Bermuda

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0

Highways

total: 210 km paved: 210 km note: in addition, there are 400 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned

Merchant marine

67 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,407,518 GRT/5,775,281 DWT, bulk 15, cargo 4, container 3, liquefied gas 14, oil tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 note: a flag of convenience registry

Ports

Freeport, Hamilton, Saint George

Telecommunications

modern, fully automatic telephone system; 52,670 telephones; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; 3 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Branches

Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must be imported; produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $327.5 million expenditures: $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of $35.4 million (FY91 est.)

Currency

1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $277 million

Electricity

capacity: 154,000 kW production: 504 million kWh consumption per capita: 8,370 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)

Exports

$60 million (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, re-exports of pharmaceuticals partners: US 55%, UK 32%, Canada 11%, other 2%

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Imports

$468 million (f.o.b.,1991) commodities: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery partners: US 60%, UK 8%, Venezuela 7%, Canada 5%, Japan 5%, other 15%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (1991)

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.63 billion (1992)

National product per capita

$27,100 (1992)

National product real growth rate

-1.5% (1991)

Overview

Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported.

Unemployment rate

6% (1991)

Area

total area: 50 sq km land area: 50 sq km comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

103 km

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to hurricanes (June to November) international agreements: NA

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 20% other: 80%

Location

Northern North America, in the western North Atlantic Ocean, 1,050 km east of North Carolina

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Note

some reclaimed land leased by US Government; consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes

Terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Administrative divisions

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Capital

Hamilton

Constitution

8 June 1968

Digraph

BD

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Lord David WADDINGTON (since 25 August 1992) head of government: Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982); Deputy Premier J. Irving PEARMAN (since 5 October 1993) cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor

FAX

(809) 295-1592

Flag

red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue 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

House of Assembly

elections last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total) UBP 22, PLP 18

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament

Member of

CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC

Names

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 22 May

Other political or pressure groups

Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), Ottiwell SIMMONS

Political parties and leaders

United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. SWAN; Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick WADE; National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL

Senate

consists of an 11-member body appointed by the governor

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Type

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission: (vacant) consulate general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE 09727-1002 telephone: (809) 295-1342

Birth rate

15.14 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black 61%, white and other 39%

Infant mortality rate

13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force

32,000 by occupation: clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.03 years male: 73.36 years female: 76.97 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1970) total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99%

Nationality

noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian

Net migration rate

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population

61,158 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

0.77% (1994 est.)

Religions

Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%, Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (1994 est.)