The resident population of the Turks and Caicos Islands was around 47,000–60,000 as of the early 2020s — a dramatic jump from the roughly 16,000 counted in 1998. Much of that growth has come from immigration driven by the tourism industry. The majority of the population lives on three islands: Providenciales, Grand Turk, and South Caicos.
Belongers — as citizens of the territory are called — are primarily descended from African slaves brought to work the salt ponds from the mid-1600s onward. The salt industry, which once defined the economy, collapsed in the early 1940s and triggered a wave of emigration to the Bahamas and beyond. Those who stayed built the foundation of today's society.
The culture blends African, Caribbean, and British influences. Ripsaw music — also called rake and scrape, played using a carpenter's saw as a rhythm instrument — is distinctly Turks and Caicos, as is the Maskanoo street festival held around Christmas and New Year. Straw work is a traditional craft still practised on the outer islands.
English is the official language and is spoken everywhere. A large proportion of the workforce comes from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations, and you will hear Haitian Creole widely on Providenciales. A significant number of American, Canadian, and European expatriates have settled on the islands, particularly in the resort areas.
Religion is predominantly Christian, with Baptists forming the largest group, followed by Methodist and Anglican congregations.