Turks and Caicos Islands
in Caribbean
North America

National active POI
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Dollar - USD
Spoken languages:
English
Local electricity:
120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
TC
Internet top level domain:
.tc
Country phone prefix:
+1-649
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Turks and Caicos Islands in Caribbean

Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Turks and Caicos Islands.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Turks and Caicos Islands. Last Update: 2024-03-18 07:26:14

Explore Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands with its capital Cockburn Town is located in North America (two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas). It covers some 949 square kilometers (2.5 times the size of Washington, DC) with a population of 52,570. English is the official language spoken by people in Turks and Caicos Islands. Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are only 37 miles long, and all together consist of 40 islands and cays. There are two main islands, Grand Turk (Turk Island) and Providenciales (Caicos Island). These islands are on 550 miles South from Florida. The islands have fabulous beaches throughout, in particular, the award winning Grace Bay. There also is a variety of fun, non-beach things that there are to do. You can scuba dive, snorkle, sail, boat, parasail, fish, go on tours, go to spas and salons, golf, shop, and gamble. Each island has their own activities as well. Below are a few activities that are available on the islands.

Popular Destinations in Turks and Caicos Islands

Administrative regions of Turks and Caicos Islands

About the country

The topography is low, flat limestone with extensive marshes and mangrove swamps. The average density of population is about 55 per km². The climate in Turks and Caicos Islands can be described as tropicalmarine, moderated by trade winds, sunny and relatively dry. Potential natural disasters are frequent hurricanes.

To reach someone Turks and Caicos Islands dial +1-649 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".tc". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is USD.

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 Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota.

Flag of 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 on 22 September 2017 resulting in loss of power and communications as well as damage to housing and businesses.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 186) 948sq km
Land (World Rank: 183) 948sq km
Comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
389
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 229) 48m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 219) 1.10%
Arable (World Rank: 196) 1.10%
Map reference
Central America and the Caribbean
Environment
Issues
  • - limited natural freshwater resources
  • - private cisterns collect rainwater
Hazzards frequent hurricanes
Location
two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti
Climate
tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain
low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 206) 52,570
Deathrate (World Rank: 219) 0.32%
Birthrate (World Rank: 124) 1.53%
Growthrate (World Rank: 36) 2.20%
Migration rate (World Rank: 10) 0.95%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 170) 1.70%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 84) 33.20
Female (World Rank: 100) 32.50
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 205) 5,826
0 14 female (World Rank: 205) 5,604
15 24 male (World Rank: 208) 3,641
15 24 female (World Rank: 206) 3,711
25 54 male (World Rank: 201) 14,097
25 54 female (World Rank: 200) 13,855
55 64 male (World Rank: 213) 1,839
55 64 female (World Rank: 214) 1,597
65 x male (World Rank: 215) 1,096
65 x female (World Rank: 215) 1,304
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 131) 1.04%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 43) 80years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 45) 83years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 43) 77years
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 120) 81.40%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 188) 200,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 188) 200,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 16) 100.00%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 199) 1,340bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 196) 1,328bbl / day
Carbon footprint
200000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 128) 3% of GDP
National symbol
Turk's cap cactus
Adjective
none
Noun
none
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 on 22 September 2017 resulting in loss of power and communications as well as damage to housing and businesses.
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 displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 209) 632,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 2) 11.20%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 63) 29,100USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 208) 0.50%
Source industry (World Rank: 208) 9.00%
Source service (World Rank: 7) 90.50%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 217) 4,848
Products
Industries
  • - offshore financial services
  • - tourism
Agriculture
  • - beans
  • - cassava
  • - citrus fruits
  • - corn
  • - fish
  • - manioc
  • - tapioca
Exports
  • - conch shells
  • - dried
  • - fresh conch
  • - lobster
Imports
  • - beverages
  • - clothing
  • - construction materials
  • - food
  • - manufactures
  • - tobacco

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 139) 6.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 176) 2.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 213) 121.00
Paved length (World Rank: 185) 24.00
Unpaved length (World Rank: 147) 97.00

Communication

Phone
Assessment 0