2000 Edition

Background

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. Bermuda has developed into highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.

Area

land

58.8 sq km

total

58.8 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

highest point

Town Hill 76 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space

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%

forests and woodland

0%

other

94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

0%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 20% (male 6,107; female 6,212) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,620; female 22,171) 65 years and over: 10% (male 2,972; female 3,915) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

12.24 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

black 58%, white 36%, other 6%

Infant mortality rate

9.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.86 years (2000 est.)

male

74.89 years

total population

76.94 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (1970 est.)

male

98%

total population

98%

Nationality

adjective

Bermudian

noun

Bermudian(s)

Net migration rate

2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

62,997 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.75% (2000 est.)

Religions

non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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, amended 1989

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Bermuda

Data code

BD

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Consul General Lawrence OWEN

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

telephone

(441) 295-1342

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; governor invites leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier

head of government

Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)

FAX

(441) 295-1592

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

parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%; seats by party - PLP 26, UBP 14

elections

last held 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003)

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 24 May

Political parties and leaders

National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP ; United Bermuda Party or UBP

Political pressure groups and leaders

Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU ; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [Betty CHRISTOPHER]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products

Budget

expenditures

$537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)

revenues

$504.6 million

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. Government economic priorities are the further strengthening of the tourist and international financial sectors.

Electricity - consumption

391 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

420 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)

Exports

$32 million (1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

UK 29.5%, US 9.8% (1997)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

10%

services

89% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $31,500 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$624 million (1998 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Imports - partners

US 34%, UK 9%, Mexico 8% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (1998 est.)

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)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

82,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

modern, fully automatic telephone system

international

3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

48,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6,324 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

3 (1997)

Televisions

66,000 (1997)

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

note

in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned

paved

225 km

total

225 km

unpaved

0 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

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.)

ships by type

bulk 27, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 17, liquified gas 7, petroleum tanker 33, refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off 8, short-sea passenger 3 (1999 est.)

total

115 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,536,975 GRT/11,337,483 DWT

Ports and harbors

Hamilton, Saint George

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Disputes - international

none

BHUTAN