Cayman Islands - KY - CYM - CAY - Central America and the Caribbean

overseas territory of the UK

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767)

15-64 years: 65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456)

65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)

19 30 N, 80 30 W

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

hurricanes (July to November)

1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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.

no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment; trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents; no recycling or waste treatment facilities; deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use)

aircraft, ships, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

revenues: $874.5 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: $766.6 million (2017 est.)

name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)

geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: originally named Hogstyes, the town was renamed in honor of English King GEORGE III (1738-1820) around 1800

ships, refined petroleum, cars, furniture, jewelry (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

160 km

history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.833 (2023 est.)
0.833 (2022 est.)
0.833 (2021 est.)
0.833 (2020 est.)
0.833 (2019 est.)

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)

head of government: Premier Juliana O'CONNOR-CONNOLLY (since 15 November 2023)

cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor

a blue field 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 crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea; a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering

 

none (overseas territory of the UK)

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

highest court(s): 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: 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: Summary Court

note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 11.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 8.3% (2022 est.)

forest: 52.7% (2022 est.)

other: 36.1% (2022 est.)

English common law and local statutes

legislature name: Parliament

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 21 (directly elected and appointed)

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 4/14/2021

parties elected and seats per party: independent (12); PPM (7)

percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%

expected date of next election: 2025

total population: 98.9% NA

male: 98.7% NA

female: 99% (2021) NA

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

noun: Caymanian(s)

adjective: Caymanian

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

important location between Cuba and Central America

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

Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP
People's Progressive Movement or PPM

18 years of age; universal

general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)

domestic: 53 per 100 fixed-line and 150 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

international: country code - 1-345; landing points for the Maya-1, Deep Blue Cable, and the Cayman-Jamaica Fiber System submarine cables that provide links to the US and parts of Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

defense is the responsibility of the UK

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Cayman Islands

etymology: Spanish explorers named the islands in the early 16th century, using the Carib word for marine crocodiles, caiman

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Central America and the Caribbean

NA

none (overseas territory of the UK)

percent of population: 81% (2017 est.)

.ky

$7.139 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Moody's rating: Aa3 (1997)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer a variety of international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman

improved:

urban: 97.4% of population

total: 97.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.6% of population

total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

name: "Beloved Isle Cayman"

lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS

note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

green sea turtle

household consumption: 62.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 2.6% (2020 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 59.6% (2020 est.)

imports of goods and services: -45.8% (2020 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

see United Kingdom

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

VP-C

improved:

urban: 95.6% of population

total: 95.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 4.4% of population

total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

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: data represent population by country of birth

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.)

English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)

note:  data represent main language spoken at home

highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

NA

total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 25.3 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 4 (2024 est.)

Germany 30%, USA 29%, Italy 20%, Turkey 5%, China 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

UK 40%, Cyprus 21%, Germany 9%, Grenada 8%, Italy 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

municipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12,600 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2013 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.55 megatons (2016 est.)

fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

0.9 (2024 est.)

51.4% (2023 est.)

0.14% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.19% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.17% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 2 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 2

ports with oil terminals: 2

key ports: Cayman Brac, Georgetown

The Cayman Islands is a British dependency, and the Queen of England approved its 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 recalls the islands’ seafaring history, and the rope under it refers to the thatch rope industry. The pineapple references historical ties with Jamaica. The motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage.

 

total: 13.8% (2015 est.)

male: 16.4%

female: 11.4%

12.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 41.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 40.3 years

female: 42 years

$234 million (2023 est.)
$225.4 million (2022 est.)
$228.3 million (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

1.82 children born/woman (2024 est.)

(2008)
(2004)

total: 66,653 (2024 est.)

male: 32,379

female: 34,274

737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 264 sq km

land: 264 sq km

water: 0 sq km

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$5.705 billion (2023 est.)
$5.467 billion (2022 est.)
$5.199 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

3 (2025)

total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 100,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2021 est.)

2% (2017 est.)
-0.63% (2016 est.)
-2.35% (2015 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$647.271 million (2022 est.)
-$794.205 million (2021 est.)
-$827.492 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$78,100 (2023 est.)
$76,400 (2022 est.)
$74,200 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 40,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2022 est.)

143.149 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

11.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 176,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 698.767 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2.117 million kWh (2023 est.)

total: 130 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77

NA

$3.3 billion (2022 est.)
$2.808 billion (2021 est.)
$2.51 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$5.019 billion (2022 est.)
$4.138 billion (2021 est.)
$3.951 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

5 (2025)

total subscriptions: 36,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.)

total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 79.8 years

female: 85.2 years

4.36% (2023 est.)
5.16% (2022 est.)
4.9% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

3.45% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 0.5% (2022 est.)

industry: 8.2% (2022 est.)

services: 85.4% (2022 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

2.1% of GDP (2019)

1.75% (2024 est.)