💾 Archived View for zaibatsu.circumlunar.space › ~solderpunk › cia-world-factbook › cayman-islands.g… captured on 2024-09-29 at 00:15:17. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2024-08-18)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Central America and the Caribbean
Page last updated: August 28, 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)
English common law and local statutes
History: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)
Amendments: amended 2016, 2020
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
People's Progressive Movement or PPM
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
(2008)
(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.)
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