Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
Introduction
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 remain a British overseas territory.
Geography
Location
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total: 948 sq km
country comparison to the world: 186 land:948 sq km
water:0 sq km
Area – comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
389 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 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:Flamingo Hill 48 m
Natural resources
spiny lobster, conch
Land use
arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops:0%
other:97.67% (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
frequent hurricanes
Environment – current issues
limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Geography – note
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
People and Society
Nationality
noun: none
adjective:none
Ethnic groups
black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2001 census)
Languages
English (official)
Religions
Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.8%, other 14% (2001)
Population
44,819 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.7% (male 5,188/female 5,008)
15-64 years:73.2% (male 16,653/female 16,156)
65 years and over:4% (male 813/female 1,001) (2011 est.)
Median age
total: 30.4 years
male:30.8 years
female:30.1 years (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
3.485% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Birth rate
17.76 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Death rate
2.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Net migration rate
20.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Urbanization
urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population
GRAND TURK (capital) 6,000 (2009)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.052 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.98 male(s)/female
total population:1.07 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 134 male:15.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 79.11 years
country comparison to the world: 40 male:76.39 years
female:81.97 years (2011 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.7 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 4% of population (2000)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS – deaths
NA
Education expenditures
NA
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:98%
male:99%
female:98% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years
male:11 years
female:12 years (2005)
People – note
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation:TCI
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Government type
NA
Capital
name: Grand Turk (Cockburn 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 second Sunday in March
ends first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009, S.I. 2009/701 – effective 14 August 2009 – suspended Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the constitutional right to trial by jury, and imposed direct British rule
Legal system
mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
Suffrage
18 years of age
universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
represented by Governor Damian (Ric) TODD (since 12 September 2011)
head of government:Governor Damian (Ric) TODD (since 12 September 2011)
note – the office of premier is suspended by the Order in Council, effective 14 August 2009
cabinet:under provisions of the Order in Council, the cabinet is suspended effective 14 August 2009 and replaced by an Advisory Council appointed by the governor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary
governor appointed by the monarch
note:following an investigation into allegations of widespread corruption and misconduct within the Turks and Caicos Government, the UK foreign minister directed the governor to bring into effect on 14 August 2009 an Order in Council suspending Ministerial government and the House of Assembly, and imposing direct rule pending completion of reform milestones
Legislative branch
under provisions of the Order in Council, the unicameral House of Assembly is dissolved and all seats vacated for a period of up to two years
in the interim, a Consultative Forum, appointed by the governor, will be established
elections:last held on 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:under provisions of the Order in Council, all seats in the House of Assembly are vacated
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders
People’s Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]
Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus – three common elements of the islands’ biota
National anthem
name: “This Land of Ours”
lyrics/music:Conrad HOWELL
note:serves as a local anthem
as a territory of the United Kingdom, “God Save the Queen” is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economy – overview
The 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 leading 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.)
country comparison to the world: 214
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP – real growth rate
4.9% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
GDP – per capita (PPP)
$11,500 (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
GDP – composition by sector
agriculture: 1%
industry:23.9%
services:75.2%
Labor force
4,848 (1990 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Labor force – by occupation
note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing
significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Unemployment rate
10% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%
Investment (gross fixed)
44.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Budget
revenues: $345 million
expenditures:$374.5 million (2010 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62 1.5% (2009 est.)
Agriculture – products
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits
fish
Industries
tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity – production
175 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Electricity – consumption
162.8 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Electricity – exports
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – imports
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Oil – production
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil – consumption
500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Oil – exports
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Oil – imports
470 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil – proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Natural gas – production
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas – consumption
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas – exports
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas – imports
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas – proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Exports
$169.2 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exports – commodities
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Imports
$175.6 million (2000)
country comparison to the world: 204
Imports – commodities
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Debt – external
$NA
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Transportation
Airports
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world:166
Airports – with paved runways
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:2 (2010)
Airports – with unpaved runways
total: 1
under 914 m:1 (2010)
Roadways
total: 121 km
country comparison to the world: 211 paved:24 km
unpaved:97 km (2003)
Merchant marine
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
Ports and terminals
Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Military
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 11,842
females age 16-49:11,755 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 338
female:342 (2010 est.)
Military – note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes – international
have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe