2024 Edition Primary

Background

Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists heading for Virginia. Self-governing since 1620, Bermuda is the oldest and most populous of the British Overseas Territories. Vacationing on the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important for the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years as Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.

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

highest point

Town Hill 79 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

14.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 14.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

20% (2018 est.)

other

65.2% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes (June to November)

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Population distribution

relatively even population distribution throughout

Terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Age structure

0-14 years

16.4% (male 6,133/female 5,817)

15-64 years

60.9% (male 22,247/female 22,113)

65 years and over

22.7% (2024 est.) (male 7,021/female 9,469)

Birth rate

10.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

47.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

9.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

30.1

potential support ratio

3.3 (2021)

total dependency ratio

52.9

youth dependency ratio

22.8

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

Education expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

African descent 52%, White 31%, mixed 9%, Asian 4%, other 4% (2010 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.7 years

male

79.4 years

total population

82.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

10,000 HAMILTON (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

46.3 years

male

41.5 years

total

43.8 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bermudian

noun

Bermudian(s)

Net migration rate

1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Physician density

NA

Population

female

37,399 (2024 est.)

male

35,401

total

72,800

Population distribution

relatively even population distribution throughout

Population growth rate

0.3% (2024 est.)

Religions

Protestant 46.2% (includes Anglican 15.8%, African Methodist Episcopal 8.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 3.5%, Methodist 2.7%, Presbyterian 2.0%, Church of God 1.6%, Baptist 1.2%, Salvation Army 1.1%, Brethren 1.0%, other Protestant 2.0%), Roman Catholic 14.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other Christian 9.1%, Muslim 1%, other 3.9%, none 17.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2015)

male

12 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

named after Henry HAMILTON (ca. 1734-1796) who served as governor of Bermuda from 1788-1794

geographic coordinates

32 17 N, 64 47 W

name

Hamilton

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of the UK

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendments

proposal procedure - NA; passage by an Order in Council in the UK; amended several times, last in 2012

history

several previous (dating to 1684); latest entered into force 8 June 1968 (Bermuda Constitution Order 1968)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Bermuda

etymology

the islands making up Bermuda are named after Juan de BERMUDEZ, an early 16th century Spanish sea captain and the first European explorer of the archipelago

former

Somers Islands

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Acting Consul General James SALLAY (since 20 August 2022)

consulate(s) general

16 Middle Road, Devonshire DV O3

email address and website

HamiltonConsulate@state.govhttps://bm.usconsulate.gov/

embassy

US Consulate Bermuda, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, DV 03, Bermuda

FAX

(441) 295-1592

mailing address

5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300

telephone

(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

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Rena LALGIE (since 14 December 2020)

elections/appointments

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

head of government

Premier David BURT (since 19 July 2017)

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 the settling of Bermuda

note

note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue

Government type

Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 4 puisne judges, and 1 associate justice); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the court of final appeal

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal justice appointed by the governor; justice tenure by individual appointment; Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and appointed by the governor; judge tenure based on terms of appointment

subordinate courts

commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate (11 seats; 3 members appointed by the governor, 5 by the premier, and 3 by the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms) House of Assembly (36 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve up to 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - composition- men 5, women 6, percentage women 63.6%House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - PLP 62.1%, OBA 32.3%, other 5.4%, independent 0.2%; seats by party - PLP 30, OBA 6; composition - men 28, women 7, percentage women 20%; total Parliament percentage women 28.3%

elections

Senate - last appointments in 2022 (next appointments in 2027)House of Assembly - last held on 1 October 2020 (next to be held by 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Bette JOHNS

name

Hail to Bermuda

note

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Town of St George and Related Fortifications

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the UK entry

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 24 May; note - formerly known as Victoria Day, Empire Day, and Commonwealth Day

National symbol(s)

red lion

Political parties

Free Democratic Movement or FDMOne Bermuda Alliance or OBAProgressive Labor Party or PLP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.176 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

$999.2 million (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

N/A (2015)

Moody's rating

A2 (2016)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

A+ (2015)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

$838.701 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$853.85 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$962.258 million (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

small, tourism- and construction-based, territorial-island economy; American import and tourist destination; known offshore banking hub; increasing inflation; major re-exportation and re-importation area

Exchange rates

Currency

Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$1.605 billion (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$1.027 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$1.136 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

fertilizers, ships, liquor, vaccines, railway cargo containers (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Zambia 26%, US 16%, Angola 10%, France 10%, Tanzania 8% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

50.5% (2022 est.)

government consumption

11.9% (2022 est.)

household consumption

47.2% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-25% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

12.1% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.2% (2022 est.)

industry

5.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

90.5% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.828 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2019

$2.224 billion (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$1.723 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$1.925 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

ships, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine, cars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 34%, Norway 19%, South Korea 19%, China 5%, Canada 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

5.57% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

1.4% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.9% (2017 est.)

Labor force

33,480 (2016 est.)

Public debt

Public debt FY14/15

43% of GDP (FY14/15)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$5.659 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$5.965 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$6.349 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-6.84% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.42% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.43% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2020

$88,600 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$93,600 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$99,800 (2022 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2020

22.86% of GDP (2020 est.)

Remittances 2021

22.72% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

22.99% of GDP (2022 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

7% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

7% (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

29%

male

29.7%

total

29.3% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

582,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

582,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

imports

54.3 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

581.097 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

173,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

42.493 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

99% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

124.882 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2020 est.)

total

23,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

3 TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; roughly 13 radio stations operating

Internet country code

.bm

Internet users

percent of population

100% (2021 est.)

total

64,000 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

the system has a fixed-line teledensity of 39 per 100, coupled with a mobile-cellular teledensity of roughly 110 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)

international

country code - 1-441; landing points for the GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, CBUS, and the CB-1 submarine cables to the Caribbean, South America and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

25,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

68,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-B

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 15, oil tanker 8, other 99

total

122 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Freeport, Hamilton, Ireland Island, St. George

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

3

size unknown

1

small

2

total ports

4 (2024)

Roadways

note

note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads

paved

447 km (2010)

total

447 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s responsibilities include maritime security of Bermuda’s inshore waters, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, humanitarian/disaster assistance, security of key installations, and assisting the Bermuda Police with maintaining public order; it includes explosive ordnance disposal, diver, maritime, security police, and support units (2024)

Military and security forces

Royal Bermuda Regiment; Bermuda Police Service (2024)

note

note: the Royal Bermuda Regiment (aka "The Regiment") includes the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Royal Bermuda Regiment has about 350 troops (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Regiment is equipped with small arms (2024)

Military service age and obligation

men and women who are Commonwealth citizens and 18-45 years of age can volunteer for the Bermuda Regiment; service is for a minimum period of three years and two months from the date of enlistment; service can be extended only by volunteering or an executive order from the Governor; annual training commitment is about 30 days a year, which includes a two-week camp, weekends, and drill nights (2024)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.61 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

dense population and heavy vehicle traffic create serious congestion and air pollution problems; water resources scarce (most obtained as rainwater or from wells); solid waste disposal; hazardous waste disposal; sewage disposal; overfishing; oil spills

Land use

agricultural land

14.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 14.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

20% (2018 est.)

other

65.2% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

82,000 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,640 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

2% (2012 est.)