Bermuda

Bermuda

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map references

North America

Area

total: 54 sq km
country comparison to the world: 231 land:54 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

103 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 nm

Climate

subtropical

mild, humid

gales, strong winds common in winter

Terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use

arable land: 20%
permanent crops:0%
other:80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)

Irrigated land

NA (2008)

Natural hazards

hurricanes (June to November)

Environment – current issues

sustainable development

Geography – note

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective:Bermudian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

English (official), Portuguese

Religions

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

Population

68,679 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201

Age structure

0-14 years: 18% (male 6,212/female 6,129)
15-64 years:67% (male 22,701/female 23,293)
65 years and over:15.1% (male 4,304/female 6,040) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 42 years
male:40.4 years
female:43.5 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.594% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Birth rate

11.42 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Death rate

7.57 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

Net migration rate

2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

HAMILTON (capital) 12,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.015 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 (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 220 male:2.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female:2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.71 years
country comparison to the world: 20 male:77.49 years
female:83.99 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 90

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

163 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 160

HIV/AIDS – deaths

392 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 99

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2006)

Government

Country name

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

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Government type

parliamentary

self-governing territory

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*

Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George’s, Sandys, Smith’s, Southampton, Warwick

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution

8 June 1968

amended 1989 and 2003

Legal system

English common law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)
head of government:Premier Paula COX (since 29 October 2010)

Deputy Premier Derrick BURGESS
cabinet:Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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

Legislative branch

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)
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

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]

United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]

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]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Consul General Grace W. SHELTON
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

Flag description

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
note:the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue

National symbol(s)

red lion

National anthem

name: “Hail to Bermuda”
lyrics/music:Bette JOHNS
note:serves as a local anthem

as a territory of the United Kingdom, “God Save the Queen” is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy – overview

Bermuda enjoys the third 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 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP – real growth rate

4.6% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$69,900 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 0.7%
industry:8.4%
services:90.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

38,360 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 198

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.)

Unemployment rate

2.1% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Population below poverty line

19% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

24.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Budget

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 1.8% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.535 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 101 $1.36 billion (31 December 2009)
$1.912 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers

dairy products, honey

Industries

international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

693.7 million kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity – consumption

636.4 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Oil – consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Oil – imports

4,804 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Current account balance

$660 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52 $548 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$27 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203 $29 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports – partners

India 88.4%, France 14.6%, Germany 13.2%, Norway 7.2%, Bangladesh 6.7%, Indonesia 6.5%, US 4.4%, Nepal 1.8% (2010)

Imports

$966 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173 $1.065 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

India 63.1%, Germany 36.2%, South Korea 22.2%, US 15.9%, India 9.1%, China 8.4%, India 4.5% (2010)

Debt – external

$160 million (FY99/00)
country comparison to the world: 181

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$NA

Exchange rates

Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar – 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:213

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 447 km
country comparison to the world: 196 paved:447 km
note:public roads – 225 km

private roads – 222 km (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 139
country comparison to the world: 43 by type:bulk carrier 22, chemical tanker 3, container 15, liquefied gas 38, passenger 26, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 9
foreign-owned:114 (China 13, France 1, Germany 15, Greece 2, Hong Kong 5, Ireland 2, Israel 3, Japan 2, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 17, UK 11, US 25)
registered in other countries:180 (Bahamas 12, Cyprus 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 12, Isle of Man 7, Liberia 4, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 34, Norway 5, Panama 15, Philippines 43, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 21, UK 9, US 5) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Hamilton, Ireland Island, Saint George

Military

Military branches

Bermuda Regiment (2009)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 15,081 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 12,323
females age 16-49:12,174 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 433
female:410 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.11% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

none