Turks and Caicos Islands

source : World Fact Book 2008 (October 2008)

SEE UPDATED INFORMATION HERE

   Introduction    Turks and Caicos Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing 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    Turks and Caicos Islands
Location:
Definition Field Listing Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing 0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing 389 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing spiny lobster, conch
Land use:
Definition Field Listing arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing frequent hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
   People    Turks and Caicos Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 22,352 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing 0-14 years: 30.7% (male 3,497/female 3,374)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 7,640/female 6,929)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 435/female 477) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing total: 27.8 years
male: 28.5 years
female: 27 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing 2.644% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 21.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total population: 75.19 years
male: 72.91 years
female: 77.59 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing English (official)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing 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):
Definition Field Listing total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
People - note:
Definition Field Listing destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
   Government    Turks and Caicos Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing 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 first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008)
head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (chief minister since 15 August 2003, sworn in as premier on 9 August 2006); note - the office of premier was created 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 general
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats of which 15 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 60%, PDM 40%; seats by party - PNP 13, PDM 2
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing 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:
Definition Field Listing 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):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $216 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing $NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $11,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 10% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 4% (1995)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 11.57 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 10.76 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing 0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 80 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 83.55 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $169.2 million (2000)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing US, UK (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $175.6 million (2000)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing US, UK (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing $4.1 million (1997)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order $NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing US dollar (USD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing calendar year
   Communications    Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 5,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 1,700 (1999)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available
international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing 0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing .tc
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 2,310 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order NA
   Transportation    Turks and Caicos Islands
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order 8 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing Grand Turk, Providenciales
   Military    Turks and Caicos Islands
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing male: 222
female: 214 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing defense is the responsibility of the UK
   Transnational Issues    Turks and Caicos Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe



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Source : CIA's World Fact Book 2008

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