1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 50 sq km land: 50 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Coastline
103 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Environment--current issues
asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space
Environment--international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Geography--note
consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1997 est.) note: developed (55%) and rural/open space (39%) comprise 94% of Bermudian land area
Location
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)
Map references
North America
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
hurricanes (June to November)
Natural resources
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Terrain
low hills separated by fertile depressions
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,174; female 6,023) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,479; female 22,041) 65 years and over: 10% (male 2,897; female 3,858) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
11.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
7.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
black 61%, white and other 39%
Infant mortality rate
9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English (official), Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 76.97 years male: 75.19 years female: 78.83 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.)
Nationality
noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Net migration rate
2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
62,472 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
0.72% (1999 est.)
Religions
Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other 34% (1991)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Capital
Hamilton
Constitution
8 June 1968
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code
BD
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997) head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; premier appointed by the governor
Flag description
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton mailing address: P.O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-5300
Judicial branch
Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: United Bermuda Party or UBP Political pressure groups and leaders: Bermuda Industrial Union
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%; seats by party--PLP 26, UBP 14
National holiday
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Budget
revenues: $504.6 million expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)
Currency
1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$27.9 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.
Electricity--consumption
480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports
$57 million (1997)
Exports--commodities
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports--partners
Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$30,000 (1997 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$617 million (1997)
Imports--commodities
miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
Imports--partners
US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.1% (1997)
Labor force
35,296 (1997)
Labor force--by occupation
clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NEGL% (1995)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios
78,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations--3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
54,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations
3 (1997)
Televisions
57,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 225 km paved: 225 km unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.) note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine
total: 97 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,647,576 GRT/7,612,686 DWT ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11, Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
NA%
Military--note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none