Turks and Caicos Islands Population: 47,754


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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.

About 40 islands (eight inhabited)
Location: two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Area: total: 948 sq km
land: 948 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Size comparison: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use: arable land: 1.05%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.95% (2011)
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Current Environment Issues: limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
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Nationality: noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006)
Languages: English (official)
Religions: 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 Witnesses 1.8%, other 14%
Population: 47,754 (July 2013 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.3% (male 5,427/female 5,227)
15-24 years: 15% (male 3,482/female 3,688)
25-54 years: 53.5% (male 13,019/female 12,548)
55-64 years: 5% (male 1,309/female 1,083)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 875/female 1,096) (2013 est.)
Median age: total: 31.4 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 31 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.87% (2013 est.)
Birth rate: 17.05 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Death rate: 3.06 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Net migration rate: 14.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
Major urban areas - population: GRAND TURK (capital) 6,000 (2009)
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.4 years
male: 76.67 years
female: 82.27 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2013 est.)
Drinking water source: improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 96% of population

urban: 2% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 4% of population (2000 est.)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)
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Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI
Government type: NA
Capital: name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Damian (Ric) TODD (since 12 September 2011); note - Peter BUCKINGHAM was appointed governor on 29 May 2013; will take office in October

head of government: Premier Rufus EWING (since 13 November 2012)

cabinet: consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor

note: the UK foreign minister has determined that sufficient progress has been made to reinstate local government under a new constitution that came into effect in October 2012
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly consisting of 19 seats, 15 elected and 4 appointed by the governor; of elected members, five are elected at large and 10 from single member districts for four-year terms

elections: last held on 9 November 2012 (next to be held in 2016)

election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNP 8, PDM 7
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of 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 heard by 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 appointed until mandatory retirement at age 65, but can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment

subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Oswald SKIPPINGS] People's Progressive Party [NA] Progressive National Party or PNP [Rufus EWING]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
National anthem: name: "This Land of Ours"
lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL

note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
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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 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
GDP (purchasing power parity): GDP (purchasing power parity): $632 million (2007 est.) $568.3 million (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): GDP (official exchange rate): $NA
GDP - real growth rate: 11.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): GDP - per capita (PPP): $29,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 30.8%
government consumption: 17.1%
investment in fixed capital: 50.3%
exports of goods and services: 81.9%
imports of goods and services: -80.1% (2012 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: household consumption: 30.8%
government consumption: 17.1%
investment in fixed capital: 50.3%
exports of goods and services: 81.9%
Agriculture - products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget: revenues: $417.4 million
expenditures: $408.9 million (2012 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2012 est.) 2.2% (2011 est.)
Exports: $24.77 million (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Imports: $591.3 million (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Debt - external: $NA
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
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Electricity - consumption: 186 million kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2009 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 998.6 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,042 bbl/day (2008 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 38,880 Mt (2010 est.)
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Telephone system: general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing

domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available

international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media: 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 (2007)
Internet country code: .tc
Internet hosts: 73,217 (2012)
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Airports: 8 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 163
Airports (paved runways): total 6

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports (unpaved runways): total 2

under 914 m: 2 (2013)
Roadways: total 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)
Ports and terminals: Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
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Defense is the responsibility of the UK
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 11,842
females age 16-49: 11,755 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 338
female: 342 (2010 est.)
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 Transnational Issues
Disputes - International: have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
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   Source: CIA - The World Factbook

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