Edition 2003 — Bermuda — World Factbook

Administrative divisions

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,195; female 6,205) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 22,110; female 22,574) 65 years and over: 11.5% (male 3,215; female 4,183) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products

Airports

1 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002) Military Bermuda

Area

land: 53.3 sq km
total: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-third 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. 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 Bermuda

Birth rate

12.13 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $574.6 million, including capital expenditures of $54.8 million (FY 00/01)
revenues: $609.5 million

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

7.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$145 million (FY 99/00)

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Consul General Denis Patrick COLEMAN, Jr.
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, with its economy primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - has been severely hit as American tourists have chosen not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002, but remains below the pre-11 September level. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important. Agriculture is limited, only 6% of the land being arable.

Electricity - consumption

598.6 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

643.7 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

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; sustainable development

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

cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
head of government: Premier Alex SCOTT (since 24 July 2003)

Exports

$51 million (2000)

Exports - commodities

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

France 77.4%, UK 2.8%, US 2.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Bermuda

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 Economy Bermuda

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.25 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $35,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.5% (2002 est.)

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 was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995 People Bermuda

Government type

parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government

Highways

note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
paved: 450 km
total: 450 km
unpaved: 0 km

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

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

Imports

$719 million (2000)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Kazakhstan 30.9%, France 24.7%, Italy 10.5%, US 9.7%, South Korea 8.4%, Mexico 4.3% (2002)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, international business, light manufacturing

Infant mortality rate

female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 10.77 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 9.05 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (July 2002)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.bm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

20 (2000)

Internet users

25,000 (2000) Transportation Bermuda

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

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.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 6%
other: 94% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 0%

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

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 (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held NA July 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female: 79.49 years (2003 est.)
male: 75.38 years
total population: 77.41 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 99% (1970 est.) Government Bermuda
male: 98%
total population: 98%

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

Median age

female: 39.6 years (2002)
male: 37.8 years
total: 38.7 years

Merchant marine

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.)
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of
ships by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, container 14, liquefied gas 9, passenger 5, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea passenger 4
total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,993,227 GRT/7,089,760 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues Bermuda

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.028 million (January 2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.11% (FY00/01)

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 24 May

Nationality

adjective: Bermudian
noun: Bermudian(s)

Natural hazards

hurricanes (June to November)

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Net migration rate

2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (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 [Chairman Wayne FURBERT]

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]

Population

64,482 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.72% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

82,000 (1997)

Railways