

Topic: Photos of Turks and Caicos Islands

Topic: Introduction
Background: 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. Grand Turk island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria on 22 September 2017 resulting in loss of power and communications as well as damage to housing and businesses.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 948 sq km

land: 948 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation: highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use: agricultural land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 36.2% (2018 est.)

other: 62.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Geography - note: include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited
Map description: Turks and Caicos Islands map showing the major islands that make up this UK territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.Turks and Caicos Islands map showing the major islands that make up this UK territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 58,286 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: none

adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
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 Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.33% (male 6,077/female 5,852)

15-24 years: 13.19% (male 3,689/female 3,687)

25-54 years: 52.51% (male 14,729/female 14,637)

55-64 years: 7.81% (male 2,297/female 2,069)

65 years and over: 5.17% (2020 est.) (male 1,364/female 1,525)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 34.6 years

male: 34.9 years

female: 34.4 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.86% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 13.54 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Urbanization: urban population: 94% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.59 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 14.54 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.82 years

male: 78.07 years

female: 83.71 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: total: 94.3% of population

unimproved: total: 5.7% of population (2017)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 88% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 12% of population (2017)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years

male: NA

female: (2015) NA
People - note: destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.22 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Land use: agricultural land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 1.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 36.2% (2018 est.)

other: 62.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 94% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

abbreviation: TCI

etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus (native to the islands and appearing on the flag and coat of arms), while the Caicos Islands derive from the native term "caya hico" meaning "string of islands"
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital: name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)

geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after Sir Francis Cockburn, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June
Constitution: history: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)

amendments: NA
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel DAKIN (since 15 July 2019)

head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly

elections/appointments: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats; 15 members in multi-seat constituencies and a single all-islands constituency directly elected by simple majority vote, 1 member nominated by the premier and appointed by the governor, 1 nominated by the opposition party leader and appointed by the governor, and 2 from the Turks and Caicos Islands Civic Society directly appointed by the governor, and 2 ex-officio members; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 19 February 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: percent of vote (preliminary) - PNP 56.2%, PDM 39%, other 4.8%; seats by party - PNP 14, PDM 1; composition (of elected members) - men 12, women 3; percent of women 20%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 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 referred to 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 serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms 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 [Sean ASTWOOD]
Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
National symbol(s): conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
National anthem: name: This Land of Ours

lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL

note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the UK, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: 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 more than 1 million visitors that arrive annually. Three-quarters of the visitors come by ship. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $820 million (2020 est.)

$1.12 billion (2019 est.)

$1.06 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 5.3% (2018 est.)

4.3% (2017 est.)

4.4% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $21,100 (2020 est.)

$29,300 (2019 est.)

$28,200 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.02 billion (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.5% (2017 est.)

industry: 8.9% (2017 est.)

services: 90.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 49% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 21.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 69.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -56.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2017 est.)
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 servicesnote: 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
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 247.3 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 224.3 million (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $830 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: France 31%, United States 16%, Zambia 13%, Singapore 9%, Republic of the Congo 8% (2019)
Exports - commodities: plastic building materials, stone processing machinery, iron structures, crustaceans, integrated circuits (2019)
Imports: $540 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 76% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, furniture, soybeans (2019)
Debt - external: NANA
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 235 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 218.6 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 82,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1,420 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,369 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 4,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE expansion points to investment and focus on data; regulatory development; telecommunication contributes to greatly to GDP (2020)

domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available; fixed-line teledensity roughly 11 per 100 persons (2019)

international: country code - 1-649; landing point for the ARCOS fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable providing connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2020)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
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
Internet country code: .tc

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 22
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-T
Airports: total: 8 (2021)
Airports - with 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 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2

under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Roadways: total: 121 km (2003)

paved: 24 km (2003)

unpaved: 97 km (2003)
Merchant marine: total: 3

by type: general cargo 1, other 2 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe