Country Profile: Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean Sea, comprises three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. With a population of approximately 66,653, most residents live on Grand Cayman. The territory is renowned for its vibrant economy primarily driven by the offshore banking sector and tourism, with a significant emphasis on maintaining a high standard of living. Governed as a parliamentary democracy, the islands maintain constitutional ties to the United Kingdom.

Geography

The Cayman Islands are situated in the Caribbean, approximately 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica. This low-lying limestone territory is surrounded by coral reefs, with a total land area of 264 sq km and a coastline of 160 km. The climate is tropical marine, characterized by warm, rainy summers and relatively dry winters.

• 3 islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman
• 0 km land boundaries
• 12 nm territorial sea
• 200 nm exclusive economic zone
• 53% forest coverage (2023 est.)
• 11.2% of land used for agriculture (2023 est.)

People and Society

The Cayman Islands' estimated population of 66,653 comprises various ethnic groups, with Cayman Islanders being the largest group at 35.4%. English is the official language, spoken by nearly 89% of the population. The islands have a diverse religious landscape, with Christianity being predominant, particularly Protestant denominations.

• 100% urban population (2023)
• 82.5 years life expectancy at birth (2024 est.)
• 1.71% population growth rate (2025 est.)
• 11.41 births/1,000 population birth rate (2025 est.)
• 51.7 total dependency ratio (2024 est.)
• 95.5% of the population has access to improved drinking water (2022 est.)

Economy

The Cayman Islands boast a robust economy primarily rooted in offshore banking, tourism, and financial services, contributing to over 85% of GDP. The estimated Real GDP in 2023 is $5.705 billion, with a per capita GDP of $78,100. The islands have adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion, though they lack a welfare system.

• 4.4% Real GDP growth rate (2023 est.)
• $4.6 billion in exports (2023 est.)
• $3.444 billion in imports (2023 est.)
• $712.684 million current account deficit (2023 est.)
• 85.4% services sector (2022 est.)

Government

The Cayman Islands function as a parliamentary democracy and self-governing overseas territory of the UK. The capital, George Town, serves as the political and economic hub. The government operates under English common law, and the current Premier is Andrè Martin Ebanks, who took office in 2025.

• 21 members in the unicameral Parliament
• 18 years of age suffrage
• 6 administrative districts
• 0 regular military forces; defense responsibility lies with the UK

Military and Security

The Cayman Islands do not maintain regular military forces; instead, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is responsible for law enforcement and public safety. Defense and military support are provided by the United Kingdom.

Energy

The energy sector in the Cayman Islands is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which account for 96.7% of the total installed capacity. However, there is a growing interest in renewable energy sources.

• 100% electrification rate (2022 est.)
• 176,000 kW installed electricity generation capacity (2023 est.)
• 698.767 million kWh electricity consumption (2023 est.)
• 5,000 bbl/day refined petroleum consumption (2023 est.)

Environment

The Cayman Islands face environmental challenges such as limited freshwater resources and issues related to waste management. The territory experiences a tropical marine climate, with periods of heavy rainfall, particularly during the hurricane season from July to November.

• 60,000 tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.)
• 737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023 est.)
• 53% of land covered by forests (2023 est.)
• 11.2% land used for agriculture (2023 est.)

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure includes three airports and a merchant marine fleet, which supports trade and tourism. The islands also feature several heliports for increased accessibility.

• 3 airports (2025)
• 130 ships in the merchant marine (2023)
• 2 total ports (2024)
• 5 heliports (2025)

Communications

Communications in the Cayman Islands are robust, with high mobile and internet penetration rates. The territory has multiple broadcasting stations and offers substantial coverage of telecommunication services.

• 99,737 mobile cellular subscriptions (2022 est.)
• 40,000 broadband fixed subscriptions (2022 est.)
• 81% internet usage among the population (2017 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	66,653 (2024 est.)
Area	264 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$5.705 billion (2023 est.)
Energy Consumption	698.767 million kWh (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	11.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	82.5 years (2024 est.)
Total Fertility Rate	1.81 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Unemployment Rate	Not specified