Central America and Caribbean :: Cayman Islands (overseas territory of the UK) page last updated on November 9, 2011

Introduction ::Cayman Islands Background: The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica 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.

Geography ::Cayman Islands

Location: 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: 19 30 N, 80 30 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 264 sq km country comparison to the world: 210 land: 264 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 160 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff on Cayman Brac 43 m Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism Land use: arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005) Irrigated land: NA

hurricanes (July to November) Environment - current issues: no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments Geography - note: ::Cayman Islands People and Society important location between Cuba and Central America Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% Languages: English (official) 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census) Religions: Protestant 67.7% (Church of God 25.5%, Presbyterian/United Church 9.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 8.4%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 6.7%, Anglican 3.9%, non-denominational 5.7%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other religions 4%, other 6.5%, none 6.1%, unspecified 3.2% (2007) Population: 51,384 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 4,924/female 4,858) 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 17,766/female 18,743) 65 years and over: 9.9% (male 2,401/female 2,692) (2011 est.) Median age: total: 38.7 years male: 38.2 years female: 39.2 years (2011 est.) Population growth rate: 2.287% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 Birth rate: 12.24 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 Net migration rate: 15.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 5 note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2011 est.) Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

GEORGE TOWN (capital) 32,000 (2009) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.016 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 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 (2011 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 6.63 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 168 male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.68 years country comparison to the world: 21 male: 78.02 years female: 83.39 years (2011 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 Drinking water source: improved: urban: 95% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 5% of population total: 5% of population (2008) Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population total: 4% of population (2008) HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 145 Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98%