1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Coastline
103 km
Comparative area
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Environment
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360 small coral islands
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 20% forest and woodland; 80% other
Natural resources
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Note
1,050 km east of North Carolina; some reclaimed land leased by US Government
Terrain
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
50 km2; land area: 50 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
15 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
61% black, 39% white and other
Infant mortality rate
12 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
32,000; 25% clerical, 22% services, 21% laborers, 13% professional and technical, 10% administrative and managerial, 7% sales, 2% agriculture and fishing (1984)
Language
English
Life expectancy at birth
72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Literacy
98%
Nationality
noun--Bermudian(s); adjective--Bermudian
Net migration rate
- 6 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda Industrial Union
Population
58,337 (July 1990), growth rate 1.5% (1990)
Religion
37% Anglican, 14% Roman Catholic, 10% African Methodist Episcopal (Zion), 6% Methodist, 5% Seventh-Day Adventist, 28% other
Total fertility rate
1.7 children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Capital
Hamilton
Communists
negligible
Constitution
8 June 1968
Diplomatic representation
as a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK; US--Consul General James M. MEDAS; Consulate General at Vallis Building, Par-la-Ville Road (off Front Street West), Hamilton (mailing address is P. O. Box 325, Hamilton, or FPO New York 09560); telephone (809) 295-1342
Elections
House of Assembly--last held 9 February 1989 (next to be held by February 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other 1
Executive branch
British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier, deputy premier, Executive Council (cabinet)
Flag
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
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Leaders
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir Desmond LANGLEY (since NA October 1988); Head of Government--Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982)
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly
Long-form name
none
Member of
INTERPOL, WHO
National holiday
Bermuda Day, 22 May
Other political or pressure groups
Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), headed by Ottiwell Simmons
Political parties and leaders
United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. Swan; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick Wade; National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert Darrell
Suffrage
universal at age 21
Type
dependent territory of the UK
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy products
Aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $267 million
Budget
revenues $280 million; expenditures $279 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (FY89 est.)
Currency
Bermudian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Electricity
134,000 kW capacity; 446 million kWh produced, 7,680 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports
$23 million (f.o.b.,1985); commodities--semitropical produce, light manufactures; partners--US 25%, Italy 25%, UK 14%, Canada 5%, other 31%
External debt
NA
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March
GDP
$1.3 billion, per capita $23,000; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)
Imports
$402 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--fuel, foodstuffs, machinery; partners--US 58%, Netherlands Antilles 9%, UK 8%, Canada 6%, Japan 5%, other 14%
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.8% (1988)
Overview
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% 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.
Unemployment
2.0% (1988)
Communications
Airports
1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
Civil air
16 major transport aircraft
Highways
210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private roads)
Merchant marine
93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,163,947 GRT/7,744,319 DWT; includes 2 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 10 roll-on/roll-off, 27 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 1 combination ore/oil, 10 liquefied gas, 20 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry
Ports
Freeport, Hamilton, St. George
Telecommunications
modern with fully automatic telephone system; 46,290 telephones; stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK