 est.)
$162.074 million (2018 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.833 (2021 est.)
0.833 (2020 est.)
0.833 (2019 est.)
0.833 (2018 est.)
0.833 (2017 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 175,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 697.351 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.117 million kWh (2022 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 6; consumption 166; installed generating capacity 176
Fossil fuels: 96.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Solar: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
718,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 718,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
144.845 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 36,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 100,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2021 est.)
General assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)
Domestic: 53 per 100 fixed-line and 150 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)
International: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, 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) (2019)
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
.ky
Total: 55,148 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 81.1% (2021 est.)
Total: 3,200 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
VP-C
3 (2024)
5 (2024)
Total: 785 km
Paved: 785 km (2007)
Total: 130 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77
Total ports: 2 (2024)
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Small: 0
Very small: 2
Ports with oil terminals: 2
Key ports: Cayman Brac, Georgetown
No regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service
Defense is the responsibility of the UK
Major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering