North America :: Bermuda (overseas territory of the UK)

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## 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
Map references:
North America
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.) population pyramid:
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: 147
Birth rate:
11.39 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Death rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Net migration rate:
1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
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:
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), 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 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 ::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 sector of origin:
agriculture: 0.7% industry: 7% services: 92.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
37,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 199
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: 93
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: 184
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.5% of GDP (FY11/12 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 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)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Industries:
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
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.)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

## Energy ::Bermuda

Electricity - production:
716.8 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - consumption:
636.5 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
165,000 kW (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
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: 47
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1.8% of total installed capacity country comparison to the world: 61 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: 109
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2,747 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,747 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
812,800 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

## 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, and the Challenger Bermuda-1 (CB-1) submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 (2009)
Broadcast media:
3 TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; roughly 10 radio stations operating (2007)
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 (2012) country comparison to the world: 212
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
Roadways:
total: 447 km country comparison to the world: 197 paved: 447 km note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads (2007)
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:
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

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