Turks And Caicos Islands

Dependent territory of the U.K.

 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas

Area

Total area: 430 sq km
Land area: 430 sq km
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
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

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

Environment

Current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
International agreements: NA

Note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)

PEOPLE

Population

14,302 (July 1996 est.)
13,941 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

2.14% (1996 est.)
2.41% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

12.85 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
13.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
5.16 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
15.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

12.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
12.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 75.4 years (1996 est.), 75.37 years (1995 est.)
Male: 73.46 years (1996 est.), 73.44 years (1995 est.)
Female: 77.07 years (1996 est.), 77.04 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.86 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.3 children born/woman (1995 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 that has ever attended school (1970)

Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 98%

Labor Force

4,848 (1990 est.)

By occupation:

Majority engaged in fishing and tourist industries
Some subsistence agriculture

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Digraph

Type

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital

Grand Turk

Administrative Divisions

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

Independence

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National Holiday

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution

Introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5 March 1988

Legal System

Based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Martin BOURKE (since NA February 1993)
Head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)
Cabinet: Executive Council; consists of three ex-officio members and five appointed by the governor from the Legislative Council

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Legislative Council

Elections last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total, 13 elected) PDM 8, PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISSICK; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Ariel MISSICK

Member of

CARICOM (associate), CDB, INTERPOL (subbureau)

Flag

Blue with the flag of the U.K. 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

ECONOMY

Overview

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most food for domestic consumption is imported; there is some subsistence farming - mainly corn, cassava, citrus, and beans - on the Caicos Islands. The tourism sector expanded in 1995, posting a 10% increase in the first quarter as compared to the same period in 1994. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1995, accounting for upward of 70% of arrivals or about 60,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts as the Islands rely on imports for nearly all consumption and capital goods.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $80.8 million (1992 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

-1.5% (1992)

National Product Per Capita

$6,000 (1992 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

Unemployment Rate

12% (1992)

Budget

Revenues: $31.9 million (1995), $20.3 million (1989 est.)
Expenditures: $30.4 million (1995), including capital expenditures of $NA, $44 million, including capital expenditures of $23.9 million (1989 est.)

Exports

$6.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Lobster
Dried and fresh conch
Conch shells

Partners:

U.S.
U.K.

Imports

$42.8 million (1993)

Commodities:

Food and beverages
Tobacco
Clothing
Manufactures
Construction materials

Partners:

U.S.
U.K.

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 9,050 kW
Production: 11.1 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 860 kWh (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

Illicit Drugs

Transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the U.S.

Economic Aid

Recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $110 million

Currency

1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

U.S. currency is used

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 121 km (including 24 km tarmac)
Paved: 24 km
Unpaved: 97 km

Ports

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 7
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

1,359 telephones (1988 est.); fair cable and radio services

Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 2 submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 7,000 (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: television programs are available from a cable network, and broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received in the islands
Televisions: NA

DEFENSE FORCES

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.

History
World Atlas

last updated: 24 november 1997

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