Bermuda

Internet country code

.bm

Internet hosts

5,161 (2001)

Internet users

34,500 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telephone system

general assessment: good domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines international: country code - 1-441; 3 fiber optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

56,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

37,873 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2004)

Agriculture - products

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products

Budget

revenues: $671.1 million expenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55 million (FY03/04)

Currency (code)

Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Debt - external

$160 million (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient

NA

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.

Electricity - consumption

598 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

643 million kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Exports

$879 million (2002)

Exports - commodities

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

France 73.2%, UK 6.2%, Spain 2.4% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.33 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

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)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, international business, light manufacturing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (mid-2003 est.)

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.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

19% (2000)

Unemployment rate

5% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 53.3 sq km land: 53.3 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 extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Environment - current issues

asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development

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 US Government from 1941 to 1995

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)

Location

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

Map references

North America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes (June to November)

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Administrative divisions

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick

Capital

Hamilton

Constitution

8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342 FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002) head of government: Premier William Alexander SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor

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

Government type

parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Legal system

English law

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: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held July 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 24 May

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

Bermuda Regiment

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4.03 million (2001)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.11% (FY00/01)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 6,177/female 6,154) 15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,422/female 22,828) 65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,378/female 4,406) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.79 years male: 75.7 years female: 79.91 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 39.76 years male: 38.78 years female: 40.58 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian

Net migration rate

2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

65,365 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.64% (2005 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 450 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 0 km note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 108 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 6, container 22, liquefied gas 13, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7 foreign-owned: 103 (Australia 2, Canada 20, Finland 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 5, Indonesia 1, Nigeria 8, Norway 5, Sweden 9, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 27, United States 20) registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Ports and harbors

Hamilton, Saint George