Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 948 sq km
country comparison to the world: 186
land: 948 sq km
water: 0 sq km
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Flamingo Hill 48 m
arable land: 1.05%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.95% (2011)
limited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
about 40 islands (eight inhabited)
noun: none
adjective: none
black 87.6%, white 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006)
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 Witnesses 1.8%, other 14%
47,754 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 5,427/female 5,227)
15-24 years: 15% (male 3,482/female 3,688)
25-54 years: 53.5% (male 13,019/female 12,548)
55-64 years: 5% (male 1,309/female 1,083)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 875/female 1,096) (2013 est.)
total: 31.4 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 31 years (2013 est.)
2.87% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
17.05 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
3.06 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
14.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
urban population: 93% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
GRAND TURK (capital) 6,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 11.29 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 14.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 79.4 years
country comparison to the world: 43
male: 76.67 years
female: 82.27 years (2013 est.)
1.7 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 12 years (2005)
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI
overseas territory of the UK
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)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011) (2012)
mixed legal system of English common law and civil law
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Peter BECKINGHAM (since 9 October 2013)
head of government: Premier Rufus EWING (since 13 November 2012)
cabinet: consists of the governor, the premier, six ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the House of Assembly, and the attorney general
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed premier by the governor
note: the UK foreign minister has determined that sufficient progress has been made to reinstate local government under a new constitution that came into effect in October 2012
unicameral House of Assembly consisting of 19 seats, 15 elected and 4 appointed by the governor; of elected members, five are elected at large and 10 from single member districts for four-year terms
elections: last held on 9 November 2012 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - PNP 8, PDM 7
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of other judges as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices)
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 appointed until mandatory retirement at age 65, but can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment
subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Oswald SKIPPINGS]
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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 Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota
name: "This Land of Ours"
lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL
note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is the official anthem (see United Kingdom)
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 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
$632 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
11.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$29,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
household consumption: 30.8%
government consumption: 17.1%
investment in fixed capital: 50.3%
exports of goods and services: 81.8%
imports of goods and services: -80.1%
agriculture: 1%
industry: 22.2%
services: 76.7% (2012 est.)
corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
tourism, offshore financial services
4,848 (1990 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
note: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services
10% (1997 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $417.4 million
expenditures: $408.9 million (2012 est.)
2.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$24.77 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
$591.3 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
200 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
186 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
50,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 190
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
998.6 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
1,063 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 196
155,500 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available
international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
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 (2007)
73,217 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 86
8 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 163
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 (2013)
total: 121 km
country comparison to the world: 212
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)
major seaport(s): Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
males age 16-49: 11,842
females age 16-49: 11,755 (2010 est.)
male: 338
female: 342 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK
have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
