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 (U.S.)

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

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
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Natural resources:

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

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Bermudian(s)
Adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups:

Languages: English

Religions:

Demographic profile

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: Consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some reclaimed land leased by U.S. Government

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: NA male(s)/female
Under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
All ages:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.03 years
Male: 73.36 years
Female: 76.97 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate:

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
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1970 est.)
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 U.K.

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 U.K.)

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 David SAUL (since 25 August 1995) was appointed by the governor; Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995)
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

Flag description: Red with the flag of the U.K. 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. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian's fear of scaring away foreign firms. Hurricane Felix, which hit Bermuda twice over three days, caused an estimated $2.5 million in damages in August of 1995.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.5% (1994)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity_ $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:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate NA

Labor force: 33,650 (1992)
By occupation Clerical: 25%
By occupation Services: 22%
By occupation Laborers: 21%
By occupation Professional and technical: 13%
By occupation Administrative and managerial: 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: total value. $60 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports: total value:$519 million (f.o.b.,1993)
Commodities:
Partners:

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
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: 54,000 telephones (1991 est.); 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

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
2438 to 3047 m: 1 (1995)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,146,693 GRT/5,007,242 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 3, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 16, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
Note: A flag of convenience registry; includes 11 countries among which are U.K. 17 ships, Canada 10, U.S. 13, Sweden 3, Hong Kong 2, Mexico 1, Syria 2, Norway 2, New Zealand 1, Germany 1 (1995)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs