Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists heading for Virginia. Self-governing since 1620, Bermuda is the oldest and most populous of the British Overseas Territories. Vacationing on the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important for the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years as Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.

Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map reference: North America

Area
Total: 54 km²
Land: 54 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Country comparison total: 0 km

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 103 km

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

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

Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation
Highest point: Town Hill 79 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use
Agricultural land: 14.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 14.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 20% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 65.2% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)

Geography
Note: consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by the US Government from 1941 to 1995

Population
Distribution: relatively even population distribution throughout
Total: 72,800
Male: 35,401
Female: 37,399 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Bermudian(s)
Adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups: African descent 52%, White 31%, mixed 9%, Asian 4%, other 4% (2010 est.)

Languages: English (official), Portuguese

Religions: Protestant 46.2% (includes Anglican 15.8%, African Methodist Episcopal 8.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 3.5%, Methodist 2.7%, Presbyterian 2.0%, Church of God 1.6%, Baptist 1.2%, Salvation Army 1.1%, Brethren 1.0%, other Protestant 2.0%), Roman Catholic 14.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other Christian 9.1%, Muslim 1%, other 3.9%, none 17.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2010 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 6,133/female 5,817)
15-64 years: 60.9% (male 22,247/female 22,113)
65 years and over: 22.7% (2024 est.) (male 7,021/female 9,469)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 52.9
Youth dependency ratio: 22.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 30.1
Potential support ratio: 3.3 (2021)

Median age
Total: 43.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 41.5 years
Female: 46.3 years

Population growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 10.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: relatively even population distribution throughout

Urbanization
Urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 10,000 HAMILTON (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: dense population and heavy vehicle traffic create serious congestion and air pollution problems; water resources scarce (most obtained as rainwater or from wells); solid waste disposal; hazardous waste disposal; sewage disposal; overfishing; oil spills

Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 79.4 years
Female: 85.7 years

Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.9% of population
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.1% of population (2020)
Unimproved urban: 0.1% of population

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 99.9% of population
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 99.9% of population
Unimproved urban: 0.1% of population
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.1% of population (2020)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2015)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 29.3% (2014 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 29.7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 29%

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Bermuda
Former: Somers Islands
Etymology: the islands making up Bermuda are named after Juan de BERMUDEZ, an early 16th century Spanish sea captain and the first European explorer of the archipelago

Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

Capital
Name: Hamilton
Geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 47 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Etymology: named after Henry HAMILTON (ca. 1734-1796) who served as governor of Bermuda from 1788-1794

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

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Note: formerly known as Victoria Day, Empire Day, and Commonwealth Day

Constitution
History: several previous (dating to 1684); latest entered into force 8 June 1968 (Bermuda Constitution Order 1968)
Amendments: proposal procedure - NA; passage by an Order in Council in the UK; amended several times, last in 2012

Legal system: English common law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the UK
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Rena LALGIE (since 14 December 2020)
Head of government: Premier David BURT (since 19 July 2017)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (11 seats; 3 members appointed by the governor, 5 by the premier, and 3 by the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms) , House of Assembly (36 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve up to 5-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last appointments in 2022 (next appointments in 2,027), House of Assembly - last held on 1 October 2020 (next to be held by 2025)
Elections results: Senate - composition- men 5, women 6, percentage women 63.6%, House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - PLP 62.1%, OBA 32.3%, other 5.4%, independent 0.2%; seats by party - PLP 30, OBA 6; composition - men 28, women 7, percentage women 20%; total Parliament percentage women 28.3%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 4 puisne judges, and 1 associate justice)
Note: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the court of final appeal
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal justice appointed by the governor; justice tenure by individual appointment; Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and appointed by the governor; judge tenure based on terms of appointment
Subordinate courts: commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts

Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Movement or FDM, One Bermuda Alliance or OBA, Progressive Labor Party or PLP

International organization participation: Caricom (associate), ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UPU, WCO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us chief of mission: Acting Consul General Vanja VUKOTA (since December 2024)
From the us embassy: US Consulate Bermuda, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, DV 03, Bermuda
From the us mailing address: 5,300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20,520-5,300
From the us telephone: (441) 295-1342
From the us fax: (441) 295-1592
From the us email address and website: HamiltonConsulate@state.gov; [link]
From the us consulates general: 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DV O3

Flag description: red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of the vessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia, that led to the settling of Bermuda
Note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue

National symbols: red lion

National anthem
Name: Hail to Bermuda
Lyrics/music: Bette JOHNS
Note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, 'God Save the King' is official (see United Kingdom)

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 1 (cultural)
Note: excerpted from the UK entry
Selected world heritage site locales:

Economy overview: small, tourism- and construction-based, territorial-island economy; American import and tourist destination; known offshore banking hub; increasing inflation; major re-exportation and re-importation area

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $6.349 billion (2022 est.); $5.965 billion (2021 est.); $5.659 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 6.43% (2022 est.); 5.42% (2021 est.); -6.84% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $99,800 (2022 est.); $93,600 (2021 est.); $88,600 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 47.2% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 12.1% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 50.5% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -25% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Industry: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Services: 90.5% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industries: international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate: 5.57% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 33,480 (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate: 7% (2017 est.); 7% (2016 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 29.3% (2014 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 29.7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 29%

Budget
Revenues: $999.2 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $1.176 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 16.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt: 43% of GDP (FY14/15)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.9% (2017 est.); 1.4% (2016 est.)

Current account balance: $962.258 million (2021 est.); $853.85 million (2020 est.); $838.701 million (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $1.136 billion (2021 est.); $1.027 billion (2020 est.); $1.605 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Zambia 26%, US 16%, Angola 10%, France 10%, Tanzania 8% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: fertilizers, ships, liquor, vaccines, railway cargo containers (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.925 billion (2021 est.); $1.723 billion (2020 est.); $2.224 billion (2019 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 34%, Norway 19%, South Korea 19%, China 5%, Canada 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine, cars (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 173,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 581.097 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 42.493 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 54.3 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 582,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 582,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 124.882 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 25,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 68,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2021 est.)

Military and security forces: Royal Bermuda Regiment; Bermuda Police Service (2024)
Note: the Royal Bermuda Regiment (aka 'The Regiment') includes the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard

Military service age and obligation: men and women who are Commonwealth citizens and 18-45 years of age can volunteer for the Bermuda Regiment; service is for a minimum period of three years and two months from the date of enlistment; service can be extended only by volunteering or an executive order from the Governor; annual training commitment is about 30 days a year, which includes a two-week camp, weekends, and drill nights (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-B

Airports: 1 (2024)

Roadways
Total: 447 km
Paved: 447 km (2010)
Note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads