ers (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

Environment--international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA

Geography--note: important location between Cuba and Central
America

People

Population: 39,335 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 4.19% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 13.66 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US

Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.1 years
male: 75.37 years
female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of
various ethnic groups 20%

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

Languages: English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Data code: CJ

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK

Government type: NA

Capital: George Town

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

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Legal system: British common law and local statutes

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Ex