Guide to Bermuda 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. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area: total
Area - comparative: about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use: arable land
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development
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 Population: 65,365 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years
Median age: total
Population growth rate: 0.64% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: 11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: 7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth
Infant mortality rate: total
Life expectancy at birth: total population
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun
Ethnic groups: black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
Religions: Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Literacy: definition
Government Country name: conventional long form
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
Capital: Hamilton
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution: 8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state
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) elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]
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]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
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 Economy - overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, nearly equal to that of the US. Its economy is 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 - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002-04. 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, only 20% of the land being arable.
GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.33 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture
Labor force: 37,470 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 19% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (mid-2003 est.)
Budget: revenues
Agriculture - products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Industries: tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 643 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel
Electricity - consumption: 598 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: NA
Oil - imports: NA
Exports: $879 million (2002)
Exports - commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners: France 73.2%, UK 6.2%, Spain 2.4% (2004)
Imports: $5.523 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners: Kazakhstan 39.2%, France 16.2%, Japan 13.1%, Italy 9.2%, South Korea 8.8%, US 6.4% (2004)
Debt - external: $160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient: NA
Currency (code): Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency code: BMD
Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Telephones - main lines in use: 56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 37,873 (2003)
Telephone system: general assessment
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios: 82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (2004)
Televisions: 66,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .bm
Internet hosts: 5,161 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 20 (2000)
Internet users: 34,500 (2003)
Transportation Highways: total
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George
Merchant marine: total
Airports: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total
Military Military branches: Bermuda Regiment
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4.03 million (2001)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.11% (FY00/01)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Disputes - international: none
Last updated: 20 October, 2005
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