Cayman Islands

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.

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 sq km

land: 264 sq km

water: 0 sq km

country comparison to the world: 210

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

65,483 (2023 est.)

note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman

country comparison to the world: 204

noun: Caymanian(s)

adjective: Caymanian

mixed 40%, White 20%, African descent 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

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

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.)

0-14 years: 17.48% (male 5,761/female 5,684)

15-64 years: 66.48% (male 21,271/female 22,261)

65 years and over: 16.04% (2023 est.) (male 4,792/female 5,714)

total dependency ratio: 32.6

youth dependency ratio: 22.3

elderly dependency ratio: 10.4

potential support ratio: 9.6 (2021)

total: 40.5 years

male: 39.7 years

female: 41.2 years (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 51

1.79% (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

11.62 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 159

6.06 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 154

12.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

country comparison to the world: 6

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.)

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 (2023 est.)

total: 7.47 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 9.04 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

total population: 82.25 years

male: 79.57 years

female: 84.98 years (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 29

1.82 children born/woman (2023 est.)

country comparison to the world: 140

0.9 (2023 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)

country comparison to the world: 186

total population: 98.9% NA

male: 98.7% NA

female: 99% (2021) NA

total: 13.8%

male: 16.4%

female: 11.4% (2015 est.)

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.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 76

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 Martyn ROPER (since 29 October 2018)

head of government: Premier Wayne PANTON (since 21 April 2021)

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 on 2025)

election results: percent of vote by party - independent 79.1%, PPM 19.6%; seats by party - independent 12, PPM 7; composition of elected members - men 15, women 4, percent of women 21.1%; ex-officio members - men 2

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

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

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

$4.599 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$4.516 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$4.788 billion (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 181

1.84% (2021 est.)

-5.68% (2020 est.)

3.87% (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

$67,500 (2021 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$67,100 (2020 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$72,400 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 12

$2.25 billion (2008 est.)

2% (2017 est.)

-0.6% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 71

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.)

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

-3.36% (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 180

39,000 (2007 est.)

note: nearly 55% are non-nationals

country comparison to the world: 198

agriculture: 1.9%

industry: 19.1%

services: 79% (2008 est.)

4% (2008)

4.4% (2004)

country comparison to the world: 54

total: 13.8%

male: 16.4%

female: 11.4% (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

NA

lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA

revenues: $874.5 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: $766.6 million (2017 est.)

4.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 7

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

1 April - 31 March

-$763.556 million (2020 est.)

-$646.843 million (2019 est.)

-$927.544 million (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 131

$3.652 billion (2020 est.)

$4.205 billion (2019 est.)

$3.959 billion (2018 est.)

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

country comparison to the world: 139

Netherlands 82%, Spain 11% (2019)

recreational boats, aircraft, ships, gold, refined petroleum, natural gas (2021)

$2.507 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.743 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.518 billion (2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

Netherlands 56%, United States 18%, Italy 8%, Switzerland 5% (2019)

recreational boats, ships, gold, refined petroleum, cars (2019)

$216.8 million (31 December 2020 est.)

$183.5 million (31 December 2019 est.)

$162.074 million (31 December 2018 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -

0.833 (2021 est.)

0.833 (2020 est.)

0.833 (2019 est.)

0.833 (2018 est.)

0.833 (2017 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

installed generating capacity: 174,000 kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 655.165 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 40 million kWh (2019 est.)

fossil fuels: 97.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 2.4% 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: 5,500 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 (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 141

4,285 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

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.)

808,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 808,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 178

175.578 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

total subscriptions: 36,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 163

total subscriptions: 100,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 150 (2021 est.)

country comparison to the world: 191

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.)

country comparison to the world: 199

total: 3,200 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.)

country comparison to the world: 191

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6

VP-C

3 (2021)

country comparison to the world: 194

3

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

1

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

total: 785 km (2007)

paved: 785 km (2007)

country comparison to the world: 189

total: 139

by type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 86 (2022)

country comparison to the world: 77

major seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town

cruise port(s): George Town, Grand Cayman

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

defense is the responsibility of the UK

none

major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering