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. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.
Location
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references
North America
Area
total
53.3 sq km
land
53.3 sq km
water
0 sq km
Area - comparative
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
103 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive fishing zone
200 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
highest point
Town Hill 76 m
Natural resources
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use
arable land
20%
permanent crops
0%
other
80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Irrigated land
NA
Natural hazards
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues
sustainable development
Geography - note
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
Population
66,163 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
18.3% (male 6,094/female 6,014)
15-64 years
69.2% (male 22,696/female 23,094)
65 years and over
12.5% (male 3,597/female 4,668) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
40.6 years
male
39.7 years
female
41.4 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.576% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
11.26 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.013 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.983 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.771 male(s)/female
total population
0.959 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
8.08 deaths/1,000 live births
male
9.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female
6.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
78.13 years
male
76 years
female
80.29 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.88 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.297% (2005)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
163 (2005)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
392 (2005)
Nationality
noun
Bermudian(s)
adjective
Bermudian
Ethnic groups
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
Religions
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Languages
English (official), Portuguese
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
98%
male
98%
female
99% (2005 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Bermuda
former
Somers Islands
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Government type
parliamentary; self-governing territory
Capital
name
Hamilton
geographic coordinates
32 17 N, 64 46 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
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
Constitution
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Legal system
English law
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002)
head of government
Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX
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
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members 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 not later than July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]
Political pressure groups and leaders
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]
P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US 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
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 - overview
Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the world, more than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companies relocated to the island following the 11 September 2001 attacks and again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues to struggle but remains the island's number two industry. 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 with only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
NA
GDP - real growth rate
4.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$69,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
1%
industry
10%
services
89% (2002 est.)
Labor force
38,360 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (November 2005)
Budget
revenues
$738 million
expenditures
$665 million (FY04/05)
Agriculture - products
Industries
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Electricity - production
682.5 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
100%
hydro
0%
nuclear
0%
other
0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
616.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption
4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports
$1.469 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners
Spain 35%, UK 18.4%, Sweden 8.7%, Germany 4.1% (2006)
Imports
$982 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners
South Korea 21.5%, US 16.7%, Germany 16.1%, Italy 13.4%, Spain 8.8% (2006)
Debt - external
$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Currency (code)
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code
BMD
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Telephones - main lines in use
56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
49,000 (2004)
Telephone system
general assessment
good
domestic
fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines
public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)
Merchant marine
total
132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT
by type
bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned
116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21, Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27)
registered in other countries
6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Hamilton, Saint George
Military branches
no regular military forces; Bermuda Police Service, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary, Bermuda Regiment
Military service age and obligation
18-23 years of age; eligible men required to register for conscription as needed into the Bermuda Regiment, which is largely voluntary; term of service 39 months (2007)
