{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "19 30 N, 80 30 W" }, "Map references": { "text": "Central America and the Caribbean" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "264 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "264 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C." }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "160 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "exclusive fishing zone": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)" }, "Terrain": { "text": "low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Caribbean Sea 0 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "11.2% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 8.3% (2023 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "53% (2023 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "35.8% (2023 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "NA" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "hurricanes (July to November)" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "important location between Cuba and Central America" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "66,653 (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "32,379" }, "female": { "text": "34,274" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Caymanian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Caymanian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Cayman Islander 35.4%, Jamaican 24.8%, Filipino 5.5%, British 5.3%, American 5.2%, Honduran 4.2%, Canadian 3.3%, Indian 2.1%, Cuban 1.6%, Nicaraguan 1%, other 11.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)", "note": "note: data represent population by country of birth" }, "Languages": { "text": "English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)", "note": "note:  data represent main language spoken at home" }, "Religions": { "text": "Protestant 60.8% (includes Church of God 19.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.7%, non-denominational 8.3%, Baptist 6.9%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Presbyterian/United Church 5.7%, Anglican 2.8%, Wesleyan Holiness 1.5%, Methodist 0.5%), Roman Catholic 13.6%, Hindu 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 4.8%, none 16.7%, unspecified 1.4% (2021 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "51.7 (2024 est.)" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "26.4 (2024 est.)" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "25.3 (2024 est.)" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "4 (2024 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "41.3 years (2025 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "40.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "42 years" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.71% (2025 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "11.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "100% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.01 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.96 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.84 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)" } }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "8.8 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "5.7 deaths/1,000 live births" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "82.5 years (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "79.8 years" }, "female": { "text": "85.2 years" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.81 children born/woman (2025 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.9 (2025 est.)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)" } }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 93.5% of population (2022 est.)" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 93.5% of population (2022 est.)" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 6.5% of population (2022 est.)" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 6.5% of population (2022 est.)" } }, "Education expenditure": { "Education expenditure (% GDP)": { "text": "1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditure (% national budget)": { "text": "15% national budget (2019 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environmental issues": { "text": "no natural freshwater resources; trash washing up or being deposited on beaches; no recycling or waste-treatment facilities; deforestation " }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "11.2% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 8.3% (2023 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "53% (2023 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "35.8% (2023 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "100% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "60,000 tons (2024 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "none" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Cayman Islands" }, "etymology": { "text": "Spanish explorers named the islands in the early 16th century, using the Carib word for marine crocodiles, caiman" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK" }, "Dependency status": { "text": "overseas territory of the UK" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "George Town (on Grand Cayman)" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "19 18 N, 81 23 W" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "originally named Hogstyes, the town was renamed in honor of English King GEORGE III (1738-1820) around 1800" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay" }, "Legal system": { "text": "English common law and local statutes" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)" } }, "Citizenship": { "text": "see United Kingdom" }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Premier André Martin EBANKS (since 6 May 2025)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier" }, "election/appointment process": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier" } }, "Legislative branch": { "legislature name": { "text": "Parliament" }, "legislative structure": { "text": "unicameral" }, "number of seats": { "text": "21 (directly elected and appointed)" }, "scope of elections": { "text": "full renewal" }, "term in office": { "text": "4 years" }, "most recent election date": { "text": "4/14/2021" }, "parties elected and seats per party": { "text": "independent (12); PPM (7)" }, "percentage of women in chamber": { "text": "23.8%" }, "expected date of next election": { "text": "2025" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges) " }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Summary Court" }, "note": "note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)" }, "Political parties": { "text": "Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP
People's Progressive Movement or PPM" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)" }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "embassy": { "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica" } }, "International organization participation": { "text": "Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU" }, "Independence": { "text": "none (overseas territory of the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)" }, "Flag": { "text": "description: a blue field with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms has a pineapple, a turtle, a shield with a golden lion and three green stars, and a scroll below the shield with the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

meaning: the pineapple represents ties to Jamaica; the turtle represents the Caymans' seafaring tradition; the lion symbolizes Great Britain; the green stars represent the three islands; the white and blue wavy lines on the coat of arms represent the sea" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "green sea turtle" }, "National coat of arms": { "text": "the Queen of England approved the Cayman Islands' coat of arms -- which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958; the shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman; the green turtle stands for the islands’ seafaring history, the rope under it for the thatch-rope industry, and the pineapple for historical ties with Jamaica; the motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage" }, "National anthem(s)": { "title": { "text": "\"God Save the King\"" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "unknown" }, "history": { "text": "official anthem, as an overseas UK territory" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "dominant offshore banking territory; services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity; recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering; large tourism sector; does not have any welfare system; high standard of living" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$5.705 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$5.467 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$5.199 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "4.4% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "5.2% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "4.9% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$78,100 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$76,400 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$74,200 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$7.139 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "2% (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": { "text": "-0.6% (2016 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015": { "text": "-2.3% (2015 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.5% (2022 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "8.2% (2022 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "85.4% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming" }, "Industries": { "text": "tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "3.4% (2022 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.2% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$874.5 million (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$766.6 million (2017 est.)" } }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "-$712.684 million (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "-$749.482 million (2022 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "-$794.205 million (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2023": { "text": "$4.6 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$4.215 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Exports 2021": { "text": "$3.542 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "UK 40%, Cyprus 21%, Germany 9%, Grenada 8%, Italy 5% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "aircraft, ships, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2023": { "text": "$3.444 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$3.287 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Imports 2021": { "text": "$2.808 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Germany 30%, USA 29%, Italy 20%, Turkey 5%, China 5% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "ships, refined petroleum, cars, furniture, jewelry (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$234 million (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$225.4 million (2022 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": { "text": "$228.3 million (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "0.833 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "0.833 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "0.833 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "0.833 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "0.833 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "176,000 kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "698.767 million kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "2.117 million kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "143.149 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "36,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "50 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "99,737 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "139 (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer  international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".ky" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "81% (2017 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "40,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "56 (2022 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "VP-C" }, "Airports": { "text": "3 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "5 (2025)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "130 (2023)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "2 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "0" }, "medium": { "text": "0" }, "small": { "text": "0" }, "very small": { "text": "2" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "2" }, "key ports": { "text": "Cayman Brac, Georgetown" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service" }, "Military - note": { "text": "defense is the responsibility of the UK" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees": { "text": "65 (2024 est.)" } } } }