While the infusion of international travelers and regional buyers has shifted the demographics of the island in recent years, the core demographic of the Island remains Protestant and relatively young. In total, just over 30,000 citizens inhabit the Islands, with nearly a third of the population below 16 years old. Population growth is modest, although the life expectancy is higher than the regional average, with improvements in local institutions and health care.
The intersection of British and local traditional has infusion a Bahamian-regional dialect into the traditional English language. Visitors to the Island, as a result, are likely to hear a variety of new words and sayings that show how the combination of cultures has created an entirely unique subculture on the Islands.
The local arts scene features its own genre, ripsaw, which combines European and traditional Caribbean melodies to produce a unique sound. Each year a Music Festival showcases local talent, along with drawing critics from throughout the world. The fusion of British culture, as a product of the close ties of the Islands, is linked to the shared nationality as accorded to the Overseas Territories Act - as a result, British culture has become a product of its various expression, as can be seen in the active Caribbean culture within the Notting Hill Carnival.
While traditional Caribbean culture is active and on display on the Islands, you can also see the clear influence of European culture in creating a unique set of artistic genres. From the language to the art and music on the Island, Turks and Caicos is sui generis.
