Map of Bermuda | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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. Bermuda has developed into highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.


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Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: North America

Area
Total area total: 50 km²
Land: 50 km²
Comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 103 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter

Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation

Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 20%
Other: 80%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


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Population: 61,629 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 0.76% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Bermudian(s)
Adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups: black 61%, white and other 39%

Languages: English

Religions: Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.76% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.07 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 13.16 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.03 years
Male: 73.36 years
Female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Bermuda

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Hamilton

Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution: 8 June 1968

Legal system: English law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Lord David WADDINGTON (since 25 August 1992)
Head of government: Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982); Deputy Premier J. Irving PEARMAN (since 5 October 1993)
Cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of an 11-member body appointed by the governor
House of Assembly: elections last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent of vote by party UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats - (40 total) UBP 22, PLP 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. FARMER
From the us consulates general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE 9,727-1002
From the us telephone: [1] (809) 295-1342
From the us FAX: [1] (809) 295-1592

Flag description: red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue 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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.5% (1994)

Real gdp per capita: $28,000 (1994 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy products

Industries: tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 32,000
By occupation clerical: 25%
By occupation services: 22%
By occupation laborers: 21%
By occupation professionalandtechnical: 13%
By occupation administrativeandmanagerial: 10%
By occupation sales: 7%
By occupation agriculture and fishing: 2% (1984)

Unemployment rate: 6% (1991)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $327.5 million
Expenditures: $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of $35.4 million (FY90/91 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: semitropical produce, light manufactures, re-exports of pharmaceuticals
Partners: US 62.4%, UK 20%

Imports: $519 million (f.o.b.,1993)
Commodoties: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery
Partners: US 38%, UK 5%, Canada 5%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)


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Electricity
Capacity: 140,000 kW
Production: 504 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 7,745 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 52,670 telephones; modern, fully automatic telephone system
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 3 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,144,245 GRT/5,152,030 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 4, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 15, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 1
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 12 countries among which are UK 6 ships, Canada 4, US 4, Sweden 3, Hong Kong 2, Mexico 2, Norway 2, Australia 1, Germany 1, NZ 1

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs