2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

54 sq km

total

54 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

highest point

Town Hill 76 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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 the US Government from 1941 to 1995

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

20%

other

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

permanent crops

0%

Location

North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.3% (male 6,271/female 6,163) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 22,555/female 23,215) 65 years and over: 14.2% (male 3,979/female 5,654) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

11.47 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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

0.3% (2005)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

392 (2005)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

163 (2005)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

2.57 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.46 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.88 years (2010 est.)

male

77.37 years

total population

80.6 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (2005 est.)

male

98%

total population

98%

Median age

female

43.1 years (2010 est.)

male

40.2 years

total

41.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Bermudian

noun

Bermudian(s)

Net migration rate

2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

68,265 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.62% (2010 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)

female

14 years (2005)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.018 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

geographic coordinates

32 17 N, 64 47 W

name

Hamilton

time difference

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

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 Grace W. SHELTON

consulate(s) general

Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3

FAX

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

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

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

head of government

Premier Paula COX (since 29 October 2010); Deputy Premier Derrick BURGESS

Flag description

red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag; it was the shipwreck of the vessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia, that led to settling of Bermuda note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue

Government type

parliamentary; self-governing territory

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

elections

last general election held on 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Bette JOHNS note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

name

"Hail to Bermuda"

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

Agriculture - products

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

Debt - external

$160 million (FY99/00)

Economy - overview

Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world, more than 50% higher than that of the US; the average cost of a house by the mid-2000s exceeded $1,000,000. 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 largely focused on construction and agriculture is limited, with only 20% of the land being arable.

Electricity - consumption

628.3 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

675.6 million kWh (2007 est.)

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 16.91%, India 10.15%, Brazil 9.55%, Germany 7.4% (2009)

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

US 31.2%, South Korea 26.71%, Brazil 6.77%, Ireland 6.11%, Singapore 5.35% (2009)

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

administrative and managerial

15%

agriculture and fishing

3%

clerical

19%

laborers

17%

professional and technical

21%

sales

7%

services

19% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.36 billion (31 December 2009) $1.912 billion (31 December 2008) $2.731 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

4,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 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.)

Broadcast media

3 television stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; roughly 10 radio stations operating (2007)

Internet country code

.bm

Internet hosts

19,855 (2010)

Internet users

54,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines

general assessment

good

international

country code - 1-441; landing points for the GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, and the Challenger Bermuda-1 (CB-1)submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

57,700 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

85,000 (2009)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 22, chemical tanker 3, container 15, liquefied gas 38, passenger 26, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 9

foreign-owned

114 (China 13, France 1, Germany 15, Greece 2, Hong Kong 5, Ireland 2, Israel 3, Japan 2, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 17, UK 11, US 25)

registered in other countries

180 (Bahamas 12, Cyprus 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 12, Isle of Man 7, Liberia 4, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 34, Norway 5, Panama 15, Philippines 43, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 21, UK 9, US 5) (2010)

total

139

Ports and terminals

Hamilton, Ireland Island, Saint George

Roadways

paved

447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)

total

447 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 15,217 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 12,405 females age 16-49: 12,327 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

397 (2010 est.)

male

436

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

Bermuda Regiment (2009)

Military expenditures

0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary or compulsory enlistment in the Bermuda Regiment; males must register at age 18; term of service is 38 months (2009)

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 11, 2011 ======================================================================