*Turks and Caicos Islands, Geography

Location:
  in the western North Atlantic Ocean, 190 km north of the Dominican Republic
  and southeast of The Bahamas
Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
 total area:
  430 km2
 land area:
  430 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  389 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  none
Climate:
  tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain:
  low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Natural resources:
  spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
 arable land:
  2%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  98%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  30 islands (eight inhabited); subject to frequent hurricanes

*Turks and Caicos Islands, People

Population:
  13,137 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.97% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:   14.88 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  20.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  75.34 years
 male:
  73.41 years
 female:
  77.02 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.17 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  none
 adjective:
  none
Ethnic divisions:
  African
Religions:
  Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%,
  other 19.9% (1980)
Languages:
  English (official)
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
 total population:
  98%
 male:
  99%
 female:
  98%
Labor force:
  NA
 by occupation:
  majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries; some subsistence
  agriculture

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  none
 conventional short form:
  Turks and Caicos Islands
Digraph:
  TK
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:   Grand Turk
Administrative divisions:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
  introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, and a Constitutional
  Commission is currently reviewing its contents
Legal system:
  based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica
  and The Bahamas
National holiday:
  Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Political parties and leaders:
  Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSIC; People's Democratic
  Movement (PDM), Oswald SKIPPINGS; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel
  MISSICK
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Legislative Council:
  last held on 3 April 1991 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
  party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PNP 8, PDM 5
Executive branch:
  British monarch, governor, Executive Council, chief minister
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Michael
  J. BRADLEY (since NA 1987)
 Head of Government:
  Chief Minister Washington MISSIC (since NA 1991)
Member of:
  CARICOM (associate), CDB
Diplomatic representation in US:
  as a dependent territory of the UK, the interests of the Turks and Caicos
  Islands are represented in the US by the UK
US diplomatic representation:
  none
Flag:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow
  and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Economy

Overview:
  The economy is based on fishing, tourism, and offshore banking. Only
  subsistence farming - corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - exists on the
  Caicos Islands, so that most foods, as well as nonfood products, must be
  imported.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $68.5 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  NA%
National product per capita:
  $5,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  NA%
Unemployment rate:
  12% (1992)
Budget:
  revenues $20.3 million; expenditures $44.0 million, including capital
  expenditures of $23.9 million (1989)
Exports:
  $4.1 million (f.o.b., 1987)
 commodities:
  lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
 partners:
  US, UK
Imports:
  $33.2 million (c.i.f., FY84)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, drink, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
 partners:
  US, UK
External debt:
  $NA
Industrial production:
  growth rate NA%
Electricity:
  9,050 kW capacity; 11.1 million kWh produced, 860 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  fishing, tourism, offshore financial services
Agriculture:
  subsistence farming prevails, based on corn and beans; fishing more
  important than farming; not self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
  Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
  $110 million
Currency:
  US currency is used
Exchange rates:
  US currency is used
Fiscal year:
  calendar year

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Communications

Highways:
  121 km, including 24 km tarmac
Ports:
  Grand Turk, Salt Cay, Providenciales, Cockburn Harbour
Airports:
 total:   7
 usable:
  7
 with permanent-surface runways:
  4
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659:
  0
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  4
Telecommunications:
  fair cable and radio services; 1,446 telephones; broadcast stations - 3 AM,
  no FM, several TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Turks and Caicos Islands, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK