The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate Crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed, and the islands remain a British overseas territory. Grand Turk Island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Area: 948 km2
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Groups: Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023)
Head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assemblyelection/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party as the premier
Description: legislature name: House of Assemblylegislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 21 (directly elected or appointed)electoral system: mixedscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 2/07/2025parties elected and seats per party: PNP (16); PDM (2); independents (1)percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%expected date of next election: 2029
Information derived by "The World Factbook 2021. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2021. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/"