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  Bermuda
(overseas territory of the UK)
 
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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
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 Economy
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This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


Map of Bermuda



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Bermuda Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
   Geography    Bermuda Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
North America
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
103 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
   People    Bermuda Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
65,365 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 6,177/female 6,154)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,422/female 22,828)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,378/female 4,406) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 39.76 years
male: 38.78 years
female: 40.58 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.64% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 77.79 years
male: 75.7 years
female: 79.91 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
   Government    Bermuda Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Hamilton
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
English law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002)
head of government: Premier William Alexander SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green 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
   Economy    Bermuda Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, nearly equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002-04. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited, only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.33 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37,470 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.3% (mid-2003 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $671.1 million
expenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55 million (FY03/04)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
643 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
598 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$879 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France 73.2%, UK 6.2%, Spain 2.4% (2004)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.523 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Kazakhstan 39.2%, France 16.2%, Japan 13.1%, Italy 9.2%, South Korea 8.8%, US 6.4% (2004)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Bermuda Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37,873 (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; 3 fiber optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
4 (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bm
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,161 (2001)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
34,500 (2003)
   Transportation    Bermuda Top of Page
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 450 km
paved: 450 km
unpaved: 0 km
note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 108 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 6, container 22, liquefied gas 13, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 103 (Australia 2, Canada 20, Finland 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 5, Indonesia 1, Nigeria 8, Norway 5, Sweden 9, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 27, United States 20)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
   Military    Bermuda Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Bermuda Regiment
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the UK
   Transnational Issues    Bermuda Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


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