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Compare Cayman Islands (2008) - Switzerland (2006)

Compare Cayman Islands (2008) z Switzerland (2006)

 Cayman Islands (2008)Switzerland (2006)
 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: 16.3% (male 637,585/female 591,297)


15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,585,062/female 2,539,345)


65 years and over: 15.6% (male 480,198/female 690,447) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 3 (2007) 65 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2007)
total: 42


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 11


914 to 1,523 m: 8


under 914 m: 16 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
total: 23


under 914 m: 23 (2006)
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. The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country 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.) 9.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $423.8 million


expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)
revenues: $138.1 billion


expenditures: $143.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 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)
name: Bern


geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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 revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000
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)
Death rate 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $70 million (1996) $856 billion (30 June 2005)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY


embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-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 Urs ZISWILER


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, 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 peaceful, 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 safehaven 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, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004-05. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.
Electricity - consumption 372 million kWh (2005) 55.86 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 33.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 30.1 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 400 million kWh (2005) 63.4 billion kWh (2003)
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-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: 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 - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
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 Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January 2006); Vice President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 8 January 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January 2006); Vice President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 8 January 2006)


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 a one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held December 2006)


election results: Moritz LUENBERGER elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA; Micheline CALMY-REY 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 19.4%, US 10.9%, Italy 9.1%, France 8.7%, UK 5.4%, Spain 4.1% (2005)
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 - composition by sector agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
agriculture: 1.5%


industry: 34%


services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 0.9% (2004 est.) 1.9% (2005 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 - 2 (2006)
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 a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; 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 31.6%, Italy 10.5%, France 10%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.8%, Austria 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2005)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 3% (2005 est.)
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: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4.4% (2004) 1.2% (2005 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Irrigated land NA 250 sq km (2003)
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) 3.8 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 12.6%


services: 86% (1995)
agriculture: 4.6%


industry: 26.3%


services: 69.1% (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: 9.91%


permanent crops: 0.58%


other: 89.51% (2005)
Languages English German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)


note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages
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 - consists of two representatives from each canton and one from each half canton; 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 in most cantons 19 October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held October 2007)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%, FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 14
Life expectancy at birth total population: 80.2 years


male: 77.57 years


female: 82.87 years (2007 est.)
total population: 80.51 years


male: 77.69 years


female: 83.48 years (2006 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%


male: 99%


female: 99% (2003 est.)
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: 27 ships (1000 GRT or over) 492,434 GRT/810,559 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 10, chemical tanker 3, container 4, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 2 (Monaco 2)


registered in other countries: 320 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 2, Belize 1, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 4, France 2, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1, Germany 1, Indonesia 3, Liberia 7, Malta 21, Marshall Islands 13, Mauritius 2, Morocco 1, Panama 226, Portugal 3, Russia 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Tonga 1, Turkey 1, UK 3, Vanuatu 2) (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe); Switzerland has no navy, but maintains a fleet of military patrol boats to patrol Swiss borders (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 1% (FY01)
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.)
3.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2006)
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 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]; 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) [Doris LEUTHARD, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Marianne KLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, 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) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, 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.)
7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 2.496% (2007 est.) 0.43% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Railways - total: 4,583 km


standard gauge: 3,234 km 1.435-m gauge (3,223 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 1,339 km 1.000-m gauge (1,338 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2005)
Religions United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)
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: 1.08 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


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


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 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: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 38,000 (2002) 5.123 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 17,000 (2002) 6.847 million (2005)
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.) 1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.4% (2004) 3.8% (2005 est.)
Waterways - 65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)
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