North America :: Bermuda
(overseas territory of the UK)
page last updated on April 28, 2010
Flag of Bermuda
Location of Bermuda
 
Map of Bermuda
Introduction ::Bermuda
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
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
32 20 N, 64 45 W
total: 54 sq km
country comparison to the world: 231
land: 54 sq km
water: 0 sq km
about one-third the size of Washington, DC
0 km
103 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Current Weather
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
low hills separated by fertile depressions
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
NA
hurricanes (June to November)
sustainable development
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
People ::Bermuda
68,268 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0-14 years: 18.2% (male 6,232/female 6,160)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 22,644/female 23,247)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 4,140/female 5,845) (2010 est.)
total: 41.6 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 43.1 years (2010 est.)
0.62% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
11.47 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
7.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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: 2.46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 222
male: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 80.6 years
country comparison to the world: 16
male: 77.37 years
female: 83.88 years (2010 est.)
1.98 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
0.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 90
163 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 161
392 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 100
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
English (official), Portuguese
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)
1.2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 177
Government ::Bermuda
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands
overseas territory of the UK
parliamentary; self-governing territory
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
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bermuda Day, 24 May
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
English law
18 years of age; universal
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
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
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 on 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
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]
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]
Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO, WFTU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, 296-9233
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
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.
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$NA
4.6% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$69,900 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)
38,360 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 200
agriculture and fishing: 3%
laborers: 17%
clerical: 19%
professional and technical: 21%
administrative and managerial: 15%
sales: 7%
services: 19% (2004 est.)
2.1% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
19% (2000)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $738 million
expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)
2.8% (November 2005)
country comparison to the world: 89
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 92
$2.731 billion (31 December 2007)
$2.704 billion (31 December 2006)
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
NA%
675.6 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
628.3 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
5,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
4,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
$763 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 156
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Brazil 30.7%, US 20.1%, Germany 15.1%, South Africa 11.1%, India 7.3%, UK 4.6%, Austria 4.2% (2008)
$1.162 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 166
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Italy 26.2%, US 18%, South Korea 17.3%, UK 8.3%, Singapore 5.3%, France 5.1%, Norway 4.4% (2008)
$160 million (FY99/00)
country comparison to the world: 176
$NA
$NA
Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Communications ::Bermuda
57,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 159
79,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 188
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines
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)
AM 5, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2009)
3 (2005)
.bm
15,548 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
51,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 169
Transportation ::Bermuda
1 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 235
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
total: 447 km
country comparison to the world: 195
paved: 447 km
note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)
total: 137
country comparison to the world: 44
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)
Hamilton, Saint George
Military ::Bermuda
Bermuda Regiment (2008)
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)
males age 16-49: 15,217 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 12,405
females age 16-49: 12,327 (2010 est.)
male: 436
female: 397 (2010 est.)
0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Bermuda
none