Cayman Islands - KY - CYM - CAY - Central America and the Caribbean

Last updated: July 16, 2025
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Cayman Islands Factbook Data

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767)

15-64 years: 65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456)

65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)
2024 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for the Cayman Islands. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Natural hazards

hurricanes (July to November)

Area - comparative

1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Background

The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.

Environment - current issues

no natural freshwater resources; trash washing up or being deposited on beaches; no recycling or waste-treatment facilities; deforestation 

Exports - commodities

aircraft, ships, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Agricultural products

vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

Budget

revenues: $874.5 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: $766.6 million (2017 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)

etymology: originally named Hogstyes, the town was renamed in honor of English King GEORGE III (1738-1820) around 1800

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, cars, furniture, jewelry (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Coastline

160 km

Constitution

history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)

Exchange rates

Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.833 (2024 est.)
0.833 (2023 est.)
0.833 (2022 est.)
0.833 (2021 est.)
0.833 (2020 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)

head of government: Premier André Martin EBANKS (since 6 May 2025)

cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier

election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier

Flag description

a blue field with the UK flag 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 crest with a pineapple (representing ties to Jamaica) and a turtle (representing Cayman's seafaring tradition) above a shield bearing a golden lion (symbolizing Great Britain); below are three green stars (representing the three islands) over white and blue wavy lines representing the sea; a scroll below the shield bears the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Industries

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges) 

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70

subordinate courts: Summary Court

note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 11.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 2.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 8.3% (2022 est.)

forest: 52.7% (2022 est.)

other: 36.1% (2022 est.)

Legal system

English common law and local statutes

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 21 (directly elected and appointed)

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 4/14/2021

parties elected and seats per party: independent (12); PPM (7)

percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%

expected date of next election: 2025

Literacy

total population: 98.9% NA

male: 98.7% NA

female: 99% (2021) NA

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

National holiday

Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)

Nationality

noun: Caymanian(s)

adjective: Caymanian

Natural resources

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Geography - note

important location between Cuba and Central America

Economic overview

dominant offshore banking territory; services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity; recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering; large tourism sector; does not have any welfare system; high standard of living

Political parties

Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP
People's Progressive Movement or PPM

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Government type

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Cayman Islands

etymology: Spanish explorers named the islands in the early 16th century, using the Carib word for marine crocodiles, caiman

Location

Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Irrigated land

NA

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Internet users

percent of population: 81% (2017 est.)

Internet country code

.ky

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.139 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer  international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 97.4% of population

total: 97.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.6% of population

total: 2.6% of population (2015 est.)

National anthem

name: "Beloved Isle Cayman"

lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS

note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)

National symbol(s)

green sea turtle

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 62.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 2.6% (2020 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 59.6% (2020 est.)

imports of goods and services: -45.8% (2020 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Population distribution

majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-C

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 95.6% of population

total: 95.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 4.4% of population

total: 4.4% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

Cayman Islander 35.4%, Jamaican 24.8%, Filipino 5.5%, British 5.3%, American 5.2%, Honduran 4.2%, Canadian 3.3%, Indian 2.1%, Cuban 1.6%, Nicaraguan 1%, other 11.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

note: data represent population by country of birth

Religions

Protestant 60.8% (includes Church of God 19.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.7%, non-denominational 8.3%, Baptist 6.9%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Presbyterian/United Church 5.7%, Anglican 2.8%, Wesleyan Holiness 1.5%, Methodist 0.5%), Roman Catholic 13.6%, Hindu 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 4.8%, none 16.7%, unspecified 1.4% (2021 est.)

Languages

English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)

note:  data represent main language spoken at home

Elevation

highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 25.3 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 4 (2024 est.)

Imports - partners

Germany 30%, USA 29%, Italy 20%, Turkey 5%, China 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Exports - partners

UK 40%, Cyprus 21%, Germany 9%, Grenada 8%, Italy 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 12,600 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2013 est.)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.55 megatons (2016 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.9 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.14% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.19% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.17% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Ports

total ports: 2 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 2

ports with oil terminals: 2

key ports: Cayman Brac, Georgetown

National coat of arms

the Queen of England approved the Cayman Islands' coat of arms -- which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958; the shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman; the green turtle stands for the islands’ seafaring history, the rope under it for the thatch-rope industry, and the pineapple for historical ties with Jamaica; the motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage
The Cayman Islands is a British dependency, and the Queen of England approved its coat of arms – which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958. The shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The green turtle recalls the islands’ seafaring history, and the rope under it refers to the thatch rope industry. The pineapple references historical ties with Jamaica. The motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage.
The Cayman Islands is a British dependency, and the Queen of England approved its coat of arms – which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958. The shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The green turtle recalls the islands’ seafaring history, and the rope under it refers to the thatch rope industry. The pineapple references historical ties with Jamaica. The motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage.

Net migration rate

12.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 41.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 40.3 years

female: 42 years

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$234 million (2023 est.)
$225.4 million (2022 est.)
$228.3 million (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Population

total: 66,653 (2024 est.)

male: 32,379

female: 34,274

Carbon dioxide emissions

737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 264 sq km

land: 264 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.705 billion (2023 est.)
$5.467 billion (2022 est.)
$5.199 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

3 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 100,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 147 (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2017 est.)
-0.6% (2016 est.)
-2.3% (2015 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

-$647.271 million (2022 est.)
-$794.205 million (2021 est.)
-$827.492 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$78,100 (2023 est.)
$76,400 (2022 est.)
$74,200 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 40,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

143.149 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

11.5 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 176,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 698.767 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 2.117 million kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 130 (2023)

by type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77

Imports

$3.3 billion (2022 est.)
$2.808 billion (2021 est.)
$2.51 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$5.019 billion (2022 est.)
$4.138 billion (2021 est.)
$3.951 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

5 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 36,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)

male: 79.8 years

female: 85.2 years

Real GDP growth rate

4.36% (2023 est.)
5.16% (2022 est.)
4.9% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

3.45% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.5% (2022 est.)

industry: 8.2% (2022 est.)

services: 85.4% (2022 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Education expenditure

1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

15% national budget (2019 est.)

Population growth rate

1.75% (2024 est.)

Cayman Islands - KY - CYM - CAY