Turks and Caicos Islands
Introduction
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.
Geography
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
Geographic coordinates
21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total
948 sq km
land
948 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Coastline
389 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Climate
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation
highest point
Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
spiny lobster, conch
Land use
agricultural land
1.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest
11.1% (2023 est.)
other
87.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
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
Natural hazards
frequent hurricanes
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
People and Society
Population
total
60,439 (2024 est.)
male
30,389
female
30,050
Nationality
noun
none
adjective
none
Ethnic groups
Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
Languages
English (official)
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.)
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)
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.)
Median age
total
36.6 years (2025 est.)
male
36.5 years
female
36.1 years
Population growth rate
1.73% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
12.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
3.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
Urbanization
urban population
94.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
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.)
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
Life expectancy at birth
total population
81.3 years (2024 est.)
male
78.5 years
female
84.1 years
Total fertility rate
1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.4% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59.3% (2020 est.)
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)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.8% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total
14 years (2023 est.)
male
15 years (2023 est.)
female
14 years (2023 est.)
People - note
destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US
Environment
Environmental issues
limited natural freshwater resources
Climate
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Land use
agricultural land
1.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest
11.1% (2023 est.)
other
87.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
94.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Government
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 <em>caya hico</em>, a phrase meaning “string of islands” in the Lucayan (Arawak) language, or from the Spanish word <em>cayo</em>, meaning "rock"
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
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
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and civil law
Constitution
history
several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)
Citizenship
see United Kingdom
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
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
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
Political parties
People's Democratic Movement or PDM<br>Progressive National Party or PNP
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag
<strong>description:</strong> 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
National symbol(s)
conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
lyrics/music
unknown
history
official anthem, as a UK overseas territory
Economy
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.554 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.471 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.293 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
13.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
14.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$33,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$31,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$28,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.745 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.3% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
0.4% (2024 est.)
industry
9.3% (2024 est.)
services
72.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries
tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate
9% (2024 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
revenues
$247.3 million (2017 est.)
expenditures
$224.3 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2018
$172.709 million (2018 est.)
Current account balance 2017
$35.016 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance 2016
$247.081 million (2016 est.)
Exports
Exports 2018
$826.824 million (2018 est.)
Exports 2017
$602.581 million (2017 est.)
Exports 2016
$741.173 million (2016 est.)
Exports - partners
Gabon 27%, USA 25%, Zimbabwe 17%, Czechia 8%, UAE 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities
plastics, shellfish, carbonates, tobacco, garments (2023)
Imports
Imports 2018
$544.219 million (2018 est.)
Imports 2017
$484.842 million (2017 est.)
Imports 2016
$438.041 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners
USA 73%, Dominican Republic 4%, Italy 3%, Japan 3%, China 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, aluminum structures, furniture, plastic products (2023)
Exchange rates
<p>the US dollar is used</p>
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
99.9% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas
100%
electrification - rural areas
100%
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.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
4,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
9 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
25,085 (2004 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
110 (2004 est.)
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
Internet country code
.tc
Internet users
percent of population
93.5% (2022)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
VQ-T
Airports
9 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
3 (2023)
by type
general cargo 1, other 2
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
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
8 (2024 est.)