Cayman's Outlook 2026

Inflation continues to impact the cost of living, while over-development threatens the natural environment and strains the Islands’ infrastructure. At the same time, shifting employment dynamics risk leaving Caymanians behind.

Population & Permits

According to the latest official Government figures available, which is the spring 2024 Labour Force Survey carried out by the Economics and Statistics Office (ESO), the population stats at a glance for the Cayman Islands, which given their age should be for guide purposes only, are as follows.

• Estimated population of the Cayman Islands as of June 2024: 87,866. This is an over 5% increase from 2023 (around 3,000 more people since December 2023)
• Caymanian population rose by 2.5% to 39,897
• Permanent residents increased to 7,822 from 6,433 (spring 2023). Which translates to just under 9% of the population
• Non-Caymanian population is more than 40,000 (4.8% increase from 2023). The growth in this area of the population is driven by migrant workers, not birth rate
• Approximately 53% of the workforce (33,573 people) are expatriates
• Divided by sex, the population is made up of Men: 44,936 (6.3% increase since last spring) and Women: 42,930 (3.7% increase since last spring)
• Children under 15: 14.6%
• People over 65: 8.1%
• Dependent population (under 15 and over 65): 22.7%
• Non-Caymanians make up over 55% of the total population. Caymanians make up the remainder.

It is important to note that population growth is not inherently negative. It can lead to economic growth and increased diversity. However, some Caymanians are concerned, quite rightly, that the rapid population growth is diluting Caymanian culture and identity as well as straining resources and infrastructure beyond their limits.

That being said, the Government faces pressure from the private sector to continue to allow high levels of immigration in order to maintain the Islands' competitive advantage in the global economy. Government also has to be cognizant of the considerable fees that the it collects on permits and other similar applications.

The latest work permit information supplied by WORC in January of 2026 and analaysed by law firm HSM, breaks down the number of currently active work permits by country of holder. Analysis of these figures show that Nepalese workers have emerged as the fastest-growing nationality in Cayman’s labour force, rising from negligible numbers a decade ago to roughly 1,800 individuals, representing over 5% of all work permit holders. This reflects a broader shift in the composition of the expatriate workforce, driven by expanding sectors such as private healthcare, tourism (hotels and restaurants), and private security, all of which have increased demand for foreign labour.

More widely, there has been a clear transition toward greater recruitment from Asia, particularly the Philippines, India, and Nepal, over roughly the past decade. While workers from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States remain significant, their relative presence has declined, partly due to long-term residents gaining permanent status but also because fewer new workers are arriving from these countries. Rising living costs have made Cayman less attractive to many workers even when accounting for the islands’ tax advantages. In contrast, many workers from Asia are more willing to adapt to these pressures, frequently sharing modest accommodation with extended networks to keep housing costs down, while supplementing their income through additional work out of contractual hours.

Against this backdrop, the growing internationalisation of the population has reinforced the desire of the new Government to implement policies aimed at preserving local cultural identity amid increasing demographic diversity. For reference, below is a similar breakdown of work permits by country from 2016, highlighting the subsequent shift toward Asia, which now represents a significantly larger share of the expatriate workforce.

Government Financial Position Sep 2025

There was better than expected news for Government in the latest financial report available, from December of 2025, covering the period from January 1st up to the end of Q2 2025.

The key takeaways from this new Q3 2025 (unaudited) report are:

• Core Government Surplus: $119.3 million

• Entire Public Sector (EPS) Surplus: $137.4 million

• Net Assets: $2.6 billion

• Cash & Deposits (Bank Balances): $392.8 million

Revenue

Total Revenue (First 9 Months of 2025): $970.4M
$56.0M more than budget
$56.5M higher than 2024 YTD actuals

Coercive Revenues Variance vs Budget: +$43.6M
Other Company Fees: +$24.8M (higher registrations); +$19.3M vs 2024
Partnership Fees: +$15.2M (higher registrations); +$9.0M vs 2024
Private Fund Fees: +$9.7M (more funds registered); +$6.6M vs 2024
Stamp Duty – Land Transfers: +$10.0M (more transactions & higher values); $48.1M collected; +$2.5M vs 2024
DITC Penalties & Fines: +$7.5M (unbudgeted); +$4.7M vs 2024

Areas Below Budget Expectations
Other Import Duty: –$17.2M vs budget; still +$6.1M vs 2024
DITC Filing Fees: –$12.7M vs budget; new revenue stream that was deferred

Investment Revenues: $16.9M
$9.8M above budget, driven by higher cash balances placed in fixed deposits.

Expenses

Total Expenses: $851.1M
$39.1M above the YTD budget of $812.0M
$72.9M higher than 2024 YTD actuals

Government Personnel Costs: $377.6M
$14.3M below the budgeted $391.9M due to vacant posts across Ministries, Portfolios and Offices (Election Year)
$36.5M higher than 2024, partly due to Cost-of-Living adjustments in January 2025

Supplies and Consumables: $115.1M
$9.0M below the YTD budget
$4.5M higher than 2024 YTD
Expected to align closer to the full-year budget as more projects come online in the final quarter

Higher-Than-Budget Expenditure Areas
Outputs from Statutory Authorities & Gov. Companies: +$15.7M vs budget
Outputs from Non-Governmental Suppliers: +$29.3M vs budget
Transfer Payments: +$31.0M vs budget

Health Services Authority (HSA)
Payments exceeded the YTD budget by $18.0M
Primarily due to higher costs for care of indigents

Health Services Outputs from Non-Governmental Suppliers: $58.9M
$29.3M above the YTD budget, for tertiary Care at local and overseas Institutions

Transfer Payments: $79.2M
$31.0M above the YTD budget
Financial Assistance: +$15.7M
Scholarships and Bursaries: +$12.5M
Seaman Ex-Gratia: +$3.7M

Cash Position

Cash and Cash Equivalents: $93.0M
Marketable Securities: $299.8M
Total Account Balances: $392.8M

National Development Plan

History

The Planning Statement serves as a comprehensive guide for development within the Cayman Islands, adhering to the Development and Planning Act (2021 Revision). This document establishes a long-range plan to govern physical development and overall land use across the Islands.

The Development and Planning Law of 1971 established the Central Planning Authority (CPA) to create and implement development plans, leading to the first National Development Plan in 1977. Recognising the need for an update, a Development Plan Review Committee was formed in 1991, and after public consultations and tribunal hearings, the 1997 Development Plan was approved by the Legislative Assembly, now known as Parliament. Notably though, the 1997 iteration only included appendices offering development control guidelines for the Sister Islands. Consequently, a dedicated plan for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman has yet to be established. The new plan will therefore include guidance for all three Islands.

While there have been previous attempts at modernisation, the 1997 Plan still remains the guiding document for physical development on Grand Cayman. However, with a population considerably more than double that of 28 years ago and infrastructure showing signs of buckling under the weight, the current Government's assumed objective is now to reign in overdevelopment and "achieve the best balance of economic, social, and environmental outcomes, while protecting the culture, health, and general welfare of the people". Many would agree that this is long overdue.

2024 Draft Plan Released Prior to the General Election

In May of 2024, the CI Government released a draft document for public feedback that could serve as the foundation for the first new national development plan in 28 years.

2025 Tribunal Hearings

Subsequent hearings took place towards the end of 2025 at a tribunal to review thousands of public and organisational submissions on the proposed national development plan intended to replace the 1997 guidance. The process aims to shape policies on building heights, housing density, land use, and environmental protection as the islands continue to grow. The tribunal's recommendations to Government will guide a final planning statement and future area-specific plans. Community groups are calling for environmental assessments, and stronger focus on sustainability, affordable housing, and community well-being.

Financial Sector Overview

Cayman Financial Services (2023–2026)

The Cayman Islands is recognised globally as a safe and secure financial investment hub. Strong compliance ratings help Cayman remain a trusted domicile for investment funds, banking, and structured finance. As of 2024, Cayman was recognised by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as the world’s second-largest domicile for private funds, hosting more than 17,722 registered funds. Furthermore, the Cayman Islands is preparing to assume the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Presidency in July 2026, a precursor to demonstrating continued readiness and compliance to global anti-money laundering practices ahead the jurisdiction's 2027 FATF evaluation.

It also remained the leading offshore financial centre and the second-largest global jurisdiction for licensed captive insurers, with approximately 700 companies. In addition, with mutual funds bringing the total to over 30,000 funds, the jurisdiction manages US$16 trillion in assets and US$9.1 trillion in net assets, representing about 32% of U.S. private fund net assets, cementing its position.

1. Global Regulatory Credibility – Strong compliance with OECD standards and removal from FATF grey list (2023), reinforcing international trust.

2. International Recognition – Awards from Citywealth and other global bodies highlight Cayman as a leading financial centre.

3. Economic Driver – Contributes ~44% of GDP and ~45% of government revenue, supporting employment and fiscal stability.

4. Sector Growth – Expanding private funds, mutual funds, and captive insurance maintain Cayman’s role in global capital markets.

5. Macroeconomic Strength – High sovereign credit ratings (Aa3 by Moody’s) and large banking sector reinforce stability and investor confidence.
   
   Sources: IFCreview, IFCreview2, Reuters, Cayman Compass, Cayman Independent, Chamber of Commerce, CIMA

Economic Factors Affecting Consumers

The local economy's current state, and how consumers are being affected is indicated in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for the second half of 2025. There have been considerable increases in living costs (as we are sure you know)! The full report is available here. Consumer Price Index Report

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the final quarter of 2025 was 137.7, 1.2% higher by comparison to the corresponding quarter of 2024.

Key Takeaways From the 2025 Q4 Economic Report:

• Overall inflation in the Cayman Islands was 1.9% in the first half of 2025, slightly higher than 1.6% in the same period of 2024. Year on year 2024-2025 was up 1.2%.

• Quarterly inflation was 1.8% in Q1 and 1.9% in Q2 of 2025, both higher than the corresponding quarters in 2024. Q4 was up 1.3% on 2025 Q3.

• Most price categories increased, with the exception of Transport costs, which declined by 5% as parts and supplies became more readily available and fuel costs remained stable.

• Education recorded the largest price increase (4.6%), mainly due to a rise in pre-primary and primary education costs.

• Restaurants and hotels rose by 4%, driven by higher prices passed on providers, themselves featuring elevated supply costs.

• Communication costs increased by 8%, largely from higher telephone services and audio-visual equipment prices.

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 3.8%, driven by higher prices for dairy products, oils and fats, and soft drinks.

• Merchandise imports (mid 2025) grew by 10.3% to $912.1 million, led by increases in miscellaneous manufactured goods and food imports.

• Fuel import (mid 2025) value declined by 8.4% due to lower prices, even though fuel import volumes increased by 6.0%, with diesel remaining the largest share.

Salaries, Pay and the Workforce

According to the latest data from the Economics and Statistics Office, the Q2 2024 Labour Force Survey Report reveals insights into employment in the Cayman Islands. As of March 2026, this is the most up-to-date information available.

The overall unemployment rate in September 2024 was 2.4%, with the unemployment rate for Caymanians dropping 0.3% to 4.6% compared to Q1 2024. This equates to over 1,048 unemployed Caymanians. The workforce has grown to over 60,823 individuals, including about 22,535 Caymanians. 6% of the workforce is under 24 years old, of which only about half are actually working. The latter being a concerning statistic that speaks to this segment being either underqualified, unwilling or unable to find suitable employment.

Caymanians are mainly employed as managers (16.3%), technicians/associate professionals (20.4%), and clerical workers (8.8%), while non-Caymanians dominate service and sales (23.3%), elementary roles (20.0%), and professional positions (18.7%). Among PR holders (those with a right to work), the top roles are professionals (25.6%), service and sales (19.7%), and technicians/associate professionals (13.8%).

Unfortunately, more than 18,000 workers earn less than $2,400 each month and about half of the workforce earns less than CI$3,600. Given the cost-of-living in Cayman, it is remarkable that many of this demographic of expats can afford to live here at all, but somehow they manage.

Education

Key Education Stats from the Education Data Report (2024):

• 3,958 students are enrolled in private primary and secondary schools.
• 2,289 students attend government primary schools.
• 2,693 students attend government secondary schools
• 116 students are enrolled at the Lighthouse School, which serves students with the most significant special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Most children with SEND are educated in mainstream schools with varying levels of support.
• 118 children are homeschooled.
• In primary education, 46.7% of students attend private schools.
• In secondary education, 40.9% of students attend private schools.
• According to the 2024 Education Data Report, 2,056 children are enrolled in 43 preschools.
• A total of 9,054 students attend 27 private and government schools across the three islands.
• These schools employ 875 teachers.

Developments in Education 2025 - Public Schools

In 2025, the Cayman Islands Government introduced a new cloud-based school management system called Arbor across all government schools. The system is designed to modernise how schools manage student records and monitor academic progress, making it easier for teachers and administrators to track performance and communicate information. It replaces the previous system, Everest.

A new initiative, the Roving Parent Mentorship Programme, has also been launched in partnership with LIFE Cayman, the Family Resource Centre and the Department of Children and Family Services. Through this programme, trained volunteers visit parents and caregivers in their homes, offering practical guidance on supporting their children’s early literacy and social-emotional development before they begin primary school.

Support for young children and families has also been expanding. The Ministry’s Early Childhood Care and Education Unit has extended the successful Smart Start Early Stimulation Programme to Bodden Town, North Side and East End. The programme supports families with children aged three to four, helping them build the early learning and developmental skills needed before starting school.

No other substantive changes have been made thus far by the new National Coalition For Caymanians government, but education was a major focus in their election manifesto. They emphasised the need for a stronger public education system that gives Caymanians a fair chance to succeed and improves their employment opportunities.

Developments in Education 2025 - Private Schools

In the private sector, CF School opened a new purpose-built high school in Buttonwood Park, George Town, in September 2025. The school offers small classes of around 15 students, specialist subject teachers, and follows the English curriculum leading to Cambridge IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11. Students also benefit from a longer school day, running until 5:30pm, which includes a homework club and a range of after-school enrichment activities.

In early childhood education, the Garden Playschool Group, the team behind Sprogs, has opened a new preschool in West Bay called Kiddiewinks. The purpose-built facility welcomes children from 12 months to five years old and include Reception/Kindergarten class as well as a Spanish immersion programme.

Climate Sustainability, Green Goals & Beach Erosion

The previous Cayman Islands government established ambitious national energy goals, aiming for 70% renewable energy by 2037, a 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, and transitioning to 100% sales of electric vehicles by 2037. To realize these targets, the government is actively engaged in several initiatives. This includes investing in renewable energy projects such as solar and wind farms, promoting energy efficiency through public awareness campaigns and incentive programmes, and facilitating the shift to electric vehicles by offering incentives for purchases and establishing a comprehensive charging infrastructure across the Cayman Islands. These efforts collectively reflect the government's commitment to a sustainable and energy-efficient future.

Cayman's Landfill Woes

In 2024, the waste collected from commercial and residential locations reached 138,185 tonnes, a massive increase on previous years caused by a mushrooming population.

Department of Environmental Health data illustrates that 60% of landfill waste comes from commercial waste, 17% from vegetation and 12% from household waste. Cayman produces five times more waste per person than the global average, yet recycles less than 3% of it.

At Cayman's three landfill sites, only 270 out of 138k tonnes of total waste were incinerated.

The Department of Environmental Health also shipped out 11,300 gallons of hazardous waste in 2022, whilst none was shipped out in 2023 and none in 2024. Given these numbers, it becomes clear why ReGen, the project which is integral to the waste-to-energy plant and recycling infrastructure essential for establishing a eco-friendly solid waste management system in the Cayman Islands, had to happen. Unfortunately in July of 2024, negotiations on the construction and management of the project broke down permanently. Even more unfortunate is that very little capacity is left at the Grand Cayman 58-acre landfill site and it will be full in a few years.

Towards the end of 2025, the new Government's budget sets aside about $9 million for landfill-related projects, including nearly $1million for upkeep of the George Town site and over $8million for the rollout of the national solid waste management plan. Planned upgrades include replacing the outdated 20-year-old medical waste incinerator and buying a landfill compactor for Cayman Brac.

Beach Erosion

Severe erosion along the southern end of Seven Mile Beach remains unresolved and quite remarkably, the Government confirmed in November 2025 that no funding has been allocated in the current budget cycle to address the problem. Instead, punting the issue back to the private sector, resolution is dependent on the strip's landowners paying for the replenishment of sand with government largely limited to oversight and the approval of coastal works permits.

Dart, one of the largest landholders along the affected stretch, previously commissioned coastal engineering research that concluded significant sand replacement and continual maintenance would be needed to stabilise the shoreline.

The issue carries wider economic implications. A 2024 cost-benefit analysis by Caribbean economist Marla Dukharan valued Seven Mile Beach at close to $1billion and warned that continued erosion could affect tourism and government revenue. A previous administration had set aside $21million to tackle the issue, but little progress was made and after the general election in April of 2025, the allocation of funds evaporated.

Thankfully in the meantime, Mother Nature has offered a reminder of the beach’s shifting character and of the ocean's awesome power. Recent northerly weather fronts this winter season have pushed sand back onto parts of the southern shoreline, with noticeable recovery at Royal Palms, Coral Beach and even beach erosion site ground-zero, the Marriott resort.

Tourism

The focus remains on more bang-for-the-buck stayover guests in 2025, but cruise ship tourism remains solid and looks to the future...

Cayman saw a strong end to 2025 in the tourism industry, posting record stayover numbers in December and carrying forward that momentum into January of 2026.

December saw 54,830 stayover visitors, making it the busiest December on record and a 5.3% increase on the same month in 2024. So much so, that hotels and other hospitality outlets were complaining of being understaffed as a result of a backlog of work permit applications**. Cruise tourism also saw a welcome bump with 148,489 passengers arriving during the month, up 10.4% year on year. When added together, a whopping 203,319 people visited the islands in December. Furthermore, the construction of another 600+ hotel rooms in prime southern Seven Mile Beach spots is well underway and will inevitably contribute to increase stayover tourist numbers. This increase will be coupled with an anticipated rise in Airbnb listings.

The United States remained the Cayman Islands’ largest visitor market, accounting for 370,093 stayover visitors in 2025, a 2.7% increase on the previous year. Much of that growth came from the Midwest and southern US, as a result of additional flights from cities such as Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Miami and Minneapolis.

Canada also sent an increase in holidaymakers to Cayman, with visitor numbers rising 7.1% and surpassing the hitherto record breaking 2019 levels for the first time. Increased airline capacity and new services, including Porter Airlines routes from Toronto and Ottawa, helped push Canadian arrivals to hefty monthly levels throughout the year.

The positive trend continued into 2026. January welcomed 47,047 stayover visitors, the strongest January on record and 13.6% higher than January last year. Overall visitation for the month, including cruise passengers, reached 192,754, marking a second consecutive month of record stayover arrivals.

(**Cayman Compass, March 20th, 2026)

To service the potential increase in visitors flying in, particularly on long-haul flights, plans to enlarge and improve Owen Roberts International Airport continue apace, (although that speed is relative, when one considers 'Island-time'!) In fact, the CI Government is actively pursuing avenues to increase capacity on all three of the Islands' airports. However, not without some controversy. In June of 2025, the projects went though a series of public consultations. In March 2026, the Cayman Islands Airport Authority (CIAA) requested third party proposals to carry out the Environmental Impact Assessments necessary for the projects to move forward. The deadline set for those initial proposals is April 29th 2026. It would seem, not surprisingly, that each of the planning models for the airports potentially come with the risk of upsetting the wildlife habitats and other current residents of the surrounding areas. In Grand Cayman, the plans call for new jetways and the extension of the airport’s runway, which is currently 6,596 feet long, eastward into the North Sound. The proposal would add 2,100 feet in total, made up of a 1,115-foot runway extension, a 197-foot runway strip, and a 787-foot runway end safety area.

The most contentious of the three proposals is the relocation of the airfield on Little Cayman. The CIAA has decided to relocate the airfield to the Island's centre and this plan has been met with strong opposition from residents, who are concerned that moving the airfield will jeopardise the Island's complex wildlife ecosystem. Meanwhile at Owen Roberts International Airport, the expansion project entails extending the runway by 340 meters and adding a 240-meter safety zone into the North Sound, much to the chagrin of nearby property owners, not to mention the odd plant, bird and fish. Finally, it is feared on Cayman Brac, that the requirement to widen the runway by 75 meters will intrude upon the wetlands on its southern side.

The full master plan for the Cayman Islands' airport expansion projects can be found here.

Aviation stats for 2025 at a glance:

• 450,441 Stayover guests arrived by air. 3% up on 2024

• 82% from US, 75% from Canada, 4% from UK and Ireland, 6% from Latin America and the Caribbean, 1% from mainland Europe

• Growth in 2025 was driven largely by expanded US airlift from cities such as Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Miami and Houston, in addition to flights from Toronto and Ottawa

• US, UK and Canada had 585,697 Inbound seats on 3,522 flights.

Cayman Islands tourism industry performance (stayover guests) stats:

• In 2025, the number of stayover visitors in one month peaked in March with 58,397. The lowest was 12,929 in September.

More detailed analysis of the 2024 arrivals showed that:

• Visitors stayed an average of 6 nights

• 45% of individuals were between 36 and 60 years old, with an average age of 42.9 years

• Most common purpose of visit: Leisure, with 87.6% of the total stayover visitors

• Business-related travel accounted for 5.8% of total visitation

• 6.6% of total arrivals were visiting relatives

Cayman Airways

The national carrier of the Cayman Islands is currently flying non-stop to the following international destinations:

(US)
Miami, New York (ends Oct 2026), Tampa, Denver (seasonal), Los Angeles, Austin (seasonal from summer 2026)

(Caribbean)
Cuba, Jamaica, Honduras, Panama

Cruise Berth Referendum on the General Election Ballot in 2025

In late 2024, the government announced that a non-binding public referendum on cruise ship berthing facilities in George Town would be held alongside the islands’ 2025 general election, with the question included as an appendix to the ballot. The question was, "Should the Cayman Islands develop cruise berthing infrastructure?"

The results were:

No: 11,973 votes — 68.85%

Yes: 5,417 votes — 31.15%

However, even without the boost of additional berthing, the cruise ship outlook really isn't that gloomy. Projections from the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands, drawing on forward cruise bookings, suggest the destination could welcome close to 1.7 million passengers in 2027. If realised, it would mark the strongest year for the sector since before the pandemic and a notable rebound from 2024, when arrivals fell to under 1.1 million. That being said, cruise passenger arrivals for 2025 were 1,066,325, down 1.4% on 2024.

Other Industries

Healthcare

In 2025, the Health Services Authority (HSA) continued to strengthen healthcare delivery in the Cayman Islands, with a focus on improving access to services and patient experience. A key milestone during the year was the renaming of George Town Hospital to the Anthony S. Eden Hospital, honouring the retired politican for his contributions to the country’s healthcare system.

Efforts to improve service efficiency included upgrades to HSA’s patient call centre, which reduced wait times and improved engagement with patients. These improvements helped the authority achieve a patient satisfaction rate of 90.2%, while HSA also remained the most awarded organisation in the Best of Cayman Islands competition, earning 13 gold and silver awards.

Access to care expanded as the HSA urgent care clinic moved to a seven-day service and physician availability increased at Eastern District clinics. On the Sister Islands, expanded specialist rotations and additional services such as paediatrics helped bring more advanced care closer to residents.

The Cayman Islands Pathology Laboratory, operating in both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, again achieved Joint Commission International reaccreditation, maintaining high international diagnostic standards.

The Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre in East End opened in late 2024 to provide residential adult mental health services and was placed under a cabinet-appointed advisory council in 2025. A separate three-bed child mental health wing was also added at the Anthony S. Eden Hospital to improve safety, while adult care is gradually being shifted to the Poinciana Centre.

In the private sector, Health City Cayman Islands continued to expand with its US$100+ million super-specialty hospital in Camana Bay, featuring advanced cancer care, maternity services, robotic-assisted surgery and a Level 1 trauma centre. The facility offers specialised treatments including bone marrow transplantation, CAR-T cell therapy and a modern neonatal intensive care unit, further strengthening Cayman’s position as a regional medical tourism destination.

Looking ahead, Dart has begun construction on a Centre for Health and Wellness in Camana Bay, scheduled for completion in 2027. The facility will combine healthcare services with wellness amenities, supporting the islands’ growing focus on integrated health and wellbeing.

Click here for information, news and listings from the Healthcare industry in Cayman

Real Estate

In 2025, the Cayman Islands property market registered 852 completed transactions, a 2.74% decrease compared with 2024. Despite the slight drop in activity, total sales value increased to US$1.074 billion, representing a 1.91% year-on-year rise. The average sale price climbed to US$1.261 million, up 4.8% from US$1.203 million the previous year, indicating stronger activity at the higher end of the market.

New listings followed a similar trend. A total of 1,387 properties were listed, 2.8% fewer than in 2024, but their combined value reached US$2.439 billion, an increase of 4.2%. The average listing price rose to US$1.759 million, up 7.2% from US$1.641 million, suggesting a larger share of higher-priced properties entering the market.

Available inventory also declined during the year. Average monthly listings fell to 1,403, the lowest level since 2021 and a 21.2% drop from 1,782 listings in 2024. As of January 2026, there were 1,692 active listings across the islands with a total value of US$3.543 billion. Of these, 283 properties (16.7%) were pending, 222 (13.1%) were pending or conditional, and 1,187 (70.2%) remained available for sale. These figures indicate a tightening supply environment alongside sustained buyer demand.

Click here for more on Cayman's Real Estate Market

Click here for more on Stamp Duty Concessions for Caymanian Buyers

Transport

In March 2026, Government announced that survey work would begin for the next section toward Lookout Gardens in Bodden Town, with construction expected in September if preparations proceed as planned. The project is now seen as a priority to improve connectivity and reduce congestion between central and eastern Grand Cayman. Meanwhile, upgrades at the Frank Sound and Bodden Town Road junction have improved safety, and the King’s Connector project is advancing to ease traffic around Grand Harbour.

Cayman’s roads continued to experience a high number of accidents in 2025, averaging around nine collisions per day, with speeding and driving under the influence remaining the main causes. As of March 2026, complete statistics for 2025 are not yet available. Looking back to the previous year in the meantime, though speeding tickets declined slightly from the 4,600 issued in 2023, they remained high in 2024. Road fatalities also increased, rising from nine in 2023 to 14 in 2024. Drink-driving worsened as well, with 281 people prosecuted in 2024, and about a quarter of offenders found to be more than three times over the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.07%. A total of 7,735 tickets for a multitude of traffic offences were issued, which speaks volumes about the standard of driving on our relatively small islands.

For more on major road improvement projects, driving standards, available traffic statistics and other transport related subjects affecting Cayman, click here for our Traffic in Grand Cayman page.