Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands defies simple categorization. #25 in urban population but near the bottom in renewable energy. Test your assumptions about Turks and Caicos Islands.
Turks and Caicos Islands is a country in North America with a population of 60.4K and an area of 948 km². Life expectancy is 78.0 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
CO2 Per Capita
8.14How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Internet Users (%)
93.5%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Life Expectancy
78.0 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
78.0 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
GDP Per Capita
$33.4KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
38.0KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌱Protected Land (%)
43.5%The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
👥Urban Population (%)
94.2%The percentage of people living in cities and urban areas.
💰GDP Growth Rate
5.6%The annual percentage change in the country's GDP.
📡Internet Users (%)
93.5%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
❤️Life Expectancy
78.0 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #7 globally in protected land (%)
Protected Land (%): 43.5%
The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #218 in death rate
Death Rate: 3.59
The number of deaths per 1,000 people each year.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #228 in land boundaries length
Land Boundaries Length: 0
Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #229 in highest elevation
Highest Elevation: 48
Highest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #174 in merchant ships
Merchant Ships: 3.00
Merchant marine fleet size from CIA World Factbook.
Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Turks and Caicos Islands Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Child Mortality
Above avgThe probability that a newborn will die before age 5, per 1,000 live births.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Turks and Caicos Islands
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.
- 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
- Climate
- tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
- Terrain
- low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
- Natural Resources
- spiny lobster, conch
- Natural Hazards
- frequent hurricanes
- Size Comparison
- 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
- Major Cities
- 5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy
- Capital
- Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
- Capital Coordinates
- 21 28 N, 71 08 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- 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"
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- National Symbols
- conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
- National Anthem
- "God Save the King"
- 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
- Industries
- tourism, offshore financial services
- Agricultural Products
- corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
- Export Partners
- Gabon 27%, USA 25%, Zimbabwe 17%, Czechia 8%, UAE 3% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- plastics, shellfish, carbonates, tobacco, garments (2023)
- Import Partners
- USA 73%, Dominican Republic 4%, Italy 3%, Japan 3%, China 2% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, cars, aluminum structures, furniture, plastic products (2023)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 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
Deep Dive
42 of 49 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Haiti
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
BahamasCountries with Similar GDP
Malaysia
Uruguay
Trinidad and Tobago
Kazakhstan
Saint Kitts and NevisCompare Turks and Caicos Islands with...
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Barbados
BelizeShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Turks and Caicos Islands!
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Frequently Asked Questions about Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands has a population of 60.4K, ranking #203 globally by population.
Turks and Caicos Islands is located in North America. It has an area of 948 km².
Life expectancy in Turks and Caicos Islands is 78.0 years, ranking #65 globally.
Turks and Caicos Islands's GDP per capita (PPP) is 38.0K, ranking #66 globally.
Turks and Caicos Islands ranks particularly high in CO2 Per Capita (#35), Internet Users (%) (#43), Life Expectancy (#65).
Turks and Caicos Islands has a population density of 48.6 people per km², ranking #153 globally.
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