Because of you…
Ministry in the Cayman Islands includes a brand new ‘YouthPlace’ Youth Development Centre, and opportunities for Campus Life programs in a local High School. Youth volunteer recruitment and leadership training are also part of the ministry in the community as well as a cofee house and library.
Prayer Needs
- Staff and volunteers to run additional programs like the launching of a reading program.
- Funding sources for inactment of current and new programs.
- Teenage club leaders.
About Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
Introduction
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography
Location
Location: Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Geographic Coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Area
Total Area: 264 sq km Rank: 210
Land Area: 264 sq km
Water Area: 0 sq km
Comparison: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Climate
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevations
Lowest Point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest Point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Natural Resources
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land Use
Arable land: 3.85%
Permanent Crops: 0%
Other: 96.15% (2005)
Irrigated Land: NA
Environment
Natural Hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Environmental Issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Geography Notes
important location between Cuba and Central America
People
Population: 49,035 Rank: 207
Note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2010 est.)
Age Structure
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 4,824/female 4,783)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,994/female 17,884)
65 years and over: 9.3% (male 2,139/female 2,411) (2010 est.)
Median Age: 38 years
Population Growth
Growth Rate: 2.394% (2010 est.) Rank: 35
Birth Rate: 12.36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 165
Death Rate: 4.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Rank: 190
Net Migration Rate: 16.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population Rank: 2
Note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2010 est.)
Urbanization
Urban Population: 100% of total population (2008)
Rate of Urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Life and Death
Infant Mortality Rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births Rank: 171
Life Expectancy at Birth: 80.44 years Rank: 15
Fertility Rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.) Rank: 149
Health and Disease
HIV/AIDS - Adult Prevalence Rate NA
People living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS Deaths: NA
Nationality and Culture
Noun: Caymanian(s)
Adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic Groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religion: Church of God 25.5%, Roman Catholic 12.6%, Presbyterian / United Church 9.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.4%, Baptist 8.3%, Pentecostal 6.7%, Anglican 3.9%, other religions 4%, non-denominational 5.7%, other 6.5%, none 6.1%, unspecified 3.2% (2007)
Languages: English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8% (1999 census)
Education
Literacy (age 15 and over has ever attended school): 98% Male: 98% Female: 98% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): 13 years Male: 12 years Female: 13 years (2001)
Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2005) Rank: 150
Government
Country Name
Conventional Long Form: none
Conventional Short Form: Cayman Islands
Dependency Status: overseas territory of the UK
Government Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: George Town (on Grand Cayman) Geographic Coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W
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: The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009, 6 November 2009
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Duncan TAYLOR (since 15 January 2010)
Head of Government: Premier McKeeva BUSH (since 6 November 2009)
Cabinet: The Cabinet (six members are appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier, selected from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly)
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition appointed by the governor as premier
Legislative Branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 members elected by popular vote and 2 ex officio members from The Cabinet; to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 20 May 2009 (next to be held not later than May 2013)
Election Results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UDP 9, PPM 5, independent 1
Judicial branch
Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal; Summary Court
Politics
Political Parties and Leaders: People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]; United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Trust
Other: environmentalists
International Organization Participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica
Flag Description: a blue field, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy
Economy Overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 93,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2008, including almost 300 banks, 800 insurers, and 10,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.9 million in 2008, with about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Gross Domestic Product
GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.25 billion (2008 est.) Rank: 181
$2.23 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (2008 est.) Rank: 97
0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): $43,800 (2004 est.) Rank: 14
GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 1.4% Industry: 3.2% Services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Labor Force
Labor Force: 39,000 Rank: 197
Note: nearly 55% are non-nationals (2007)
Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture: 1.9% Industry: 19.1% Services: 79% (2008 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 4% (2008) Rank: 35
Poverty
Population below poverty line: NA
Transnational Issues
International Disputes: none
