base surrounded by coral reefs

_#_Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
8%; forest and woodland 23%; other 69%

_#_Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt

_#_Note: important location between Cuba and Central America

_*_People
_#_Population: 27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian

_#_Ethnic divisions: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates
of various ethnic groups

_#_Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
denominations

_#_Language: English

_#_Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever
attended school (1970)

_#_Labor force: 8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%,
construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business
managers 5.9% (1979)

_#_Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: none

_#_Type: dependent territory of the UK

_#_Capital: George Town

_#_Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

_#_Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

_#_Legal system: British common law and local statutes

_#_Constitution: 1959, revised 1972

_#_National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July
1991

_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council
(cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly

_#_Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);

Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council
Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)

_#_Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18