Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands Population: 22,352
BackgroundThe islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overss territory.
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GeographyAbout 40 islands (eight inhabited).Loion:Caribbn, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocn, southst of The Bahamas, north of HaitiGeographic coordinates:21 45 N, 71 35 WAr:total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries:0 kmCoastline:389 kmMaritime claims:territorial s: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmClimate:tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dryTerrain:low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swampsElevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbn S 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 mNatural resources:spiny lobster, conchLand use:arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2005)Irrigated land:NANatural hazards:frequent hurricanesCurrent Environment Issues:limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
PeoplePopulation:22,352 (July 2008 est.)Age structure:0-14 yrs: 30.7% (male 3,497/female 3,374)
15-64 yrs: 65.2% (male 7,640/female 6,929)
65 yrs and over: 4.1% (male 435/female 477) (2008 est.)Median age:total: 27.8 yrs
male: 28.5 yrs
female: 27 yrs (2008 est.)Population growth rate:2.644% (2008 est.)Birth rate:21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)Dth rate:4.16 dths/1,000 population (2008 est.)Net migration rate:9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 yrs: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 yrs: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 yrs and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)Infant mortality rate:total: 14.35 dths/1,000 live births
male: 16.56 dths/1,000 live births
female: 12.04 dths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.19 yrs
male: 72.91 yrs
female: 77.59 yrs (2008 est.)Total fertility rate:2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NAHIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NAHIV/AIDS - dths:NANationality:noun: none
adjective: noneEthnic groups:black 90%, mixed, Europn, or North American 10%Religions:Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)Languages:English (official)Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
GovernmentCountry name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCIGovernment type:NACapital:name: Grand Turk (Cock Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in OctoberAdministrative divisions:none (overss territory of the UK)Independence:none (overss territory of the UK)National holiday:Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)Constitution:Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006)Legal system:based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The BahamasSuffrage:18 yrs of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008)
hd of government: Premier Michael Eue MISICK (chief minister since 15 August 2003, sworn in as premier on 9 August 2006); note - the of premier was crted in the 2006 constitution
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney eral
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the lder of the majority party is appointed premier by the governorLegislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (21 sts of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-yr terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; sts by party - PNP 13, PDM 2Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of ApplPolitical parties and lders:People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eue MISICK]Political pressure groups and lders:NAInternational organization participation:Caricom (associate), B, Interpol (subburu), UPUDiplomatic representation in the US:none (overss territory of the UK)Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overss territory of the UK)
EconomyThe Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the lding source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.GDP (purchasing power parity):$216 million (2002 est.)GDP (official exchange rate):$NAGDP - rl growth rate:4.9% (2000 est.)GDP - per capita (PPP):$11,500 (2002 est.)GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%Labor force:4,848 (1990 est.)Labor force - by occupation:note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant s in tourism, financial, and other servicesUnemployment rate:10% (1997 est.)Population below poverty line:NA%Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (1995)Budget:revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)Agriculture - products:
Industries:tourism, offshore financial servicesIndustrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:10 million kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - consumption:9.3 million kWh (2006 est.)Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2007 est.)Oil - consumption:80 bbl/day (2006 est.)Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)Oil - imports:83.78 bbl/day (2005)Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)Exports:$169.2 million (2000)Exports - commodities:lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shellsImports:$175.6 million (2000)Imports - commodities:food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materialsDebt - external:$NACurrency ():US dollar (USD)Exchange rates:the US dollar is usedFiscal yr:calendar yr
CommuniionsTele in use:5,700 (2002)Cellular in use:1,700 (1999)Telephone system:eral assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available
international: country - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbn Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommuniions submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbn, and the US; satellite rth station - 1 sat (Atlantic Ocn)Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)Television broadcast stations:0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)Internet country :.tcInternet hosts:2,352 (2008)Internet users:NA
TransportationAirports:8 (2007)Airports (paved runways):total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)Airports (unpaved runways):total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)Roadways:total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)Merchant marine:registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)Ports and terminals:Grand Turk, Providenciales
MilitaryDefense is the responsibility of the UK