NAVIGATION
|
HOME
• FLAG FINDER
• MAP FINDER
• SOURCES
• ADD YOURSELF TO THE ATLAS! COUNTRIES A-D • COUNTRIES E-K • COUNTRIES L-R • COUNTRIES S-Z |
NAVIGATION
Turks and Caicos Islands
INTRODUCTION
|
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
|
Location:
|
Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti |
|
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: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0% other: 97.67% (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
|
Population:
|
19,350 (July 2003 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 27 years
male: 27.7 years female: 26.3 years (2002) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
3.14% (2003 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 74 years
male: 71.82 years female: 76.3 years (2003 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
3.15 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
NA% |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: none
adjective: none |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
black 90%, mixed, European, or north American 10% |
|
Religions:
|
Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990) |
|
Languages:
|
English (official) |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
female: 98% (1970 est.) male: 99% total population: 98% |
|
People - note:
|
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US |