The Turks and Caicos Islands are two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies.[8] They are primarily known for tourism and as an offshore financial center. The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory. They are made up of the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands. It was estimated that there were 57,196 residents in July 2021, making it the third largest British overseas territory in terms of population.

The islands are located north of Hispaniola and southeast of Mayaguana in the Bahamas island chain. Since 1766, Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) has served as the capital of Grand Turk Island, which is approximately 1,042 kilometers (647 miles) east-southeast of Miami, in the United States. They cover 430 square kilometers, or 170 square miles, of land.

Native Americans inhabited the islands for centuries. In 1512, their first European sighting was reported. They were claimed by a number of European powers over the centuries, with the British Empire eventually taking control. They were ruled indirectly for many years by Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. The islands were given their own governor when the Bahamas gained independence in 1973, and they have remained an independent territory ever since.