Turks and Caicos Islands
Introduction Turks and Caicos Islands
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Background: The 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 are presently a British
overseas territory.
Geography Turks and Caicos Islands
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Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of
The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 430 sq km
Area - comparative: 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
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade
winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive
marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use: arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water
resources, private cisterns collect
rainwater
Geography - note: about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
People Turks and Caicos Islands
-------------------------------
Population: 18,738 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 3,101;
female 3,004)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 6,266;
female 5,651)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 319;
female 397) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.28% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 24.18 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 12.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/
female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.76 years
female: 76.03 years (2002 est.)
male: 71.59 years
Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican
18%, Church of God 12%, other 14%
(1990)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
total population: 98%
People - note: destination and transit point for
illegal Haitian immigrants bound for
the Turks and Caicos Islands,
Bahamas, and US
Government Turks and Caicos Islands
-----------------------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and
Caicos Islands
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 few 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 Mervyn JONES (since 27
January 2000)
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; chief minister
appointed by the governor
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 among
the members of the Legislative
Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19
seats, of which 13 are popularly
elected; members serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held 4 March 1999
(next to be held NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by
party - PDM 52.2%, PNP 40.9%,
independent 6.9%; seats by party -
PDM 9, PNP 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM
[Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive
National Party or PNP [Washington
MISICK]; United Democratic Party or
UDP [Wendal SWANN]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol
participation: (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the none (overseas territory of the UK)
US:
Flag description: 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
Economy Turks and Caicos Islands
--------------------------------
Economy - overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is
based on tourism, fishing, and
offshore financial services. Most
capital goods and food for domestic
consumption are imported. The US is
the leading source of tourists,
accounting for more than half of the
93,000 visitors in 1998. Major
sources of government revenue
include fees from offshore financial
activities and customs receipts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $128
million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 8.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,300
(1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995)
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant
numbers in tourism, financial, and
other services (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (1997-98 est.)
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 4.65 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca),
citrus fruits; fish
Exports: $13.7 million (1999)
Exports - commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch,
conch shells
Exports - partners: US, UK
Imports: $175.6 million (1999)
Imports - commodities: food and beverages, tobacco,
clothing, manufactures, construction
materials
Imports - partners: US, UK
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $4.1 million (1997)
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Turks and Caicos Islands
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Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system: general assessment: fair cable and
radiotelephone services
domestic: NA
international: 2 submarine cables;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave
0 (1998)
Radios: 8,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are
received; cable television is
established) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet country code: .tc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 14 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Turks and Caicos Islands
---------------------------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2000)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 8 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Military Turks and Caicos Islands
---------------------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK
Transnational Issues Turks and Caicos Islands
---------------------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South
American narcotics destined for the
US and Europe
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