Country Profile: Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands is a British overseas territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas and north of Haiti. Comprising two main island groups, the territory has a population of approximately 60,439, with the majority residing on Providenciales. The economy relies heavily on tourism and offshore financial services, while governance is structured as a parliamentary democracy under the oversight of the UK. The islands are prone to natural hazards, including hurricanes, and face challenges such as limited freshwater resources.

Geography

The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of eight inhabited islands and numerous cays, characterized by low, flat limestone terrain and extensive marshes. The tropical climate is moderated by trade winds, resulting in a sunny and relatively dry environment. The islands boast a coastline of 389 km and a total land area of 948 sq km.

389 km: Total coastline.
12 nm: Territorial sea boundary.
200 nm: Exclusive fishing zone.
48 m: Highest elevation point (Blue Hill on Providenciales).
1.1%: Percentage of land used for agriculture (2023 est.).

People and Society

The population of Turks and Caicos is estimated at 60,439 in 2024, with a diverse ethnic composition, mainly of Black descent. English is the official language, and the prevalent religion is Protestantism, with a significant Catholic minority. The islands exhibit a high urbanization rate, with 94.2% of the population living in urban areas.

36.6 years: Median age (2025 est.).
73.2%: Percentage of the population aged 15-64 years (2024 est.).
81.3 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024 est.).
12.73 births/1,000: Birth rate (2025 est.).
3.59 deaths/1,000: Death rate (2025 est.).

Economy

The economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands is heavily dependent on tourism, contributing significantly to the GDP, which is estimated to be $1.554 billion in 2024. The islands utilize the US dollar and have a negative trade balance, with increasing unemployment as a significant concern post-COVID-19. The service sector dominates the economy, accounting for 72.6% of the GDP.

5.6%: Projected GDP growth rate for 2024.
$33,400: GDP per capita (2024 est.).
0.4%: Agriculture's contribution to GDP (2024 est.).
73%: Share of total imports from the USA (2023).
$1.745 billion: GDP at official exchange rate (2024 est.).

Government

The Turks and Caicos Islands operate under a parliamentary democracy, governed under a mixed legal system of English common law and civil law. The territory is overseen by a governor appointed by the UK monarch, while the head of government is the Premier. The legislative body, the House of Assembly, consists of 21 members.

18 years: Minimum voting age.
27.3%: Percentage of women in the House of Assembly.
4 years: Length of legislative term.
2/07/2025: Date of the most recent election.
King CHARLES III: Current chief of state (since September 2022).

Energy

Energy in the Turks and Caicos Islands is largely generated through fossil fuels, with 98.1% of electricity generated from this source. The islands boast nearly universal electrification, where 99.9% of the population has access to electricity. The total installed generating capacity is 94,000 kW.

252.088 million kWh: Total electricity consumption (2023 est.).
3,000 bbl/day: Refined petroleum consumption (2023 est.).
12.912 million kWh: Transmission and distribution losses (2023 est.).

Environment

Natural resources are limited, with the islands facing environmental issues such as constraints on freshwater availability. The majority of land is classified as either forest or other land uses, with only 1.1% dedicated to agriculture, reflecting the islands' limited agricultural capacity.

11.1%: Forested area (2023 est.).
447,000 metric tonnes: Total carbon dioxide emissions (2023 est.).

Transportation

The transportation network of the Turks and Caicos Islands includes nine airports and several ports, serving both passengers and cargo. The islands have a limited merchant marine fleet. Major ports include Cockburn Harbor and Providenciales.

3: Total number of ports (2024).
9: Number of airports (2025).
VQ-T: Civil aircraft registration code.

Communications

Communications infrastructure is developing, with high internet penetration of 93.5%. The absence of local terrestrial TV stations is noted, with broadcasts mainly from the Bahamas and cable services.

4,000: Fixed line subscriptions (2021 est.).
110: Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2004 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	60,439	2024 est.
Area	948 sq km	Total land area
GDP	$1.554 billion	2024 est.
GDP per capita	$33,400	2024 est.
Electricity access	99.9%	Total population (2022 est.)
Birth rate	12.73 births/1,000	2025 est.
Life expectancy	81.3 years	2024 est.
Urban population	94.2%	Total population (2023)
Employment rate	N/A	Increasing unemployment post-COVID
Carbon dioxide emissions	447,000 metric tonnes	2023 est.