The 2010 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 165

      Transnational Issues ::Cape Verde

      Disputes - international:

      none

      Illicit drugs:

      used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe, particularly because of Lusophone links to Brazil, Portugal, and Guinea-Bissau; has taken steps to deter drug money laundering, including a 2002 anti-money laundering reform that criminalizes laundering the proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other crimes and the establishment in 2008 of a Financial Intelligence Unit (2008)

      page last updated on January 12, 2011

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      @Cayman Islands (Central America and Caribbean)

      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

      Natural hazards:

      hurricanes (July to November)

      Environment - current issues:

      no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

      Geography - note:

      important location between Cuba and Central America

      People ::Cayman Islands

      Population:

      50,209 country comparison to the world: 206 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2010 est.)

      Age structure:

      0–14 years: 19.6% (male 4,824/female 4,783)

      15–64 years: 71.1% (male 16,994/female 17,884)

      65 years and over: 9.3% (male 2,139/female 2,411) (2010 est.)

      Median age:

      total: 38.4 years

      male: 38 years

      female: 38.9 years (2010 est.)

      Population growth rate:

      2.338% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

      Birth rate:

      12.29 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

      Death rate:

      5 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

      Net migration rate:

      16.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 2 note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2010 est.)

      Urbanization:

      urban population: 100% of total population (2008)

      rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)

      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 (2010 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

      total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 169 male: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births

      female: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth:

      total population: 80.57 years country comparison to the world: 20 male: 77.91 years

      female: 83.27 years (2010 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

      1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

      NA

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

      NA

      HIV/AIDS - deaths:

      NA

      Nationality:

      noun: Caymanian(s)

      adjective: Caymanian

      Ethnic groups:

      mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

      Religions:

      Church of God 25.5%, Roman Catholic 12.6%, Presbyterian / United Church 9.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.4%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 6.7%, Anglican 3.9%, other religions 4%, non-denominational 5.7%, other 6.5%, none 6.1%, unspecified 3.2% (2007)

      Languages:

      English (official) 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)

      Literacy:

      definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

      total population: 98%

      male: 98%