1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 50 km2 land area: 50 km2 comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Coastline
103 km
Environment
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360 small coral islands
International disputes
none
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 20% other: 80%
Location
in the western North Atlantic Ocean, 1,050 km east of North Carolina
Map references
North America
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Note
some reclaimed land leased by US Government
Terrain
low hills separated by fertile depressions
People and Society
Birth rate
15.21 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
black 61%, white and other 39%
Infant mortality rate
13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
32,000 by occupation: 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
total population: 75.03 years male: 73.36 years female: 76.97 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99%
Nationality
noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Net migration rate
-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
60,686 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
0.78% (1993 est.)
Religions
Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%
Total fertility rate
1.82 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget,, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick, Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Capital
Hamilton
Chief of State
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Lord David WADDINGTON (since NA)
Constitution
8 June 1968
Digraph
BD
Diplomatic representation in US
as a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK
Executive branch
British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier, deputy premier, Executive Council (cabinet)
FAX
(809) 295-1592
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 NA 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
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
Member of
CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda
National holiday
Bermuda Day, 22 May
Other political or pressure groups
Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), 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
21 years of age; universal
Type
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Consul General L. Ebersole GAINES consulate general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
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 $327.5 million; expenditures $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of $35.4 million (FY91 est.)
Currency
1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $277 million
Electricity
154,000 kW capacity; 504 million kWh produced, 8,370 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports
$50 million (f.o.b., FY89) commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, re-exports of pharmaceuticals partners: US 55%, UK 32%, Canada 11%, other 2%
External debt
$NA
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Imports
527.2 million (f.o.b., FY89) commodities: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery partners: US 60%, UK 8%, Venezuela 7%, Canada 5%, Japan 5%, other 15%
Industrial production
growth rate NA%
Industries
tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.4% (1991)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.3 billion (1991)
National product per capita
$22,000 (1991)
National product real growth rate
-1.5% (1991)
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
6% (1991)
Communications
Airports
total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
Highways
210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private roads)
Merchant marine
72 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,451.099 GRT/5,937,636 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off, 21 oil tanker, 13 liquefied gas, 16 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