Cayman Islands Population 2020 (Live)

Population Growth

The Cayman Islands saw a major boost to its population from the 1970s onwards. The 1970s saw 16% increase in population, the 1980s a 77% increase, the 1990s a 55% increase, and the 2000s a 67% increase. This is mainly due to companies registering in the islands to take advantage of the country’s tax haven status. By 2020, it's expected that the population will have grown by a factor of ten since 1950.

The Cayman Islands is one of the 14 British Overseas Territories. This territory is made up of three islands in the Caribbean: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. The islands take up a total land area of around 102 square miles. With an estimated population of 64,420, the population density is quite low at just over 549 people per square mile. This population also makes the Cayman Islands the second most populous British Overseas Territory, only falling behind Bermuda. Most people live on Grand Cayman. Combined, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman residents make up just under 2,100 people.

The capital of the Cayman Islands is George Town. This city is located on Grand Cayman. It is also the most populous city in the Cayman Islands with over 28,000 inhabitants. George Town is the second most populous city across all of the British Overseas Territories.

There are about 100 different nationalities residing throughout the Cayman Islands. Roughly half are of Caymanian descent. Approximately 60% of the population is comprised of people that are two or more races. Most Caymanians practice some form of Christianity. There are communities of Baptists, Catholics, and Presbyterians, as well as smaller communities of Muslims, Hindus, and Jews.

The Cayman Islands has become known worldwide for offshore financial services. Many international businesses and individuals from all over the world consider the Cayman Islands to be a tax haven. The economy of this territory is also boosted by tourism. Seven Mile Beach, Stringray City, the Observation Tower of Camana Bay, and the East End Light are popular attractions that draw in visitors each year.

The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the western end of the Caribbean Sea. It's comprised of the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. The Cayman Islands is the second most populated British Overseas Territory, behind Bermuda, and as of 2019 it is estimated to hold over 63,000 people.

Demographics

The racial groups of the Cayman Islands are estimated at:

• 40% Mixed
• 20% Black
• 20% White
• 20% Asian and other

While home to only 63,000 people, there are in excess of 100,000 companies registered to the Cayman islands. Financial services are the islands’ main economy, with many choosing it as a location to base their companies offshore. One building in George Town is known to house upwards of 20,000 companies.

1734 saw the arrival of the islands’ first slaves, predominantly from Africa. The majority of native Caymanians today are of African and English descent. At the time of slavery’s abolition in the Cayman Islands, 116 families of English ancestry had enslaved over 950 former slaves of African ancestry.

The Cayman Islands 2016 Compendium of Statistics released by the Economics and Statistics Office showed a district breakdown as follows:

• George Town: 31,935 people
• Bodden Town: 12,669
• West Bay: 11,686
• North Side: 1,460
• East End: 1,511
• Little Cayman and Cayman Brac: 2,099

Grand Cayman is the most populous of the three islands. A 2010 census showed only 2,277 residents living between Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

History

The Cayman Islands remained relatively untouched until the 17th century. England and Jamaica took formal control of the islands in 1670, prior to several failed settlement attempts. The 1730s saw the first permanent English-speaking settlement.

The government of the Cayman Islands has always relied on indirect taxation. There has never been any income tax, capital gains tax, or wealth tax levied by the government. This makes it an extremely popular tax haven.

September 2014 saw the island of Grand Cayman hit by Hurrican Ivan, damaging an estimated 83% of dwellings on the island. It was reported that as many as 70% were severely damaged by wind and flooding, and a further 26% suffered minor damage. This was the worst hurricane to hit the island in 86 years, and many saw disruption in power and communications for months.