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 also developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.

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

about one-third the size of Washington, DC

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

low hills separated by fertile depressions

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

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

black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)

English (official), Portuguese

Protestant 52% (Anglican 23%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%), Roman Catholic 15%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)

69,080 (July 2012 est.)

11.42 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

7.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

HAMILTON (capital) 12,000 (2009)

1.97 children born/woman (2012 est.)

overseas territory of the UK

parliamentary; self-governing territory

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)

8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003

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

18 years of age; universal

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition to serve a five-year term) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)

Supreme Court (Chief Justice and other justices appointed by the governor; remain in office until they reach 65 years of age); Court of Appeal (President of the Court of Appeal and other justices appointed by the governor for a specific period laid out in their respective instruments of appointment); Magistrate Courts

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Marc BEAN]; One Bermuda Alliance or OBA [Thad HOLLIS]

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

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Bermuda enjoys the fourth 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 on the US 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.

$4.5 billion (2004 est.)

$1.436 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.535 billion (31 December 2010)

$1.36 billion (31 December 2009)

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

$15 million (2012 est.)

$16 million (2011 est.)

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Germany 14%, US 11.7%, Australia 8% (2011)

$950 million (2012 est.)

$940 million (2011 est.)

clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals

South Korea 43.4%, US 16.1%, China 9.6%, Norway 7.5%, Singapore 6.6% (2011)

$160 million (FY99/00)

Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar - 1 (2012)

686.4 million kWh (2010 est.)

645.2 million kWh (2009 est.)

165,000 kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

4,361 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

4,019 bbl/day (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

812,800 Mt (2010 est.)

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

Hamilton, Ireland Island, Saint George

Bermuda Regiment (2012)

18-45 years of age for voluntary male or female enlistment in the Bermuda Regiment; males must register at age 18 and may be subjectt to conscription; term of service is 38 months for volunteers or conscripts (2012)

0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)

defense is the responsibility of the UK