ing of the Aral Sea

Illicit drugs: major transshipment zone for heroin and opiates
from Afghanistan going to Russia and Western Europe; limited illicit
cultivation of narcotics crops, mostly for domestic consumption

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Turks and Caicos Islands

Introduction Turks and Caicos Islands

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 are presently a British overseas territory.

Geography Turks and Caicos Islands

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean,
southeast of The Bahamas

Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 430 sq km

Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 389 km

Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

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:
Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% other: 98% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources,
private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note: about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

People Turks and Caicos Islands

Population: 18,738 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 3,101; female 3,004) 15-64 years:
63.6% (male 6,266; female 5,651) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 319;
female 397) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.28% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 24.18 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 12.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03
male(s)/female 15-64