*Cayman Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, nearly halfway between Cuba and Honduras
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  260 km2
 land area:
  260 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  160 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  none
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
Natural resources:
  fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  8%
 forest and woodland:
  23%
 other:
  69%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  within the Caribbean hurricane belt
Note:
  important location between Cuba and Central America

*Cayman Islands, People

Population:
  30,440 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  4.35% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  15.32 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  77.1 years
 male:
  75.37 years
 female:
  78.81 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  1.48 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Caymanian(s)
 adjective:
  Caymanian
Ethnic divisions:   mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions:
  United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman
  Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages:
  English
Literacy:
  age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  98%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  8,061
 by occupation:
  service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and
  investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)

*Cayman Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Cayman Islands
Digraph:
  CJ
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  George Town
Administrative divisions:
  8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West
  End, Western
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  1959, revised 1972
Legal system:
  British common law and local statutes
National holiday:
  Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Political parties and leaders:
  no formal political parties
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Assembly:
  last held November 1992 (next to be held November 1996); results - percent
  of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected)
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
  Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Governor and President of the Executive Council Michael GORE (since NA May
  1992)
Member of:
  CARICOM (observer), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a dependent territory of the UK, Caymanian interests in the US are
  represented by the UK
Flag:
  blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the
  flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with
  three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom
  bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

*Cayman Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export
  earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed
  at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America.
  About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods needs must be imported.
  The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $670 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  4.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $23,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  7% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $141.5 million; expenditures $160.7 million, including capital
  expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
  $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.)
 commodities:
  turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
 partners:
  mostly US
Imports:
  $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactured goods
 partners:   US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
External debt:
  $15 million (1986)
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced, 8,780 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, building materials,
  furniture making
Agriculture:
  minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock; turtle farming
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $26.7 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $35 million
Currency:
  1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
  Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1 - 1.20 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Cayman Islands, Communications

Highways:
  160 km of main roads
Ports:
  George Town, Cayman Brac
Merchant marine:
  29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,738 GRT/468,659 DWT; includes 1
  passenger-cargo, 8 cargo, 8 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 oil tanker, 2 chemical
  tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 4 bulk, 2 combination bulk; note - a flag
  of convenience registry
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  2
Telecommunications:
  35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1 submarine coaxial cable and 1
  Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to link islands and access
  international services; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM, no TV

*Cayman Islands, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK