Compare Cayman Islands (2008) - British Virgin Islands (2005)

Compare Cayman Islands (2008) z British Virgin Islands (2005)

	Cayman Islands (2008)	British Virgin Islands (2005)

Administrative divisions	8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Age structure	0-14 years: 20.3% (male 4,746/female 4,730) 15-64 years: 71% (male 16,135/female 16,964) 65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,892/female 2,133) (2007 est.)	0-14 years: 21% (male 2,400/female 2,358) 15-64 years: 73.9% (male 8,607/female 8,115) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 614/female 549) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products	vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Airports	3 (2007)	3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 262 sq km land: 262 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative	1.5 times the size of Washington, DC	about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
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, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.	First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Birth rate	12.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	14.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget	revenues: $423.8 million expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)	revenues: $121.5 million expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997)
Capital	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)	Road Town
Climate	tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline	160 km	80 km
Constitution	1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994	1 June 1977
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Death rate	4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external	$70 million (1996)	$36.1 million (1997)
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK	overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international	none	none
Economic aid - recipient	$390,000 (2004)	NA
Economy - overview	With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.	The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
Electricity - consumption	372 million kWh (2005)	33.74 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production	400 million kWh (2005)	36.28 million kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Environment - current issues	no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments	limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Ethnic groups	mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%	black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Exchange rates	Caymanian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006)	the US dollar is used
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005) head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005) cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002) head of government: Chief Minister Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June 2003) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Exports	0 bbl/day (2004)	NA
Exports - commodities	turtle products, manufactured consumer goods	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners	mostly US (2006)	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	1 April - 31 March
Flag description	blue, 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 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	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $38,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	0.9% (2004 est.)	1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	19 30 N, 80 30 W	18 30 N, 64 30 W
Geography - note	important location between Cuba and Central America	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Highways	-	total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs	offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering
Imports	2,698 bbl/day (2004)	NA
Imports - commodities	foodstuffs, manufactured goods	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners	US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA%
Industries	tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Infant mortality rate	total: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	total: 18.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	4.4% (2004)	2.5% (2003)
International organization participation	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU
Irrigated land	NA	NA
Judicial branch	Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Labor force	23,450 (2004)	12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)	agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2001)
Languages	English	English (official)
Legal system	British common law and local statutes	English law
Legislative branch	unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats; 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1	unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 80.2 years male: 77.57 years female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)	total population: 76.49 years male: 75.41 years female: 77.62 years (2005 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1970 est.)	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	total: 124 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,953,923 GRT/4,597,716 DWT by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 11, chemical tanker 41, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 4 foreign-owned: 122 (Denmark 3, Germany 17, Greece 23, Italy 10, Japan 6, Norway 2, Singapore 10, Sweden 1, UK 9, US 41) (2007)	total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,825 GRT/155,909 DWT by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 7 (2005)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches	no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force	-
National holiday	Constitution Day, first Monday in July	Territory Day, 1 July
Nationality	noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Natural hazards	hurricanes (July to November)	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources	fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism	NEGL
Net migration rate	17.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2007 est.)	10.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders	United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; note - no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections	Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	46,600 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2007 est.)	22,643 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA
Population growth rate	2.496% (2007 est.)	2.06% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	-	Road Town
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)	AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Religions	United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic	Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.003 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.951 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.887 male(s)/female total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)	at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: reasonably good system domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004 international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)	general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use	38,000 (2002)	11,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular	17,000 (2002)	8,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations	4 with cable system (2004)	1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Terrain	low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Total fertility rate	1.89 children born/woman (2007 est.)	1.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	4.4% (2004)	3% (1995)

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