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: 185 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

Population: |  |
`44,819 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 209`
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: 110`
Death rate: |  |
`2.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 219`
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: 169`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
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)`
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.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 12 years (2005)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`
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 Gordon WETHERELL (since 5 August 2008)
head of government: Governor Gordon WETHERELL (since 14 August 2009); 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 theWorld 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 for a period of up to two years
`

Legislative branch: |  |

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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 by July 2011)
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: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%`
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: 110`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $47 million expenditures: $33.6 million (1997-98 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`4% (1995) country comparison to the world: 116`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, offshore financial services`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`12 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 210`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`11.16 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 210`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`NA bbl/day (2009 est.)`
Oil - exports: |  |
`NA (2007 est.)`
Oil - imports: |  |
`NA bbl/day (2007 est.)`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 193`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192`
Exports: |  |
`$169.2 million (2000) country comparison to the world: 184`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells`
Imports: |  |
`$175.6 million (2000) country comparison to the world: 203`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials`
Debt - external: |  |
`$NA`
Exchange rates: |  |
`the US dollar is used`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`3,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 216`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`25,100 (2004) country comparison to the world: 204`
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; 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)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`while there are no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations broadcasting (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.tc`
Internet hosts: |  |
`8,969 (2010) country comparison to the world: 127`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`8 (2010) country comparison to the world: 164`
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: 160`
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`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011