Bermuda

Introduction ::Bermuda

Background:

Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Vacationing 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 also developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.

Geography ::Bermuda

Location:

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

Geographic coordinates:

32 20 N, 64 45 W

Area:

total: 54 sq km

country comparison to the world: 232

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: 14.8%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 85.2% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2011)

Irrigated land:

NA

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 ::Bermuda

Nationality:

noun: Bermudian(s)

adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups:

black 53.8%, white 31%, mixed 7.5%, other races 7.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2010 census)

Languages:

English (official), Portuguese

Religions:

Protestant 49.2% (Anglican 15.8%, African Methodist Episcopal 8.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.7, other Protestant 18.1%), Roman Catholic 14.5%, other 12.4%, unspecified 6.2%, none 17.7% (2010 census)

Population:

69,467 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 203

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 6,186/female 6,048)

15-24 years: 12.3% (male 4,249/female 4,262)

25-54 years: 40% (male 13,861/female 13,956)

55-64 years: 14.1% (male 4,660/female 5,159)

65 years and over: 16% (male 4,644/female 6,442) (2013 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.6 years

male: 40.9 years

female: 44.3 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.55% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 148

Birth rate:

11.39 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 170

Death rate:

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

Net migration rate:

1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 42

Urbanization:

urban population: 100% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

HAMILTON (capital) 11,000 (2011)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.47 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 222

male: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.93 years

country comparison to the world: 22

male: 77.71 years

female: 84.2 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.96 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 134

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2005)

country comparison to the world: 81

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 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 154

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: 11 years

female: 13 years (2011)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 10.8%

country comparison to the world: 104

male: 14.3%

female: 7.6% (2000)

Government ::Bermuda

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 George FERGUSSON (since 23 May 2012)

head of government: Premier Craig CANNONIER (since 18 December 2012)

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 17 December 2012 (next to be held not later than 2017)

election results: percent of vote by party - OBA 51.7%, PLP 46.1%, other 2.2%; seats by party - OBA 19, PLP 17

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 4 puisne judges, and 1 associate justice)

note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London, is the court of last resort

judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal justice appointed by the governor; justice tenure by individual appointment; Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and appointed by the governor; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts: commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts

Political parties and leaders:

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Marc BEAN]; One Bermuda Alliance or OBA [Thad HOLLIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers or ABIR [Bradley KADING]; Association of Bermuda International Companies or ABIC [George HUTCHINGS]; Bermuda Employer's Council [Keith JENSEN]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Chris Furbert]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Kevin GRANT and Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Robert SETTJE

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] [phone]

FAX: [1] [phone], 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 ::Bermuda

Economy - overview:

Despite four years of recession and a public debt of $1.4 billion, Bermuda enjoys the fourth highest per capita income in the world, about 70% higher than that of the US. The average cost of a single-family home in 2012 was $1.1 million. Its economy is primarily based on international business and the provision of financial services to that sector, and to a lesser extent tourism. A number of reinsurance companies relocated to the island following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US and again after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 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 and has dropped in its relevant importance to the economy, although it is still important as a job creator. Bermuda must import almost everything. Agriculture is limited due to the small size of the island and Bermuda's industrial sector is small.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.6 billion (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 168

$5.803 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.6 billion (2011)

GDP - real growth rate:

-3.5% (2011)

country comparison to the world: 214

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$86,000 (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 3

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 33%

government consumption: 15.9%

investment in fixed capital: 24.9%

investment in inventories: 0%

exports of goods and services: 68%

imports of goods and services: -35.9%

(2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 0.7%

industry: 7%

services: 92.2% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

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

Industries:

international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Labor force:

37,400 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 200

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:

8% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

Population below poverty line:

11% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $973.2 million

expenditures: $1.115 billion (FY11/12)

Taxes and other revenues:

17.4% of GDP (FY11/12 est.)

country comparison to the world: 183

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-2.5% of GDP (FY11/12 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

2.7% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$1.533 billion (31 December 2012)

country comparison to the world: 102

$1.436 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.535 billion (31 December 2010)

Exports:

$11 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 212

$16 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:

Australia 16.1%, US 13.9%, Indonesia 11.9% (2012)

Imports:

$920 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 178

$940 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

Kazakhstan 32.4%, South Korea 31%, US 14.1%, Singapore 6.6%, China 4.7% (2012)

Debt - external:

$1.4 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$NA

Exchange rates:

Bermudian dollars (BMD) per US dollar -

1 (2012 est.)

1 (2011 est.)

Energy ::Bermuda

Electricity - production:

716.8 million kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity - consumption:

636.5 million kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

165,000 kW (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

98.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

1.8% of total installed capacity

country comparison to the world: 60

note: the Tynes Bay Waste Treatment Facility turns waste to electric energy (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

Crude oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 106

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 154

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

2,747 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 185

Refined petroleum products - exports:

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 152

Refined petroleum products - imports:

2,747 bbl/day (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 170

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 109

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

812,800 Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 170

Communications ::Bermuda

Telephones - main lines in use:

57,800 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 160

Telephones - mobile cellular:

88,200 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 194

Telephone system:

general assessment: a good, fully automatic digital telephone system with fiber-optic trunk lines

domestic: the system has a high fixed-line teledensity coupled with a mobile-cellular teledensity of roughly 125 per 100 persons

international: country code - 1-441; landing points for the GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, CBUS, and the Challenger Bermuda-1 (CB-1) submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 (2010)

Broadcast media:

3 TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; roughly 13 radio stations operating (2012)

Internet country code:

.bm

Internet hosts:

20,040 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 119

Internet users:

54,000 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 173

Transportation ::Bermuda

Airports:

1 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 212

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Roadways:

total: 447 km

country comparison to the world: 197

paved: 447 km

note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads (2010)

Merchant marine:

total: 139

country comparison to the world: 41

by type: bulk carrier 22, chemical tanker 3, container 14, liquefied gas 43, passenger 27, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 9

foreign-owned: 105 (France 1, Germany 14, Greece 8, Hong Kong 4, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Japan 2, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, UK 14, US 26)

registered in other countries: 241 (Bahamas 15, Cyprus 1, France 5, Greece 3, Hong Kong 20, Isle of Man 7, Liberia 4, Malta 15, Marshall Islands 35, Netherlands 1, Norway 24, Panama 27, Philippines 47, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 25, UK 6, US 5) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Hamilton, Ireland Island, Saint George

Military ::Bermuda

Military branches:

Bermuda Regiment (2012)

Military service age and obligation:

18-45 years of age for voluntary male or female enlistment in the Bermuda Regiment; males must register at age 18 and may be subject to conscription; term of service is 38 months for volunteers or conscripts (2012)

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: 169

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues ::Bermuda

Disputes - international:

none"