ands 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.

Turks and Caicos Islands Geography

Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean,
southeast of The Bahamas

Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area: total: 430 sq km

land: 430 sq km

water: 0 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%

permanent crops: 0%

permanent pastures: 0%

forests and woodland: 0%

other: 98% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources,
private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)

Turks and Caicos Islands People

Population: 18,122 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.58% (male 2,996; female 2,908)

15-64 years: 63.51% (male 6,050; female 5,459)

65 years and over: 3.91% (male 316; female 393) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.41% (2001 est.)

Birth rate: 24.89 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate: 4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate: 13.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 18.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.52 years

male: 71.37 years

female: 75.77 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.22 children born/woma