Map of Bermuda | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | 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: 32 20 N 64 45 W

Map reference: North America

Area
Comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 103 km

Maritime claims

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

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


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Population: 62,997 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 0.75% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

Ethnic groups: black 58% white 36% other 6%

Languages: English (official) Portuguese

Religions: non-Anglican Protestant 39% Anglican 27% Roman Catholic 15% other 19%

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.75% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 12.24 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.67 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 9.82 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (2000 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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name

Government type: parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government

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 (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Bermuda Day 24 May

Constitution: 8 June 1968 amended 1989

Legal system: English law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]

International organization participation: Caricom (observer) CCC ICFTU Interpol (subbureau) IOC

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)

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 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. Government economic priorities are the further strengthening of the tourist and international financial sectors.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $31,500 (1999 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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: 35,296 (1997)
By occupation clerical: 23%
By occupation services: 22%
By occupation laborers: 17%
By occupation professional and technical: 17%
By occupation administrative and managerial: 12%
By occupation sales: 7%
By occupation agriculture and fishing: 2% (1996)

Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1995)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2% (1998 est.)

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: $32 million (1998 est.)
Commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Partners: UK 29.5% US 9.8% (1997)

Imports: $624 million (1998 est.)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment construction materials chemicals food and live animals
Partners: US 34% UK 9% Mexico 8% (1997)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $N/A

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
Production: 420 million kWh (1998)
Consumption: 391 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 48,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 6,324 (1995)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Service providers isps: 3 (1999)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $N/A
Percent of gdp: NA%

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 (1999 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs