Cayman Islands

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People
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Map of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean Sea, showing the three main islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Major towns such as George Town, Bodden Town, West End, and Spot Bay are labeled. A small locator map in the bottom right corner indicates the islands' position in the Caribbean region.

Map of the Caribbean region highlighting the location of the Cayman Islands, with a box and star marking George Town. Surrounding countries and territories such as Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and parts of Central America and the southeastern United States are labeled. The map shows the islands' position in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica.

Regional map of the West Indies showing the islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, including Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, and numerous smaller islands. The map uses color shading to indicate elevation, with higher elevations in orange and yellow, and labels major cities and territories, including those administered by the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and the United States. Surrounding bodies of water such as the Caribbean Sea, Gulf o

At a Glance

Cayman Islands summary

Quizzes

Islands and Archipelagos

Related Questions

During which months can hurricanes affect the Cayman Islands?
How did Hurricane Ivan affect Grand Cayman in 2004?
How did the Cayman Islands restore tourism after Hurricane Ivan?
How did the Treaty of Madrid in 1670 affect the Cayman Islands?
How far are the Cayman Islands from Jamaica?
How high is the central bluff on Cayman Brac?
How is the premier of the Cayman Islands appointed?
How large is Grand Cayman?
How were the Cayman Islands formed geologically?
What are ironshore coasts in the Cayman Islands?
What are the main ancestry groups among Cayman Islands residents?
What is the capital city of the Cayman Islands?
What products are provided by the Cayman Islands turtle farm?
What role does the Cayman National Cultural Foundation play in the arts?
When did Christopher Columbus sight the Cayman Islands?
When did the Cayman Islands adopt a constitution providing autonomy over domestic issues?
When did the Cayman Islands become internally self-governing?
When is the rainy season in the Cayman Islands?
Where are the Cayman Islands located in the Caribbean Sea?
Where is Little Cayman located in relation to Cayman Brac?
Which Cayman Island is the largest and most populous?
Which Christian denominations are prominent in the Cayman Islands?
Which countries are the Cayman Islands' main trading partners?
Which crops are grown in the Cayman Islands?
Which languages are spoken in the Cayman Islands?
Which three islands make up the Cayman Islands?
Who were among the first permanent settlers on Grand Cayman?
Why are offshore banking cases often heard by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands?
Why did the Spanish begin calling the islands Caimanas or Caymanes?
Why did turtle fishing decline in the Cayman Islands?
Why do many workers in the Cayman Islands come from other countries?
Why does the Cayman Islands import much of its food?
Why is the Cayman Islands an important offshore banking centre?
Why were the Cayman Islands first called Las Tortugas?
What is the climate of the West Indies?
What is the path of Hurricane Melissa?
What are the strongest hurricanes to hit Jamaica?
How can people help Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa?
What is a major feature of the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean?
What is the salinity of the Atlantic Ocean?
Where is Curaçao located?
What languages are spoken in Curaçao?
Why has trade been important to Curaçao’s economy?
Why is the 2026 FIFA World Cup significant for Curaçao?

Geography & Travel Physical Geography of Land Islands & Archipelagos

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External Websites

University of Prince Edward Island - Institute of Island Studies - Cayman Islands (PDF)
Official Tourism Site of Cayman Islands, West Indies
BBC News - Cayman Islands profile

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Cayman Islands - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Cayman Islands - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Cayman Islands

islands, West Indies

Also known as: Caimanas, Caymanes, Las Tortugas

Written by

Elizabeth Pat Ebanks

Information Officer, Government of the Cayman Islands, George Town.

Elizabeth Pat EbanksAll

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026 •History

Cayman Islands, island group and overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the Caribbean Sea, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac, situated about 180 miles (290 km) northwest of Jamaica. The islands are the outcroppings of a submarine mountain range that extends northeastward from Belize to Cuba. The capital is George Town, on Grand Cayman. The islands are generally low-lying, though Cayman Brac has a central bluff that constitutes 90...

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