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Home ----
Caribbean
( T
) ----
Turks and Caicos Islands
(overseas territory of the UK) |
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National Map
Of |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
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National Flag
Of |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Flag Description:
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 contains a conch
shell, lobster, and cactus
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Turks and Caicos Islands |
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National Anthem
Of |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
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National Anthem Style:
NO
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Background:
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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. |
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Location:
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Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic
Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti |
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Geographic coordinates:
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21 45 N,
71 35 W |
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Map references:
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Central
America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total:
430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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2.5 times
the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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389 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical;
marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively
dry |
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Terrain:
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low, flat
limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m |
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Natural resources:
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spiny
lobster, conch |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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frequent
hurricanes |
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Environment - current issues:
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limited
natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect
rainwater |
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Geography - note:
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about 40
islands (eight inhabited) |
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People |
Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Population:
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20,556
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 32.5% (male 3,396/female 3,277)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 6,900/female 6,220)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 342/female 421)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
27.35 years
male: 28.08 years
female: 26.62 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.9%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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22.23
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.28
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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11.09
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
15.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 74.51 years
male: 72.28 years
female: 76.84 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.08
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
none
adjective: none |
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Ethnic groups:
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black
90%, mixed, European, or North American 10% |
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Religions:
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Baptist
40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%,
other 14% (1990) |
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Languages:
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English
(official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.) |
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People - note:
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destination and transit point for illegal Haitian
immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands,
Bahamas, and US |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
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Dependency status:
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overseas
territory of the UK |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Grand
Turk |
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Administrative divisions:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK) |
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Independence:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) |
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Constitution:
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introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored
and revised 5 March 1988 |
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Legal system:
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based on
laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from
Jamaica and The Bahamas |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1953), represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since
11 July 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Michael Eugene
MISICK (since 15 August 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex
officio members and five appointed by the governor from
among the members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary;
governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed
chief minister by the governor |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats of which 13 are
popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be
held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDM
53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note -
in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two
seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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People's
Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR];
Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene
MISICK] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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Caricom
(associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description:
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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 contains a conch
shell, lobster, and cactus |
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Economy - overview:
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The Turks
and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and
offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food
for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the
leading source of tourists, accounting for more than
half of the annual 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s.
Major sources of government revenue also include fees
from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$216
million (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.9%
(2000 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% |
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Labor force:
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4,848
(1990 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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about 33%
in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing;
significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other
services |
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Unemployment rate:
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10% (1997
est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4% (1995)
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Budget:
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revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital
expenditures of NA (1997-98 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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corn,
beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish |
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Industries:
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tourism,
offshore financial services |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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5 million
kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.65
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
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Oil - consumption:
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0 bbl/day
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$169.2
million (2000) |
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Exports - commodities:
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lobster,
dried and fresh conch, conch shells |
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Exports - partners:
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US, UK
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Imports:
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$175.6
million (2000) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food and
beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction
materials |
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Imports - partners:
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US, UK
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Debt - external:
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NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$4.1
million (1997) |
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Currency (code):
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US dollar
(USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US
dollar is used |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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5,700
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,700
(1999) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: fully digital system with
international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available
international: country code - 1-649; 2 submarine
cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 2, FM
7, shortwave 0 (2004) |
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Radios:
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8,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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0
(broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; 2 cable
television networks) (2004) |
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Televisions:
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NA |
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Internet country code:
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.tc |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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14 (2000)
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Internet users:
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NA |
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Highways:
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total:
121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2000) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Grand
Turk, Providenciales |
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Airports:
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8 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the UK |
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Disputes - international:
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have
received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder
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Illicit drugs:
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transshipment point for South American narcotics
destined for the US and Europe |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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