Location:
Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Geographic coordinates:
19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 264 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 264 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 211

Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
160 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain:
low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation:
mean elevation:
[see also: Mean Elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff on Cayman Brac 43 m

Natural resources:
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use:
agricultural land: 11.2% arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 8.3%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 52.9%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 35.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
NA
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues:
no natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Geography - note:
important location between Cuba and Central America