ent point for illicit drugs
moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe

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@Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands Introduction

Background: The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the
British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica
from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the
former became independent.

Cayman Islands Geography

Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half
of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 259 sq km

land: 259 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 160 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

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

Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use: arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 8%

forests and woodland: 23%

other: 69% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources;
drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment

Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America

Cayman Islands People

Population: 35,527 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.21% (male 3,807; female 4,084)

15-64 years: 69.74% (male 12,102; female 12,676)

65 years and over: 8.05% (male 1,318; female 1,540) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.12% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 13.79 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 12.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Sex ratio: at birth: 0.86 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rat