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.

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

spiny lobster, conch

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

22,942 (July 2010 est.)

20.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

4.18 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

9.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

2.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)

black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%

Baptist 40%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, and the US

overseas territory of the UK

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009, S.I. 2009/701 - effective 14 August 2009 - suspended Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the constitutional right to trial by jury, and imposed direct British rule

based on laws of England and Wales with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

18 years of age; universal

under provisions of the Order in Council, the unicameral House of Assembly is dissolved and all seats vacated for a period of up to two years; in the interim, a Consultative Forum, appointed by the governor, will be established

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Floyd SEYMOUR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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 Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

$216 million (2002 est.)

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

tourism, offshore financial services

12 million kWh (2007 est.)

11.16 million kWh (2007 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

80 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$169.2 million (2000)

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

$175.6 million (2000)

food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

the US dollar is used

while there are no local terrestrial TV stations, broadcasts from the Bahamas can be received; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; government-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters with a total of about 15 stations broadcasting (2007)

Grand Turk, Providenciales

defense is the responsibility of the UK

have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe