World · permanent entity record · TC

Turks and Caicos Islands

Thirty-second orientation

Turks and Caicos Islands at a glance

Capital: 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 etymology: named after Sir Francis COCKBURN, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
Population: total: 60,439 (2024 est.) male: 30,389 female: 30,050; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
Area: total : 948 sq km land: 948 sq km water: 0 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
Nationality / demonym: noun: none adjective: none; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
Government: parliamentary democracy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05
Languages: English (official); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05

Claims are attributed · classifications are dated

Claims and contested status

Maintained classification

Dependency or area of special sovereignty

United Kingdom

U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

A claim’s appearance records that the cited source reports it. It does not constitute an Almanac ruling on sovereignty.

Maintained profile

Classification: Dependency or area of special sovereignty; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31Federal classification and wording follow the current State Department register.
Sovereignty or administration: United Kingdom; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31
Administrative center: Grand Turk; U.S. Department of State, Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty · as of 2026-03-31

Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data

Final CIA World Factbook profile

This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.

CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated 2026-01-05 · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b

Introduction1 fields

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 remain a British overseas territory. Grand Turk Island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Geography17 fields

Location: two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti; note - although the Turks and Caicos Islands do not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically they are often designated as being Caribbean; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Area: total : 948 sq km land: 948 sq km water: 0 sq km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Land boundaries: total: 0 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Coastline: 389 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Elevation: highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 1.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 11.1% (2023 est.) other: 87.9% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Population distribution: eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Geography - note: include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

People and Society28 fields

Population: total: 60,439 (2024 est.) male: 30,389 female: 30,050; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Ethnic groups: Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Languages: English (official); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Religions: 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 Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 6,288/female 6,056) 15-64 years: 73.2% (male 22,232/female 22,011) 65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,869/female 1,983); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 36.6 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Median age: total: 36.6 years (2025 est.) male: 36.5 years female: 36.1 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Population growth rate: 1.73% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Birth rate: 12.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Death rate: 3.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Net migration rate: 8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Population distribution: eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Major urban areas - population: 5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.3 years (2024 est.) male: 78.5 years female: 84.1 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Drinking water source: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Sanitation facility access: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.) rural: 97.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.7% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.) rural: 2.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.3% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.3% (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0% (2020) women married by age 18: 23.3% (2020) men married by age 18: 5.1% (2020); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Education expenditure: 2.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 9.8% national budget (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 14 years (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
People - note: destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Environment5 fields

Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 1.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 11.1% (2023 est.) other: 87.9% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Carbon dioxide emissions: 447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Government19 fields

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCA etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus, which is native to the islands and appears on the flag and coat of arms; the name Caicos may derive from caya hico, a phrase meaning “string of islands” in the Lucayan (Arawak) language, or from the Spanish word cayo, meaning "rock"; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Government type: parliamentary democracy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Capital: 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 etymology: named after Sir Francis COCKBURN, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and civil law; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Constitution: history: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Citizenship: see United Kingdom; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Executive branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023) head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly election/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party as the premier; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Legislative branch: legislature name: House of Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 21 (directly elected or appointed) electoral system: mixed scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 2/07/2025 parties elected and seats per party: PNP (16); PDM (2); independents (1) percentage of women in chamber: 27.3% expected date of next election: 2029; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 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 serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment subordinate courts: magistrates' courts note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Political parties: People's Democratic Movement or PDM Progressive National Party or PNP; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the right half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
National symbol(s): conch shell, Turk's cap cactus; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
National anthem(s): title: "This Land of Ours" lyrics/music: Conrad HOWELL history: serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Economy20 fields

Economic overview: British Caribbean island territorial economy; GDP and its tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; major biodiversity locale; US dollar user; fossil fuel dependent; negative trade balance; increasing unemployment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.554 billion (2024 est.) $1.471 billion (2023 est.) $1.293 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Real GDP growth rate: 5.6% (2024 est.) 13.7% (2023 est.) 14.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Real GDP per capita: $33,400 (2024 est.) $31,800 (2023 est.) $28,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.745 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (2022 est.) 5% (2021 est.) 2.3% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.4% (2024 est.) industry: 9.3% (2024 est.) services: 72.6% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Agricultural products: corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Industrial production growth rate: 9% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Remittances: 0% of GDP (2023 est.) 0% of GDP (2022 est.) 0% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Budget: revenues: $247.3 million (2017 est.) expenditures: $224.3 million (2017 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Current account balance: $172.709 million (2018 est.) $35.016 million (2017 est.) $247.081 million (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Exports: $826.824 million (2018 est.) $602.581 million (2017 est.) $741.173 million (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Exports - partners: Gabon 27%, USA 25%, Zimbabwe 17%, Czechia 8%, UAE 3% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Exports - commodities: plastics, shellfish, carbonates, tobacco, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Imports: $544.219 million (2018 est.) $484.842 million (2017 est.) $438.041 million (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Imports - partners: USA 73%, Dominican Republic 4%, Italy 3%, Japan 3%, China 2% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, aluminum structures, furniture, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Energy4 fields

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 100% electrification - rural areas: 100%; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 94,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 252.088 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 12.912 million kWh (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Communications5 fields

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 25,085 (2004 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2004 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Broadcast media: no local terrestrial TV stations; broadcasts from the Bahamas, multi-channel cable, and satellite TV available; state-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters, with a total of about 15 stations; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Internet country code: .tc; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Internet users: percent of population: 93.5% (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Transportation4 fields

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-T; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Airports: 9 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Merchant marine: total: 3 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 2; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source
Ports: total ports: 3 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 2 size unknown: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, Providenciales; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Military and Security1 fields

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

Transnational Issues1 fields

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 8 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-05 · source

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