Turks and Caicos Islands

Parliamentary DemocracyPop60KGDP (PPP)$1.6BCP0.0→Beta

⌘K

Overview

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

Area

Land: 948 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 948 sq km

Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Land Use

Other: 87.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.1% (2023 est.)
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.)

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
Coastline: 389 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

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
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Area comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
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

People & Society

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.)

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
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 12.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 36.5 years
Total: 36.6 years (2025 est.)
Female: 36.1 years

Population

Male: 30,389
Total: 60,439 (2024 est.)
Female: 30,050

Nationality

Noun: none
Adjective: none

Urbanization

Urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

Ethnic groups: Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
People note: destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 5.1% (2020)
Women married BY age 15: 0% (2020)
Women married BY age 18: 23.3% (2020)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 36.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.8% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 1.73% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 78.5 years
Female: 84.1 years
Total population: 81.3 years (2024 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Major urban areas population: 5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 59.3% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2020 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 15 years (2023 est.)
Total: 14 years (2023 est.)
Female: 14 years (2023 est.)

Government

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

Capital

Name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Etymology: named after Sir Francis COCKBURN, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844
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
Geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: see United Kingdom

Constitution

History: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)

Country Name

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"
Abbreviation: TCA
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and civil law
Government type: parliamentary democracy

Judicial Branch

Note: note: appeals beyond the Supreme Court are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
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)
Subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly
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)
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

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Political parties: People's Democratic Movement or PDM
Progressive National Party or PNP

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 21 (directly elected or appointed)
Electoral system: mixed
Legislature name: House of Assembly
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 2/07/2025
Expected date of next election: 2029
Percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%
Parties elected and seats per party: PNP (16); PDM (2); independents (1)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "God Save the King"
History: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory
Lyrics/music: unknown

National symbol(s): conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organisations: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $247.3 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $224.3 million (2017 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $741.173 million (2016 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2016: $741.173 million (2016 est.)
Exports 2017: $602.581 million (2017 est.)
Exports 2018: $826.824 million (2018 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $438.041 million (2016 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2016: $438.041 million (2016 est.)
Imports 2017: $484.842 million (2017 est.)
Imports 2018: $544.219 million (2018 est.)

Industries: tourism, offshore financial services

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
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
Exports partners: Gabon 27%, USA 25%, Zimbabwe 17%, Czechia 8%, UAE 3% (2023)
Imports partners: USA 73%, Dominican Republic 4%, Italy 3%, Japan 3%, China 2% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $33,400 (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $28,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $33,400 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 14.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Exports commodities: plastics, shellfish, carbonates, tobacco, garments (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, cars, aluminum structures, furniture, plastic products (2023)

Current Account Balance

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2016: $247.081 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2017: $35.016 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance 2018: $172.709 million (2018 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $1.745 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 8.5% (2022 est.)

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 2.3% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 9% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.554 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.293 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.471 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.554 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 9.3% (2024 est.)
Services: 72.6% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 0.4% (2024 est.)

Energy

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 252.088 million kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 94,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 12.912 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 100%
Electrification urban areas: 100%
Electrification total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 93.5% (2022)

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

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.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 0
Medium: 0
Key ports: Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Very small: 2
Total ports: 3 (2024)
Size unknown: 1
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 9 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 3 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 1, other 2

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-T

Environment

Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Land Use

Other: 87.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 11.1% (2023 est.)
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.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources

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.)

Military & Security

Military note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees: 8 (2024 est.)

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Turks and Caicos Islands — vintage 2026-Q1: Turks and Caicos Islands factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/turks-and-caicos-islands

Download as JSON

Sources: CIA World Factbook