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

top of page


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.


top of page


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

Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map reference: North America

Area
Total: 50 km²
Land: 50 km²
Water: 0 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: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use
Arable land: 6%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: NA (1997 est.)
Note: developed (55%), and rural and open space (39%) comprise 94% of Bermudian land area

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)

Geography
Note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995


top of page


Population: 62,009 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.77% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Bermudian(s)
Adjective: Bermudian

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

Languages: English (official), Portuguese

Religions: Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other 34% (1991)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,191; female 6,046)
15-64 years: 70% (male 21,330; female 21,912)
65 years and over: 10% (male 2,777; female 3,753) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.77% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 12.21 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 7.22 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.68 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 9.57 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.77 years
Male: 75 years
Female: 78.63 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (1998 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
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98%
Male: 98%
Female: 99% (1970 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


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

Government type: NA

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: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since June 1997): ead of
Government: Premier Pamela GORDON (since 25 March 1997); Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; premier appointed by the governor

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998)
Election results: percent of vote by party_UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats by party_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: Consul General 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; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-5,300
From the us telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
From the us fax: [1] (441) 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


top of page


Economy overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% 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 fears of scaring away foreign firms.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.4% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $29,000 (1996 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products

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

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force
Total: 34,633
By occupation clerical: 23%
By occupation services: 22%
By occupation laborers: 17%
By occupation professionalandtechnical: 17%
By occupation administrativeandmanagerial: 12%
By occupation sales: 7%
By occupation agriculture and fishing: 2% (1996)

Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $430.9 million
Expenditures: $452.9 million, including capital expenditures of $50 million (FY95/96 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:$67.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Partners: Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)

Imports: total value:$569 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
Partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)

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)


top of page


Electricity
Capacity: 145,000 kW (1996)
Production: 527,526,728 kWh (1996)
Consumption per capita: 7,856 kWh (1996)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones: 54,000 (1991 est.)

Telephone system
Domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system
International: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations_3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $NA
Percent of gdp: NA%

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 91 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,590,132 GRT/7,440,524 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 18, chemical tanker 1, container 18, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 1
Note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 8 countries among which are UK 31, Canada 13, US 10, Norway 2, Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, and Mexico 1 (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs