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| Get A Large Static Flag | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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| Introduction | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Background:
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islands were part of UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. governor of Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence previously agreed upon for 1982, policy previously reversed and islands are presently a British overseas territory. |
| Geography | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Location:
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Caribbean, two island groups in North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of 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 Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 430 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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2.5 times 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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exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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% (1998 est.) |
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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) |
| People | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Total Population:
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19,350 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,202; female 3,094)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 6,484; female 5,848) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 321; female 401) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 27 years
male: 27.7 years female: 26.3 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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3.14% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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23.51 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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12.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female Population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 19.48 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life Expectancy:
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Population: 74 years
male: 71.82 years female: 76.3 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.15 children born/woman (2003 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
female: 98% (1970 est.) male: 99% Population: 98% |
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People - note:
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destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US |
| Government | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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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 UK |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of UK) |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of 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 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 Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)
elections: none; monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by monarch; following legislative elections, leader of majority party is appointed chief minister by governor head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by governor from among members of Legislative Council |
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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 NA 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, 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 [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN] |
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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) |
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Diplomatic representation in US:
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none (overseas territory of UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from US:
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none (overseas territory of UK) |
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Flag description:
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blue, with flag of UK in upper hoist-side quadrant and colonial shield centered on outer half of flag; shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus |
| Economy | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Economy - overview:
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Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. US is leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of 93,000 visitors in 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend. |
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GDP:
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buying power parity - $231 million (2000 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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buying power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
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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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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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Budget:
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revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, includes capital expenditures of $NA (1997-98 est.) |
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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 (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.65 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day NA (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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0 bbl/day NA bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish |
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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:
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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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US dollar is used |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
| Communications | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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3,000 (1994) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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0 (1994) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: fair cable and radiotelephone services
domestic: NA international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3 (one inactive), FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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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 Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997) |
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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 |
| Transportation | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: 121 km
paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Grand Turk, Providenciales |
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Merchant marine:
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none (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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8 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2002) |
| Military | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Military - note:
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defense is responsibility of UK |
| Transnational Issues | Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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Illicit drugs:
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transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for US and Europe |