2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 6,091; female 6,230) 15-64 years: 69.43% (male 21,783; female 22,309) 65 years and over: 11.17% (male 3,073; female 4,017) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2000 est.) Bermuda Military
Area
total: 58.8 sq km land: 58.8 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
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 a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995. Bermuda Geography
Birth rate
12.16 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $504.6 million expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)
Capital
Hamilton
Climate
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Coastline
103 km
Constitution
8 June 1968, amended 1989
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
Currency
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code
BMD
Death rate
7.42 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$NA
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Consul General Lawrence D. 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: [1] (441) 295-1342
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international
none
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
511.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
550 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
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
Ethnic groups
black 58%, white 36%, other 6%
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
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; governor invites leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier
Exports
$56 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners
UK 29.5%, US 9.8% (1997)
FAX
[1] (441) 295-1592
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March Bermuda Communications
Flag description
red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green 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 Bermuda Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $2.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $33,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.5% (2000 est.)
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 Bermuda People
Government type
parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
Highways
total: 225 km paved: 225 km unpaved: 0 km note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned (1997)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$739 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners
US 34%, UK 9%, Mexico 8% (1997)
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Infant mortality rate
9.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.7% (2000 est.)
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet country code
.bm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
20 (2000)
Internet users
25,000 (2000) Bermuda Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
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)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
Languages
English (official), Portuguese
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
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.12 years male: 75.04 years female: 79.06 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.) Bermuda Government
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
Merchant marine
total: 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,836,538 GRT/9,728,045 DWT ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 4, container 15, liquefied gas 7, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Canada 10, Hong Kong 10, Japan 1, Nigeria 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, UK 10, US 7 (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK Bermuda Transnational Issues
Military branches
Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
NA%
National holiday
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Nationality
noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Natural hazards
hurricanes (June to November)
Natural resources
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Net migration rate
2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [Betty CHRISTOPHER]
Population
63,503 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
0.74% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Hamilton, Saint George
Radio broadcast stations
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
82,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
Religions
non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%
Sex ratio
at birth: 0.94 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 (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular
7,980 (1996)
Television broadcast stations
3 (1997)
Televisions
66,000 (1997)
Terrain
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Total fertility rate
1.81 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
NEGL% (1995)
Waterways
none