2002 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2002 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography
Area
total: 53.3 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 53.3 sq km
Area - comparative
about one-third 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; sustainable development
Geographic coordinates
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Geography - note
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets 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% other: 94% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (1998 est.)
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: 19.2% (male 6,058; female 6,225) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 21,950; female 22,442) 65 years and over: 11.4% (male 3,163; female 4,122) (2002 est.)
Birth rate
11.82 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups
black 58%, white 36%, other 6%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
9.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages
English (official), Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth
79.27 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2002 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
2.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population
63,960 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate
0.69% (2002 est.)
Religions
non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%
Sex ratio
at birth: 0.94 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Capital
Hamilton
Constitution
8 June 1968, amended 1989
Country name
Bermuda former: Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Acting Consul General Karen EMMERSON consulate(s) Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVQ3 mailing address: Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002) head of government: by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; governor invites the leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier
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
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; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last general election 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
Political parties and leaders
National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Dr. Grant GIBBONS]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [leader NA]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Budget
revenues: $609.5 million expenditures: $574.6 million, including capital expenditures of $54.8 million (FY00/01)
Currency
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code
BMD
Debt - external
$145 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Electricity - consumption
553.35 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production
595 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Exports
$51 million (2000)
Exports - commodities
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners
EU excluding UK 77.9%, US 9.8%, UK 6.9% (1999)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $34,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.9% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$719 million (2000)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners
EU excluding UK 35.4%, US 17.8%, UK 15.4%, Russia 14.6% (1999)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3% (July 2001)
Labor force
37,472 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation
clerical 22%, services 20%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, agriculture and fishing 3% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
4.5% (1993)
Communications
Internet country code
.bm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
20 (2000)
Internet users
25,000 (2000)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
82,000 (1997)
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)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2960 m) (2002)
Highways
total: 450 km paved: NA note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002) unpaved: NA
Merchant marine
total: 102 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,485,450 GRT/8,782,869 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Croatia 5, Denmark 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 9, Indonesia 1, Norway 2, Sweden 11, United Kingdom 52, United States 13 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 4, container 16, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 3
Ports and harbors
Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard
Railways
0 km
Waterways
none
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$4,027,970 (January 2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
0.11% (FY00/01)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 1 January 2002 Belgium