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Central America :: Turks and Caicos Islands Print
Page last updated on December 16, 2020
  • Introduction :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Background field listing
    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. Grand Turk island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria on 22 September 2017 resulting in loss of power and communications as well as damage to housing and businesses.
  • Geography :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Location field listing
    two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
    Geographic coordinates field listing
    21 45 N, 71 35 W
    Map references field listing
    Central America and the Caribbean
    Area field listing
    total: 948 sq km
    land: 948 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 185
    Area - comparative field listing
    2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
    Land boundaries field listing
    0 km
    Coastline field listing
    389 km
    Maritime claims field listing
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
    Climate field listing
    tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
    Terrain field listing
    low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
    Elevation field listing
    lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
    highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m
    Natural resources field listing
    spiny lobster, conch
    Land use field listing
    agricultural land: 1.1% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 1.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
    forest: 36.2% (2011 est.)
    other: 62.7% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land field listing
    0 sq km (2012)
    Population distribution field listing
    eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
    Natural hazards field listing
    frequent hurricanes
    Environment - current issues field listing
    limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
    Geography - note field listing
    include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited
  • People and Society :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Population field listing
    55,926 (July 2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 206
    Nationality field listing
    noun: none
    adjective: none
    Ethnic groups field listing
    Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
    Languages field listing
    English (official)
    Religions field listing
    Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)
    Age structure field listing
    0-14 years: 21.33% (male 6,077/female 5,852)
    15-24 years: 13.19% (male 3,689/female 3,687)
    25-54 years: 52.51% (male 14,729/female 14,637)
    55-64 years: 7.81% (male 2,297/female 2,069)
    65 years and over: 5.17% (male 1,364/female 1,525) (2020 est.)
    population pyramid : population pyramid
    Median age field listing
    total: 34.6 years
    male: 34.9 years
    female: 34.4 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 90
    Population growth rate field listing
    2% (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 47
    Birth rate field listing
    14.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    Death rate field listing
    3.4 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 221
    Net migration rate field listing
    8.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 8
    Population distribution field listing
    eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
    Urbanization field listing
    urban population: 93.6% of total population (2020)
    rate of urbanization: 1.77% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
    Major urban areas - population field listing
    5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
    Sex ratio field listing
    at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
    total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
    Infant mortality rate field listing
    total: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 136
    Life expectancy at birth field listing
    total population: 80.3 years
    male: 77.6 years
    female: 83.3 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 44
    Total fertility rate field listing
    1.7 children born/woman (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    Drinking water source field listing
    improved: total: 94.3% of population
    unimproved: total: 5.7% of population (2017 est.)
    Sanitation facility access field listing
    improved: total: 88% of population
    unimproved: total: 12% of population (2017)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - deaths field listing
    NA
    Education expenditures field listing
    2.9% of GDP (2018)
    country comparison to the world: 139
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) field listing
    total: 9 years
    male: NA
    female: NA (2015)
    People - note field listing
    destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US
  • Government :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Country name field listing
    conventional long form: none
    conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
    abbreviation: TCI
    etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus (native to the islands and appearing on the flag and coat of arms), while the Caicos Islands derive from the native term "caya hico" meaning "string of islands"
    Dependency status field listing
    overseas territory of the UK
    Government type field listing
    parliamentary democracy
    Capital field listing
    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)
    etymology: named after Sir Francis Cockburn, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844
    Administrative divisions field listing
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    Independence field listing
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    National holiday field listing
    Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June
    Constitution field listing
    history: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)
    amendments: NA
    Citizenship field listing
    see United Kingdom
    Suffrage field listing
    18 years of age; universal
    Executive branch field listing
    chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel DAKIN (since 15 July 2019)
    head of government: Premier Sharlene CARTWRIGHT-ROBINSON (since 20 December 2016); first female Premier of Turks and Caicos
    cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly
    elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
    Legislative branch field listing
    description: unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 members in multi-seat constituencies and a single all-islands constituency directly elected by simple majority vote, 1 member nominated by the premier and appointed by the governor, 1 nominated by the opposition party leader and appointed by the governor, and 2 from the Turks and Caicos Islands Civic Society directly appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)
    elections: last held on 15 December 2016 (next to be held in 2020)
    election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PDM 10, PNP 5; composition - men 15, women 6, percent of women 28.6%
    Judicial branch field listing
    highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges, as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
    judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges appointed by the governor in accordance with the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body of high-level judicial officials; Supreme Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment
    subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
    Political parties and leaders field listing
    People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sharlene CARTWRIGHT-ROBINSON]
    Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]
    International organization participation field listing
    Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
    Diplomatic representation in the US field listing
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    Diplomatic representation from the US field listing
    none (overseas territory of the UK)
    Flag description field listing
    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 Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
    National symbol(s) field listing
    conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
    National anthem field listing
    name: This Land of Ours
    lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL

    note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)

  • Economy :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Economic overview field listing
    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 more than 1 million visitors that arrive annually. Three-quarters of the visitors come by ship. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
    GDP real growth rate field listing
    5.3% (2018 est.)
    4.3% (2017 est.)
    4.4% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 40
    Inflation rate (consumer prices) field listing
    4% (2017 est.)
    0.7% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    GDP (purchasing power parity) - real field listing
    $632 million (2007 est.)
    $568.3 million (2006 est.)
    GDP (official exchange rate) field listing
    $1.02 billion (2018 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP) field listing
    $27,100 (2018 est.)
    $25,900 (2017 est.)
    $26,000 (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin field listing
    agriculture: 0.5% (2017 est.)
    industry: 8.9% (2017 est.)
    services: 90.6% (2017 est.)
    GDP - composition, by end use field listing
    household consumption: 49% (2017 est.)
    government consumption: 21.5% (2017 est.)
    investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2017 est.)
    investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
    exports of goods and services: 69.5% (2017 est.)
    imports of goods and services: -56.4% (2017 est.)
    Ease of Doing Business Index scores field listing
    Agriculture - products field listing
    corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
    Industries field listing
    tourism, offshore financial services
    Industrial production growth rate field listing
    3% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    Labor force field listing
    4,848 (1990 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 219
    Labor force - by occupation field listing

    note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services

    Unemployment rate field listing
    10% (1997 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    Population below poverty line field listing
    NA
    Household income or consumption by percentage share field listing
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Budget field listing
    revenues: 247.3 million (2017 est.)
    expenditures: 224.3 million (2017 est.)
    Fiscal year field listing
    calendar year
    Exports field listing
    $24.77 million (2008 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 209
    Exports - commodities field listing
    lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
    Imports field listing
    $591.3 million (2008 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
    Imports - commodities field listing
    food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
    Debt - external field listing

    NA

    Exchange rates field listing

    the US dollar is used

  • Energy :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Electricity access field listing
    electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
    Electricity - production field listing
    235 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 188
    Electricity - consumption field listing
    218.6 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 191
    Electricity - exports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    Electricity - imports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 213
    Electricity - installed generating capacity field listing
    82,000 kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 183
    Electricity - from fossil fuels field listing
    100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 21
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 201
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 208
    Electricity - from other renewable sources field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    Crude oil - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 209
    Crude oil - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 209
    Crude oil - imports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    Crude oil - proved reserves field listing
    0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    Refined petroleum products - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 210
    Refined petroleum products - consumption field listing
    1,420 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 200
    Refined petroleum products - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 211
    Refined petroleum products - imports field listing
    1,369 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    Natural gas - production field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 208
    Natural gas - consumption field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 208
    Natural gas - exports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 203
    Natural gas - imports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 204
    Natural gas - proved reserves field listing
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 202
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy field listing
    221,800 Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 197
  • Communications :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Telephones - fixed lines field listing
    total subscriptions: 6,096
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.12 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 203
    Telecommunication systems field listing
    general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE expansion points to investment and focus on data; regulatory development; telecommunication contributes to greatly to GDP (2020)
    domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available; fixed-line teledensity 11 per 100 persons (2019)
    international: country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)
    note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
    Broadcast media field listing
    no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received and multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations
    Internet country code field listing
    .tc
  • Transportation :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • National air transport system field listing
    number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 22
    Civil aircraft registration country code prefix field listing
    VQ-T (2016)
    Airports field listing
    8 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 164
    Airports - with paved runways field listing
    total: 6 (2013)
    2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
    1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013)
    914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
    under 914 m: 1 (2013)
    Airports - with unpaved runways field listing
    total: 2 (2013)
    under 914 m: 2 (2013)
    Roadways field listing
    total: 121 km (2003)
    paved: 24 km (2003)
    unpaved: 97 km (2003)
    country comparison to the world: 212
    Merchant marine field listing
    total: 4
    by type: general cargo 1, other 3 (2019)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    Ports and terminals field listing
    major seaport(s): Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
  • Military and Security :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Military - note field listing
    defense is the responsibility of the UK
  • Transnational Issues :: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Disputes - international field listing

    have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

    Illicit drugs field listing
    transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe