2007 Edition

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: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098) 15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954) 65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

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. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue. Geography Bermuda

Birth rate

11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$665 million (FY04/05)

revenues

$738 million

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

32 17 N, 64 46 W

name

Hamilton

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter

Coastline

103 km

Constitution

8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Bermuda

former

Somers Islands

Currency (code)

Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Currency code

BMD

Death rate

7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$160 million (FY99/00)

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON

consulate(s) general

Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3

mailing address

P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, US 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 8 February, 2007

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the world, more than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companies relocated to the island following 11 September 2001 and again after Hurricane Katrina, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues to struggle but remains the island's number two industry. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited with only 20% of the land being arable.

Electricity - consumption

616.7 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

682.5 million kWh (2005)

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

sustainable development

Ethnic groups

black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)

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 11 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 Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX

Exports

$1.469 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

France 65.9%, Spain 11.8%, US 4.5% (2005)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

1%

industry

10%

services

89% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$69,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.5 billion (2004 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; self-governing territory

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.297% (2005)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

392 (2005)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

163 (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$982 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France 38.9%, South Korea 20.9%, US 15.5% (2005)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Infant mortality rate

female

6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

9.85 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (November 2005)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO

Internet country code

.bm

Internet hosts

8,114 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

20 (2000)

Internet users

39,000 (2005) Transportation Bermuda

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Labor force

38,360 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 3%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 19%, services 19% (2004 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

20%

other

80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)

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 up to 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 not later than July 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.1 years (2006 est.)

male

75.85 years

total population

77.96 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2005 est.) Government Bermuda

male

98%

total population

98%

Location

North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

15,151 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

12,165 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49

408 (2005 est.)

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

41 years (2006 est.)

male

39.3 years

total

40.2 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5

foreign-owned

116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21, Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27)

registered in other countries

6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 1) (2006)

total

132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues Bermuda

Military branches

no regular military forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.03 million (2001)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.11% (FY00/01)

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 24 May

Nationality

adjective

Bermudian

noun

Bermudian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

hurricanes (June to November)

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Net migration rate

2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

Population

65,773 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

19% (2000)

Population growth rate

0.61% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Hamilton, Saint George Military Bermuda

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios

82,000 (1997)

Religions

Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)

Roadways

note

public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)

paved

447 km

total

447 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines

general assessment

good

international

country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiber optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

56,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

49,000 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

3 (2005)

Televisions

66,000 (1997)

Terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.1% (2004 est.)