from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Bermuda
Introduction
Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked
English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the
island to escape North American winters first developed
in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important
to the island's economy, although international
business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has
developed into a highly successful offshore financial
center. Although a referendum on independence from the
UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government
has reopened debate on the issue.
Geography
Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Geographic 32 20 N, 64 45 W
coordinates:
Map North America
references:
Area: total: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - about one-third the size of Washington, DC
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in
winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
resources:
Land use: arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Irrigated NA
land:
Natural hurricanes (June to November)
hazards:
Environment - sustainable development
current
issues:
Geography - consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with
note: ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some
land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
People
Population: 65,773 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954)
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 40.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.61% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 77.96 years
expectancy at male: 75.85 years
birth: female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.297% (2005)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 163 (2005)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 392 (2005)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups: black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%,
unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
Religions: Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist
Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%,
unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands
Dependency overseas territory of the UK
status:
Government parliamentary; self-governing territory
type:
Capital: name: Hamilton
geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in
April; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton,
divisions: Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint
George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National Bermuda Day, 24 May
holiday:
Constitution: 8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
branch: 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since
11 April 2002)
head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30
October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by
the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor
appointed by the monarch; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
premier by the governor
Legislative bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an
branch: 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier,
and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36
seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up
to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003
(next to be held not later than July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%,
UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
branch:
Political Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United
parties and Bermuda Party or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]
leaders:
Political Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda
pressure Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda
groups and Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union
leaders: of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC,
organization UPU, WCO
participation:
Diplomatic none (overseas territory of the UK)
representation
in the US:
Diplomatic chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
representation consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road,
from the US: Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX;
American Consulate General Hamilton, US Department of
State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Flag red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
description: quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and
green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield
showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda
in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag
Economy
Economy - Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the
overview: world, more than 50% higher than that of the US. Its
economy is primarily based on providing financial
services for international business and luxury
facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance
companies relocated to the island following 11
September 2001 and again after Hurricane Katrina,
contributing to the expansion of an already robust
international business sector. Bermuda's tourism
industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from
the US - continues to struggle but remains the island's
number two industry. Most capital equipment and food
must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small,
although construction continues to be important; the
average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to
$976,000. Agriculture is limited with only 20% of the
land being arable.
GDP $4.5 billion (2004 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official NA
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 4.6% (2004 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $69,900 (2004 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 1%
composition by industry: 10%
sector: services: 89% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 38,360 (2004)
Labor force - agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%,
by occupation: professional and technical 21%, administrative and
managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Unemployment 2.1% (2004 est.)
rate:
Population 19% (2000)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 2.8% (November 2005)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $738 million
expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products,
products: honey
Industries: international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 682.5 million kWh (2005)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 616.7 million kWh (2005)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2005)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2005)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Exports: $1.469 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - reexports of pharmaceuticals
commodities:
Exports - France 65.6%, Spain 11.7%, US 4.5% (2005)
partners:
Imports: $982 million (2004 est.)
Imports - clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment,
commodities: construction materials, chemicals, food and live
animals
Imports - Kazakhstan 51%, France 19%, South Korea 10.2%, US 7.6%
partners: (2005)
Debt - $160 million (FY99/00)
external:
Economic aid - $NA
recipient:
Currency Bermudian dollar (BMD)
(code):
Currency code: BMD
Exchange Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate
rates: pegged to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications
Telephones - 56,000 (2002)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 49,000 (2004)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: good
system: domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system;
fiber optic trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; submarine cables -
3 (fiber optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)
Radio AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 82,000 (1997)
Television 3 (2005)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 66,000 (1997)
Internet .bm
country code:
Internet 8,114 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 20 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 39,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 1
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
runways:
Roadways: total: 447 km
paved: 447 km
note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km
(2002)
Merchant total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/
marine: 8,688,692 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24,
liquefied gas 23, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6,
petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/
roll off 5
foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1,
Germany 21, Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1,
Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5,
Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27)
registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 1, Marshall
Islands 4, Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and Hamilton, Saint George
terminals:
Military
Military no regular military forces
branches:
Manpower males age 18-49: 15,151 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)
reaching
military
service age
annually:
Military $4.03 million (2001)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 0.11% (FY00/01)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Military - defense is the responsibility of the UK
note:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - none
international: