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Compare Cayman Islands (2008) - Switzerland (2003)

Compare Cayman Islands (2008) z Switzerland (2003)

 Cayman Islands (2008)Switzerland (2003)
 Cayman IslandsSwitzerland
Administrative divisions 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
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: 16.6% (male 623,428; female 591,709)


15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,519,302; female 2,439,560)


65 years and over: 15.6% (male 470,257; female 674,382) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 3 (2007) 66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
total: 41


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 10


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 14 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
total: 25


1524 to 2437 m: 1


under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Area total: 262 sq km


land: 262 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
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. Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and Switzerland was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Birth rate 12.6 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 9.59 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $423.8 million


expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)
revenues: $30 billion


expenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
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)
Bern
Climate tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April) temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 160 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994 18 December 1998
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Cayman Islands
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation


conventional short form: Switzerland


local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German), Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)


local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera (Italian)
Currency - Swiss franc (CHF)
Death rate 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $70 million (1996) $NA
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III


embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER


chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900


FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid - recipient $390,000 (2004) -
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. Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.
Electricity - consumption 372 million kWh (2005) 53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 400 million kWh (2005) 68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 1.3%


hydro: 59.5%


nuclear: 37.1%


other: 2% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Environment - current issues no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20% German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates Caymanian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006) Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001), 1.69 (2000), 1.5 (1999), 1.45 (1998)
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: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term


elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003)


election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) 10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities turtle products, manufactured consumer goods machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners mostly US (2006) Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK 7.7% (2002)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
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 red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
GDP - purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
agriculture: 2%


industry: 34%


services: 64% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.9% (2004 est.) 0.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 19 30 N, 80 30 W 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note important location between Cuba and Central America landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways - total: 71,011 km


paved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)


unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.6%


highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Illicit drugs offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Imports 2,698 bbl/day (2004) 289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, manufactured goods machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006) Germany 27.4%, France 11.4%, Italy 9.7%, US 8.5%, Russia 5.8%, UK 5.4%, Austria 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 3.2% (2001)
Industries tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
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: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.4% (2004) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Irrigated land NA 250 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 23,450 (2004) 4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 12.6%


services: 86% (1995)
services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Land use arable land: 3.85%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 96.15% (2005)
arable land: 10.57%


permanent crops: 0.61%


other: 88.82% (1998 est.)
Languages English German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian (official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
Legal system British common law and local statutes civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NA October 2007)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 27.7%, SPS 24.2%, FDP 16%, CVP 12.9%, Greens 7.7%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 52, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 16
Life expectancy at birth total population: 80.2 years


male: 77.57 years


female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)
total population: 79.99 years


male: 77.11 years


female: 83.02 years (2003 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: 99% (1980 est.)


male:


female:
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 Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
none (landlocked)
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: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 597,049 GRT/1,051,380 DWT


ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: UK 6, US 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 1,834,638 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 1,552,728 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 42,761 (2003 est.)
National holiday Constitution Day, first Monday in July Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun: Caymanian(s)


adjective: Caymanian
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards hurricanes (July to November) avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate 17.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2007 est.)
1.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,831 km; oil 212 km; refined products 7 km (2003)
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 Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN, president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER and Patrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Christiane LANGENBERGER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 46,600


note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2007 est.)
7,318,638 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.496% (2007 est.) 0.21% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors - Basel
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Railways - total: 4,511 km


standard gauge: 3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 982 km 1.000-m gauge (975 km electrified); 46 km 0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2002)
Religions United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
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: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 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: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 38,000 (2002) 4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,000 (2002) 1.967 million (1999)
Television broadcast stations 4 with cable system (2004) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 1.89 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.48 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.4% (2004) 1.9% (2002 est.)
Waterways - 65 km


note: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
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