The Cayman Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the Caribbean Sea.Cayman Islands, an island group and a British overseas territory in the Caribbean Sea, about 380 miles (610 km) south of Florida. The Caymans are part of the Greater Antilles of the West Indies and consist of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. All three are flat coral islands, together covering about 100 square miles (259 km2). Grand Cayman is the largest, most populous island and the site of Georgetown, the capital. A tropical climate, white sand beaches, and seaside resorts make tourism the mainstay of the economy. Financial services, especially banking, are also important. Many foreigners use the Caymans as a tax haven because the islands have no direct taxation. The basic currency unit is the Caymanian dollar.
Most of the people are of mixed African and European descent. The population was estimated at 35,000 in 1996.
The Caymans were discovered by Columbus in 1503 and colonized by the British about 1734. They were administratively a part of Jamaica until 1962, when Jamaica gained independence and the Caymans became a separate colony. In 1999 Britain offered residents citizenship provided the government revise some laws to comply with international standards.
