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Turks and Caicos Islands Country Guide
Explore Turks and Caicos Islands in North America
Turks and Caicos Islands with the capital city Cockburn Town is located in North America (Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 430 square kilometres (2.5 times the size of Washington, DC) with 20,556 citizens.
The topography includes low, flat limestone with extensive marshes and mangrove swamps. The average density of population is approximately 48 per km². The notable climate conditions in Turks and Caicos Islands can be described as tropical with marine, moderated by trade winds and sunny and relatively dry. Possible natural disasters include frequent hurricanes.
To reach someone in Turks and Caicos Islands dial +1-649 prior to a number. There are 3,700 installed telephones. And there are 25,100 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".tc". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 120V - 60Hz.
About the flag and history of Turks and Caicos Islands
Blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota.
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.
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: North America Neighbours: Capital: Cockburn Town |
| Size | 430 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 166 square miles (mi² or sqmi) 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Population | 20,556 |
| Currency | Name Dollar, Currency Code:USD |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .tc |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +1-649 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 25,100 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 3,700 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 948 (sq km) | 186 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,754 | 211 |
| Population growth rate | 2.87 (%) | 14 |
| Birth rate | 17.05 (births/1,000 population) | 116 |
| Death rate | 3.06 (deaths/1,000 population) | 219 |
| Net migration rate | 14.66 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 8 |
| Infant mortality rate | 11.29 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 133 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79.40 (years) | 43 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.70 (children born/woman) | 170 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 632,000,000 | 213 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 11.20 (%) | 4 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 29,100 | 53 |
| Labor force | 4,848 | 222 |
| Unemployment rate | 10.00 (%) | 109 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.50 (%) | 54 |
| Exports | 24,770,000 | 207 |
| Imports | 591,300,000 | 188 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 200,000,000 (kWh) | 181 |
| Electricity - consumption | 186,000,000 (kWh) | 186 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 50,000 (kW) | 184 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 100.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 39 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 999 (bbl/day) | 204 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 1,042 (bbl/day) | 193 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 38,880 (Mt) | 208 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Internet hosts | 73,217 | 86 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 8 | 163 |
| Roadways | 121 (km) | 212 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases