Caribbean, southeast of the Bahamas

Area

497 sq km.

Population

22 352 (estimate 2008).

Population density

45 per sq. km.

Capital

Cockburn Town (Grand Turk) Population:. 159 (estimate 2009).

Form of government

British Overseas Territory since 1670, internal autonomy since 1962. Constitution of 1976. Legislative Council with 19 members.

Geography

The south of the Bahamas located overseas territory Turks and Caicos is an archipelago of 30 islands. There are two main groups of islands, each surrounded by a coral reef. Caicos, the larger of them, includes the islands of Providenciales, Middle Caicos (also known as Grand Caicos), North Caicos, South Caicos, East Caicos and West Caicos, and many small cays, some of which are inhabited. The group of Turks islands is 35 km and is separated by a wide canal. It consists of Grand Turk, Salt Cay and a number of small, uninhabited cays.

Language

The official language is English.

Religion

18% Anglican, Methodist 16%, 40% of Baptists and other Christians.

Time

MEZ – 6 First Sunday in April to last Sunday in October: GMT – 5 (summer time in the Turks and Caicos Islands = GMT Standard Time (winter time in Central Europe) -5 hours

Difference to Central Europe is in summer and winter each – 6 hours

Mains voltage

110 V, 60 Hz In many American outlets needed, so adapters.

Prime Minister

Governor Gordon Wetherell and a 12-member body took over in August 2009, the leadership of the country, after Britain suspended the self-governing administration.

Head of state

Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor Gordon Wetherell, since August 2008.