| Cayman Islands |
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| Introduction | Cayman Islands |
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Background:
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The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent. |
| Geography | Cayman Islands |
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Location:
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Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras |
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Geographic coordinates:
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19 30 N, 80 30 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 262 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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1.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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160 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) |
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Terrain:
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low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism |
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Land use:
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arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes (July to November) |
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Environment - current issues:
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no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments |
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Geography - note:
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important location between Cuba and Central America |
| People | Cayman Islands |
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Population:
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44,270 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 21.1% (male 4,658/female 4,662)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 15,284/female 16,050) 65 years and over: 8.2% (male 1,699/female 1,917) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 36.83 years
male: 36.48 years female: 37.18 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.64% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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12.92 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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18.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 8.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) male: 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.95 years
male: 77.33 years female: 82.6 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.9 children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian |
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Ethnic groups:
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mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% |
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Religions:
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United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic |
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Languages:
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English |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.) |
| Government | Cayman Islands |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK |
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Government type:
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British crown colony |
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Capital:
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George Town |
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Administrative divisions:
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8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, first Monday in July |
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Constitution:
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1959, revised 1972 and 1992 |
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Legal system:
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British common law and local statutes |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business head of government: Leader of Government Business W. McKeeva BUSH (since NA December 2001) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 November 2000 (next to be held 17 May 2005; delayed from 17 November 2004 as a result of Hurricane Ivan) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal |
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Political parties and leaders:
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no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description:
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blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS |
| Economy | Cayman Islands |
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Economy - overview:
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With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $1.391 billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.7% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $32,300 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA (2002 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.8% (2002) |
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Labor force:
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19,820 (1995) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995) |
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Unemployment rate:
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4.1% (1997) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997) |
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming |
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Industries:
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tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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410.8 million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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382.1 million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$1.2 million (1999) |
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Exports - commodities:
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turtle products, manufactured consumer goods |
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Exports - partners:
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mostly US |
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Imports:
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$457.4 million (1999) |
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Imports - commodities:
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foodstuffs, manufactured goods |
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Imports - partners:
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US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan |
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Debt - external:
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$70 million (1996) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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NA |
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Currency:
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Caymanian dollar (KYD) |
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Currency code:
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KYD |
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Exchange rates:
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Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |
| Communications | Cayman Islands |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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38,000 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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17,000 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) |
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Radios:
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36,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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4 with cable system (2004) |
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Televisions:
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7,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ky |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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16 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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9,909 (2003) |
| Transportation | Cayman Islands |
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Highways:
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total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2000) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Cayman Brac, George Town |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,827,837 GRT/4,555,974 DWT
foreign-owned: 126 (Denmark 1, Germany 14, Greece 20, Italy 12, Norway 1, Philippines 1, Sweden 13, Switzerland 11, United Kingdom 9, United States 44) (2005) by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 12, chemical tanker 39, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 3 |
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Airports:
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3 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Cayman Islands |
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Military branches:
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no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Transnational Issues | Cayman Islands |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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Illicit drugs:
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offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe |
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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005 |