Caribbean, south of Cuba, 770km (480 miles) southwest of Miami.

GMT - 5.

260 sq km (100 sq miles).

 47,900 (2008).

184 per sq km.

George Town. Population: 35,527 (2006).

The Cayman Islands are situated in the Caribbean, 290km 288km (180 miles) northwest of Jamaica, 240km (150 miles) south of Cuba and 770km 768km (480 miles) south of Miami. Grand Cayman is the largest and most populous island in this British overseas territory. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac lie around 143km (89 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman and are separated from each other by a channel about 12km 8km (58 miles) wide.

The islands are peaks of a subterranean mountain range extending from Cuba towards the Gulf of Honduras, and the beaches here are considered some of the very best in the Caribbean, the most notable being Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman.
Casuarinas and sea-grape trees line many of the beaches, many of which are protected offshore by a fringing reef.

British Crown Colony since 1670.

HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Stuart Jack since 2005, to be replaced in January 2010 by Duncan Taylor.

Kurt Tibbetts since 2005.

The United Democratic Party’s McKeeva Bush was defeated in the May 2005 general elections by the People's Progressive Movement, led by Kurt Tibbetts.   Although the UK is officially responsible for the islands' foreign policy, the USA exerts a dominant influence over its Caribbean ‘back yard'. Both the US and British governments have expressed concerns about the exploitation of the islands for drug trafficking and associated money laundering.

English is the official language, with a distinctive ‘brogue’ reflecting heritage of Welsh, Scottish and English ancestors still distinguishing the speech of the Caymanian people. The number of Jamaican residents in the workforce means the Jamaican patois and accompanying heavier accent is also common. Spanish, particularly regional dialects of Central America and Cuba, is also widely spoken.

Main Christian denominations.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style (flat) two-pin plugs are standard.

The mode of life on the Cayman Islands is a blend of local traditions and of US and British patterns of behaviour. Handshaking is the usual greeting. Because of the large number of people with a similar surname (such as Ebanks and Bodden), a person may be introduced by his first name (such as Mr Tom or Mr Jim). Flowers are acceptable as a gift on arrival or following a visit for a meal. It is normal to prescribe the required mode of dress on invitations. Beachwear is best confined to the beach to avoid offence. Topless bathing is prohibited.