2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (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. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.
Geography
Area
total: 53.3 sq km land: 53.3 sq km water: 0 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
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 was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Location
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Map references
North America
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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: 18% (male 6,055/female 5,954) 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 22,795/female 23,189) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 3,728/female 4,815) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
11.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
1.2% of GDP (2006)
Ethnic groups
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.297% (2005)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
392 (2005)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
163 (2005)
Infant mortality rate
total: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
English (official), Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.3 years male: 76.15 years female: 80.48 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (2005 est.)
Median age
total: 41 years male: 40.1 years female: 41.8 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Net migration rate
2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
66,536 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
0.546% (2008 est.)
Religions
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2005)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.88 children born/woman (2008 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
name: Hamilton geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 47 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Constitution
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
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)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007) head of government: Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: 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
FAX
[1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233
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; self-governing territory
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO, WFTU
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members 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) elections: last general election held 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
National holiday
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Political parties and leaders
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]
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]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Budget
revenues: $738 million expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)
Currency (code)
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code
BMD
Debt - external
$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient
$90,000 (2004)
Economy - overview
Bermuda enjoys the third 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 the 11 September 2001 attacks and again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, 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
619.8 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
675.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Exports
$763 million (2006)
Exports - commodities
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners
Spain 13.8%, Germany 11.7%, Switzerland 8.8%, Denmark 6.6%, UK 6% (2007)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
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.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$1.162 billion (2006)
Imports - commodities
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners
South Korea 36.4%, US 15.7%, Germany 13.2%, Italy 11.8% (2007)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (November 2005)
Labor force
38,360 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$2.125 billion (2005)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
4,566 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
4,378 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
19% (2000)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$NA
Unemployment rate
2.1% (2004 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.bm
Internet hosts
1,628 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
20 (2000)
Internet users
48,000 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Radios
82,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: good domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines international: country code - 1-441; landing point for the Atlantica-1 telecommunications submarine cable that extends from the US to Brazil; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)
Telephones - main lines in use
57,700 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular
60,100 (2006)
Television broadcast stations
3 (2005)
Televisions
66,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine
total: 137 by type: bulk carrier 23, chemical tanker 3, container 22, liquefied gas 33, passenger 24, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 9 foreign-owned: 115 (Australia 1, China 10, France 1, Germany 22, Greece 9, Hong Kong 4, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Japan 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 20, UK 3, US 23) registered in other countries: 50 (Bahamas 12, Marshall Islands 4, Philippines 34) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Hamilton, Saint George
Roadways
total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 15,623 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 12,682 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 426 female: 445 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches
Bermuda Regiment (2008)
Military expenditures
0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)
Military service age and obligation
18-23 years of age; eligible men required to register for conscription as needed into the Bermuda Regiment, which is largely voluntary; term of service 39 months (2007)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008