English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other 1.8%

Church of God 26%, United Church 11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%, Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%, Pentecostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%, other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1%

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with about half from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

The Cayman Islands has no regular military, it is an overseas territory of the UK.

Royal Cayman Islands Police Force

Americans living or traveling in the Cayman Islands are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica through the State Department's travel registration web site, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within the Cayman Islands.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Consular Agency in George Town, Grand Cayman or the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consular Agency to contact them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Consular Agency in the Cayman Islands is located at Cayman Centre, Unit B1, 118 Dorcy Drive, George Town, Grand Cayman.  Its phone number is (345) 945-8173.  Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (except U.S. and Cayman holidays). 

American citizens requiring assistance in Cayman may also contact the American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica at (876) 702-6000.  The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located at 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6. Office hours are Monday through Friday (except Jamaican and U.S. holidays) from 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with window services from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.  Both the Consular Agency and Embassy may provide updated information on travel and security within the Cayman Islands.

All Americans traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed-loop cruises), including ferry service, by the summer of 2009. Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea must have government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization), or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document such as a passport card for entry or re-entry to the U.S. Sea travelers should also check with their cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.

Applications for the new U.S. Passport Card are now being accepted and have been in full production since July 2008.The card may not be used to travel by air and is available only to U.S. citizens. Further information on passport cards is available and upcoming changes to U.S. passport policy can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site. We strongly encourage all American citizen travelers to apply for a U.S. passport well in advance of anticipated travel. American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on how to apply for their passports.

Visas are not required for U.S. citizens traveling to the Cayman Islands for short-term visits. U.S. citizens traveling to the Cayman Islands for work must obtain a work permit from the Department of Immigration of the Cayman Islands, telephone (345) 949-8344. There is a departure tax for travelers age 12 and older, which is regularly included in airfare. For further information travelers may contact Cayman Islands Department of Tourism offices in Miami at (305) 599-9033, New York (212) 889-9009, Houston (713) 461-1317 and Chicago (630) 705-0650. 

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information Sheet.

Airports:  3,  Airports- with paved runways:  2

Grand Cayman-Owen Roberts Int´l Airport (GCM/MWCR)
Grand Cayman Airport, Cayman Islands, 
PO Box 10098, 
Grand Cayman, KY1-1001, 
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Tel: +1 345 943-7070
Fax: +1 345 943-7071
Email: ciaa@caymanairports.com
Website: www.caymanairports.com
Customs Tel: +1 345 949 4579
Customs Hours: 0700-2200

The Cayman Islands are considered politically stable and enjoy a high standard of living. There have been no reported incidences of terrorism or threats made against Americans or American interests in the Cayman Islands.

Infant MR total: 6.94 deaths/ 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:  TOTAL 80.44 years (male 77.8/ female 83.14)

Required: None
Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid
Boosters: MMR, DPT, Rabies (if you will be involved in activity that may bring you into contact with bats)

Dengue epidemics have occurred on many of the Caribbean islands.  Most islands are infested with Aedes aegypti, so these places are at risk for introduction of dengue.  Protecting yourself against insect bites (see below) will help to prevent this disease.
In 2006, malaria (falciparum) was confirmed in travelers to Great Exuma, Bahamas, and Kingston, Jamaica, areas where malaria transmission typically does not occur.  An outbreak of eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis occurred in travelers to Jamaica.
Cutaneous larval migrans is a risk for travelers with exposures on beaches and leptospirosis is common in many areas and poses a risk to travelers engaged in recreational freshwater activities.  Such activities may include whitewater rafting, kayaking, adventure racing, or hiking. Endemic leptospirosis is reported in Jamaica. Travelers to regions in Jamaica can reduce their risk to leptospirosis by avoiding activities which expose them to contaminated fresh surface water. Outbreaks of ciguatera poisoning, which results from eating toxin-containing reef fish, have occurred on many islands.
Endemic foci of histoplasmosis are found on many Caribbean islands, and outbreaks have occurred in travelers.
Anthrax is hyperendemic in Haiti but has not been reported on most of the other islands.  Haiti also has a high incidence rate of tuberculosis and high HIV prevalence rates.

The quality of medical care in the Cayman Islands is generally comparable to that available in the United States; however, some procedures and cases requiring critical care may require medical evacuation to the United States.  Several American citizens each year drown or suffer cardiac arrest while snorkeling or SCUBA diving in the Cayman Islands.  These deaths may be attributed in part to tourists attempting to do more than they are trained to do or to poor physical conditioning or preexisting medical conditions that are exacerbated when snorkeling or diving.  A hyperbaric chamber is available for treatment of decompression illness.  Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment for health services.

There have been confirmed cases of Influenza A(H1N1) in the Caymen Islands.  For up-to-date information, please consult the most recent WHO update available at http://www.who.int/en/.

Country Calling Code:  1-345 (no "Country Code")
Internet code:  .ky