Bermuda

(dependent territory of the UK)

Geography

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

Map references: North America

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 103 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: none

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

Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions

Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

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

Irrigated land: NA sq km

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

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

People

Population: 61,629 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate: 0.76% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.07 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 13.16 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.03 years
male: 73.36 years
female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic divisions: black 61%, white and other 39%

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

Languages: English

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

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)

Government

Names:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda

Digraph: BD

Type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Hamilton

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

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution: 8 June 1968

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

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

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of an 11-member body appointed by the governor
House of Assembly: elections last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998); results - percent of vote by party UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats - (40 total) UBP 22, PLP 18

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

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

Other political or pressure groups: Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), Ottiwell SIMMONS

Member of: CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC

Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. FARMER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE 09727-1002
telephone: [1] (809) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (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

Economy

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.

National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.7 billion (1994 est.)

National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994)

National product per capita: $28,000 (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1993)

Unemployment rate: 6% (1991)

Budget:
revenues: $327.5 million
expenditures: $308.9 million, including capital expenditures of $35.4 million (FY90/91 est.)

Exports: $60 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: semitropical produce, light manufactures, re-exports of pharmaceuticals
partners: US 62.4%, UK 20%

Imports: $519 million (f.o.b.,1993)
commodities: fuel, foodstuffs, machinery
partners: US 38%, UK 5%, Canada 5%

External debt: $NA

Industrial production: growth rate NA%

Electricity:
capacity: 140,000 kW
production: 504 million kWh
consumption per capita: 7,745 kWh (1993)

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

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

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

Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents

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

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Transportation

Railroads: 0 km

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

Ports: Hamilton, Saint George

Merchant marine:
total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,144,245 GRT/5,152,030 DWT
ships by type: bulk 14, cargo 4, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 15, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 1
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 12 countries among which are UK 6 ships, Canada 4, US 4, Sweden 3, Hong Kong 2, Mexico 2, Norway 2, Australia 1, Germany 1, NZ 1

Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

Communications

Telephone system: 52,670 telephones; modern, fully automatic telephone system
local: NA
intercity: NA
international: 3 submarine cables; 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
radios: NA

Television:
broadcast stations: 2
televisions: NA

Defense Forces

Branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK