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.
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
430 sq km
land
430 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
Blue Hills 49 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 fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Geography - note
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Population
21,746 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
31.3% (male 3,466/female 3,345)
15-64 years
64.8% (male 7,398/female 6,690)
65 years and over
3.9% (male 394/female 453) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
27.7 years
male
28.4 years
female
26.9 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.722% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
21.48 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
9.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.036 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.106 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
total population
1.073 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
14.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male
17 deaths/1,000 live births
female
12.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
74.95 years
male
72.69 years
female
77.32 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.02 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
none
adjective
none
Ethnic groups
black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%
Religions
Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)
Languages
English (official)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population
98%
male
99%
female
98% (1970 est.)
People - note
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
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 first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October
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 Order 2006 (effective 9 August 2006)
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 1952); represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)
head of government
Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003); 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
none; 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
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
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]
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 - 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.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
NA
GDP - real growth rate
4.9% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$11,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
NA%
industry
NA%
services
NA%
Labor force
4,848 (1990 est.)
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.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4% (1995)
Budget
revenues
$47 million
expenditures
$33.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-98 est.)
Agriculture - products
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries
tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity - production
7 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
100%
hydro
0%
nuclear
0%
other
0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
6.51 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
80 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports
$169.2 million (2000)
Exports - commodities
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports - partners
US, UK (2006)
Imports
$175.6 million (2000)
Imports - commodities
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports - partners
US, UK (2006)
Debt - external
$NA
Economic aid - recipient
$4.1 million (1997)
Currency (code)
US dollar (USD)
Currency code
USD
Exchange rates
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
5,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1,700 (1999)
Telephone system
general assessment
fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic
full range of services available; GSM wireless service available
international
country code - 1-649; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)
Radios
8,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
0 (broadcasts received from The Bahamas; 2 cable television networks) (2003)
Televisions
NA
Internet country code
.tc
Internet hosts
2,735 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
14 (2000)
Internet users
NA
Airports
8 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
6
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
914 to 1,523 m
1
under 914 m
2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
2
under 914 m
2 (2006)
Roadways
total
121 km
paved
24 km
unpaved
97 km (2003)
Ports and terminals
Grand Turk, Providenciales
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Disputes - international
have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
