1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (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
Environment
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360 small coral islands
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Land area
50 km2
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 20%; other 80%
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
People and Society
Birth rate
15 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate
7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Ethnic divisions
black 61%, white and other 39%
Infant mortality rate
13 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Labor force
32,000; clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
73 years male, 77 years female (1992)
Literacy
98% (male 98%, female 99%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
Nationality
noun - Bermudian(s); adjective - Bermudian
Net migration rate
NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Organized labor
8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda Industrial Union
Population
60,213 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)
Religions
Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%
Total fertility rate
1.8 children born/woman (1992)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Capital
Hamilton
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Lord David WADDINGTON
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 L. Ebersole GAINES; Consulate General at Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton (mailing address is P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE 09727-1002); telephone (809) 295-1342; FAX (809) 295-1592
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
Head of Government
Premier John William David SWAN (since January 1982)
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
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
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
CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, IOC
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
Budget
revenues $361.6 million; expenditures $396.1 million, including capital expenditures of $74.1 million (FY91 est.)
Currency
Bermudian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $277 million
Electricity
154,000 kW capacity; 504 million kWh produced, 8,625 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports
$30 million (f.o.b., FY88) 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
purchasing power equivalent - $1.3 billion, per capita $22,400; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)
Imports
$420 million (c.i.f., FY88) 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)
5.8% (June 1989, annual rate)
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 rate
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
73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,511,972 GRT/6,093,321 DWT; includes 4 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 23 petroleum tanker, 12 liquefied gas, 18 bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry
Ports
Freeport, Hamilton, Saint George
Telecommunications
modern with fully automatic telephone system; 52,670 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Military and Security
Branches
Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Note
defense is the responsibility of the UK