Bermuda

Internet country code

.bm

Internet hosts

8,114 (2006)

Internet users

39,000 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Telephone system

general assessment: good domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines international: country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiber optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)

Telephones - main lines in use

56,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

49,000 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

3 (2005)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $738 million expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)

Currency (code)

Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Debt - external

$160 million (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Bermuda enjoys the 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 11 September 2001 and again after Hurricane Katrina, 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.

Electricity - consumption

616.7 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production

682.5 million kWh (2005)

Exchange rates

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

Exports

$1.469 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners

France 65.6%, Spain 11.7%, US 4.5% (2005)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$69,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$982 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Kazakhstan 51%, France 19%, South Korea 10.2%, US 7.6% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (November 2005)

Labor force

38,360 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2003)

Population below poverty line

19% (2000)

Unemployment rate

2.1% (2004 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

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) (2005)

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

name: Hamilton geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

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: 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, [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 Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006); Deputy Premier Paula COX 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; self-governing territory

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO

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 not later than 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 [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]

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. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 15,151 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

no regular military forces

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.11% (FY00/01)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098) 15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954) 65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)

Birth rate

11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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

0.297% (2005)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

392 (2005)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

163 (2005)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.96 years male: 75.85 years female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (2005 est.)

Median age

total: 40.2 years male: 39.3 years female: 41 years (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian

Net migration rate

2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population

65,773 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.61% (2006 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: 1.01 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 (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Merchant marine

total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21, Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27) registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals

Hamilton, Saint George

Roadways

total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)