Country Profile: Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands, a British overseas territory, are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas. With a population of approximately 60,439 in 2024, the majority of residents are of Black descent, and English is the official language. The local economy, heavily reliant on tourism and financial services, has been notably impacted by global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The islands possess a parliamentary democracy, governed under a mixed legal system of English common law and civil law.

Geography

The Turks and Caicos Islands are comprised of two main island groups situated north of Haiti. Spanning an area of 948 sq km, they feature a tropical marine climate, characterized by trade winds and relatively dry conditions. The terrain consists of low, flat limestone, complemented by marshes and mangrove swamps.

389 km of coastline
12 nm territorial sea and 200 nm exclusive fishing zone
Highest point: 48 m at Blue Hill
Natural hazards include frequent hurricanes
Population concentrated on eight inhabited islands, notably Providenciales and Grand Turk

People and Society

The islands have a population of around 60,439 as of 2024, with a median age of 36.3 years. The ethnic composition includes 87.6% Black and 7.9% White. English is the primary language, with a notable representation of Protestant religions, which accounts for 72.8% of the population.

94.2% of the population is urbanized (2023)
Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Life expectancy: 81.3 years (2024 est.)
Dependency ratio: 36.6% (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Economy

The economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands is primarily service-oriented, with services accounting for 72.6% of GDP in 2024. The tourism sector has been severely affected by the pandemic; however, the islands reported a real GDP growth rate of 5.6% in 2024. The territory operates with a negative trade balance and relies heavily on fossil fuels.

Real GDP (PPP): $1.554 billion (2024 est.)
GDP per capita: $33,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate increasing post-pandemic
Agricultural sector: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Major industries include tourism and offshore financial services

Government

The Turks and Caicos Islands are governed as a parliamentary democracy and remain a British overseas territory. The governor, representing the King, oversees the islands, with a locally elected Premier leading the government. The House of Assembly has 21 seats, with the last election held on 2 July 2025.

Chief of state: King Charles III since 2022
Premier: Washington Misick since 2021
Suffrage is universal at 18 years
The current constitution became effective on 15 October 2012
Judicial appeals can be made to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London

Military and Security

The defense responsibilities for the Turks and Caicos Islands lie with the United Kingdom, as the territory does not maintain its own military forces.

Energy

Electricity access is nearly universal, with 99.9% of the population having access as of 2022. The islands' energy generation is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with limited use of renewable sources.

Installed electricity generation capacity: 94,000 kW (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels account for 98.1% of generation capacity
Daily refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 447,000 metric tonnes (2023 est.)

Environment

The islands face environmental challenges, notably the scarcity of natural freshwater resources. The climate is tropical, with a high risk of hurricanes impacting the islands.

Urban population stands at 94.2% (2023)
Land use: 1.1% agricultural land (2022 est.)
Forest area comprises 11.1% of total land (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions have been recorded at 0.22 megatons (2016 est.)

Transportation

The islands are serviced by a network of 9 airports as of 2025, and the total number of ports is 3.

3 merchant vessels in the fleet (2023)
Civil aircraft registration country code: VQ-T
Key ports include Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, and Providenciales

Communications

The communication infrastructure comprises mobile and fixed-line telephony, with a notable internet penetration rate of 93.5% among the population.

Total fixed-line subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions stood at approximately 25,085 (2004 est.)
Internet country code: .tc

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	60,439	2024 estimate
Area	948 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$1.554 billion	2024 estimate
GDP per capita	$33,400	2024 estimate
Unemployment rate	Increasing	Post-pandemic
Birth rate	13 births/1,000 people	2024 estimate
Life expectancy	81.3 years	2024 estimate
Urban population	94.2%	2023 estimate
Electricity access	99.9%	2022 estimate