Cayman Islands

Introduction

Background

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

Location

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 264 sq km
land: 264 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 211

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

160 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200nm

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

Elevation

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use

agricultural land: 11.2% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0.8% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 2.1% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 8.3% (2011 est.)
forest: 52.9% (2011 est.)
other: 35.9% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

NA

Population distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues

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)

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America

People and Society

Population

59,613 (July 2018 est.)
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman
country comparison to the world: 205

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups

mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Languages

English (official) 90.9%, Spanish 4%, Filipino 3.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)

Religions

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.91%(male 5,376 /female 5,298)
15-24 years: 12.2%(male 3,609 /female 3,662)
25-54 years: 42.12%(male 12,256 /female 12,855)
55-64 years: 14.64%(male 4,169 /female 4,558)
65 years and over: 13.13%(male 3,627 /female 4,203) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Median age

total: 40.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 39.5 years
female: 40.9 years
country comparison to the world: 50

Population growth rate

1.96% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Birth rate

12 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Death rate

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Net migration rate

13.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
country comparison to the world: 4

Population distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 168

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.4 years (2018 est.)
male: 78.7 years
female: 84.2 years
country comparison to the world: 28

Total fertility rate

1.84 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.4% of population
total: 97.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.6% of population
total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 95.6% of population (2015 est.)
total: 95.6% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)
total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Major infectious diseases

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

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 99% (2007)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.8%
male: 16.4%
female: 11.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Government

Country name

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

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Government type

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Capital

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 (1760-1820)

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

Constitution

history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)
amendments: amended several times, last in 2016 (2018)

Legal system

English common law and local statutes

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018)
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

Legislative branch

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; composition - men 18, women 3, percent of women 14.3%

Judicial branch

highest courts: 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

Political parties and leaders

People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Alden MCLAUGHLIN]
Cayman Democratic Party or CDP [McKeeva BUSH]

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

green sea turtle

National anthem

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

Economy - overview

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 65,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2017, including more than 280 banks, 700 insurers, and 10,500 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 2.1 million in 2016, with more than three-quarters from the US.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.507 billion (2014 est.)
$2.465 billion (2013 est.)
$2.435 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.25 billion(2008 est.) (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2014 est.)
1.2% (2013 est.)
1.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,800 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 7.4% (2017 est.)
services: 92.3% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Industries

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Labor force

39,000 (2007 est.)
note: nearly 55% are non-nationals
country comparison to the world: 197

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1.9%
industry: 19.1%
services: 79% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate

4% (2008)
4.4% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 51

Population below poverty line

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 874.5 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 766.6 million (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2017 est.)
-0.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.9% (31 December 2017 est.)
14.9% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Stock of narrow money

$334.3 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 179

Stock of broad money

$5.564 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 100

Market value of publicly traded shares

$315.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$183.5 million (31 December 2007)
$188.4 million (31 December 2006)
country comparison to the world: 115

Current account balance

-$492.6 million (2017 est.)
-$493.5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Exports

$421.9 million (2017 est.)
$47.6 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Exports - commodities

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Imports

$787.3 million (2017 est.)
$810.1 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

NA

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -
0.82 (2017 est.)
0.82 (2016 est.)
0.82 (2015 est.)
0.82 (2014 est.)
0.83 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Electricity - production

650 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - consumption

612 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - installed generating capacity

132,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Refined petroleum products - consumption

4,400 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

643,800 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 34,116
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 95,656
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 164 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Telephone system

general assessment: reasonably good overall telephone system with a high fixed-line teledensity; given the high dependence of tourism and activities such as fisheries and offshore financial services, the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; good competion in all sectors promotes advancement in mobile telephony and data segments (2018)
domestic: introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 boosted subscriptions dramatically; 60 per 100 fixed-line, 164 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)
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)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.ky

Internet users

total: 45,242
percent of population: 79% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 24,535
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Military and Security

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (2019)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-C (2016)

Airports

3 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 194

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 (2012)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Roadways

total: 785 km (2007)
paved: 785 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 182

Merchant marine

total: 165
by type: bulk carrier 31, general cargo 4, oil tanker 19, other 111 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 67

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

Flag of Cayman Islands