Cayman Islands :: Central America and Caribbean
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: 210
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
160 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive fishing zone:
200
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
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:
61,944
(July 2020 est.)
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman
country comparison to the world: 204
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:
17.75%
(male 5,535/female 5,457)
15-24 years:
11.86%
(male 3,673/female 3,675)
25-54 years:
41.37%
(male 12,489/female 13,140)
55-64 years:
14.78%
(male 4,398/female 4,755)
65 years and over:
14.24%
(male 4,053/female 4,769)
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
40.5 years
male:
39.7 years
female:
41.2 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Population growth rate:
1.9%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Birth rate:
11.9 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Death rate:
6.1 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Net migration rate:
13 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 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
(2020)
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:
1 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.85 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total:
5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
4.8 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
81.6 years
male:
78.9 years
female:
84.4 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
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
total:
95.6% of population
unimproved:
urban:
4.4% of population
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
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: 98
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 (1738-1820)
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
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 on 26 May 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
Economic 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 real growth rate:
1.7%
(2014 est.)
1.2%
(2013 est.)
1.6%
(2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2%
(2017 est.)
-0.6%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Credit ratings:
Moody's rating:
Aa3
(1997)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$2.507 billion
(2014 est.)
$2.465 billion
(2013 est.)
$2.435 billion
(2012 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.25 billion
(2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,800
(2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
0.3%
(2017 est.)
industry:
7.4%
(2017 est.)
services:
92.3%
(2017 est.)
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.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
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: 196
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: 61
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
Current account balance:
-$492.6 million
(2017 est.)
-$493.5 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Exports:
$421.9 million
(2017 est.)
$47.6 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Imports:
$787.3 million
(2017 est.)
$810.1 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels
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%
(2020)
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:
33,338
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
54.85
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
92,691
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
152.5
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telecommunication systems:
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 competition 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; 55 per 100 fixed-line, 153 per 100 mobile-cellular
(2019)
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)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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:
48,328
percent of population:
81.07%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
24,535
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
42
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
1
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
6
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
VP-C
(2016)
Airports:
3
(2020)
country comparison to the world: 193
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: 188
Merchant marine:
total:
170
by type:
bulk carrier 32general cargo 4, oil tanker 22, other 112
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 70
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Cayman Brac, George Town
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
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe
