The 1990 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Industry: fish processing, salt mining, clothing factories, ship repair

      Agriculture: accounts for 16% of GDP; largely subsistence farming; bananas are the only export crop; other crops—corn, beans, sweet potatoes, coffee; growth potential of agricultural sector limited by poor soils and limited rainfall; annual food imports required; fish catch provides for both domestic consumption and small exports

      Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY75–88), $83 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–87), $540 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $12 million; Communist countries (1970–88), $36 million

      Currency: Cape Verdean escudo (plural—escudos); 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos

      Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1—72.31 (February 1990), 74.86 (December 1989), 72.01 (1988), 72.5 (1987), 76.56 (1986), 85.38 (1985)

      Fiscal year: calendar year

      - Communications

       Ports: Mindelo and Praia

      Merchant marine: 5 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,308

       GRT/16,172 DWT

      Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft

      Airports: 6 total, 6 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440–3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220–2,439 m

      Telecommunications: interisland radio relay system, high-frequency radio to mainland Portugal and Guinea-Bissau; 1,740 telephones; stations—5 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 2 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

      - Defense Forces

       Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP); Army, Navy, and Air

       Force are separate components of FARP

      Military manpower: males 15–49, 68,776; 40,731 fit for military service

      Defense expenditures: 11.8% of GDP (1981)—————————————————————————— Country: Cayman Islands (dependent territory of the UK) - Geography Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2

      Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

      Land boundaries: none

      Coastline: 160 km

      Maritime claims:

      Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

      Territorial sea: 3 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

      Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

      Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 8% meadows and pastures; 23% forest and woodland; 69% other

      Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt

      Note: important location between Cuba and Central America

      - People

       Population: 26,356 (July 1990), growth rate 4.3% (1990)

      Birth rate: 14 births/1,000 population (1990)

      Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

      Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

      Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

      Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1990)

      Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1990)

      Nationality: noun—Caymanian(s); adjective—Caymanian

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

      Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican,

       Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations

      Language: English

      Literacy: 98%

      Labor force: 8,061; 18.7% service workers, 18.6% clerical, 12.5% construction, 6.7% finance and investment, 5.9% directors and business managers (1979)

      Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

      - Government

       Long-form name: none

      Type: dependent territory of the UK

      Capital: George Town

      Administrative divisions: 12 districts; Bodden Town, Creek, East End,

       George Town, Jacksons, North Side, Prospect, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay,

       West Bay, West End

      Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

      Legal system: British common law and local statutes

      Constitution: 1959, revised 1972

      National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 3 July 1989

      Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council (cabinet)

      Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

      Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

      Leaders: Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);

      Head of Government—Governor and President of the Executive Council

       Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)

      Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties

      Suffrage: universal at age 18

      Elections:

       Legislative Assembly—last held NA November 1988 (next to be held

       November 1992); results—percent of vote NA;

       seats—(15 total, 12 elected)

      Communists: none

      Member of: Commonwealth

      Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,

       Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK; US—none

      Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

      - Economy Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the region.

      GDP: $238 million, per capita $10,000 (1989 est.); real growth rate 12% (1987 est.)

      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1986)

      Unemployment rate: NA%

      Budget: revenues $46.2 million; expenditures $47.0 million, including capital expenditures of $9.1 million (1986)

      Exports: $2.2 million (f.o.b., 1986 est.); commodities—turtle products, manufactured consumer goods; partners—mostly US

      Imports: $134 million (c.i.f., 1986 est.); commodities—foodstuffs, manufactured goods; partners—US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

      External debt: $15 million (1986)

      Industrial