CIA - The World Factbook -- Bermuda

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Bermuda

Introduction

Bermuda

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 Bermuda

Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of

South Carolina (US)

Geographic 32 20 N, 64 45 W coordinates: Map references: North America Area: total: 53.3 sq km

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land: 53.3 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - about one-third the size of Washington, DC comparative: Land 0 km boundaries: Coastline: 103 km Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m extremes: highest point: Town Hill 76 m Natural limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism resources: Land use: arable land: 20%

permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Irrigated land: NA Natural hurricanes (June to November) hazards: Environment - sustainable development current issues: Geography - consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no note: rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government

from 1941 to 1995

People Bermuda

Population: 66,536 (July 2008 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 6,055/female 5,954)

15-64 years: 69.1% (male 22,795/female 23,189) 65 years and over: 12.8% (male 3,728/female 4,815) (2008 est.)
Median age: total: 41 years

male: 40.1 years female: 41.8 years (2008 est.)

Population 0.546% (2008 est.) growth rate: Birth rate: 11.15 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

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Net migration 2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) rate: Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.02 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 (2008 est.)
Infant mortality total: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births rate: male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy total population: 78.3 years at birth: male: 76.15 years

female: 80.48 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility 1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.) rate: HIV/AIDS - adult 0.297% (2005) prevalence rate: HIV/AIDS - 163 (2005) people living with HIV/AIDS: HIV/AIDS - 392 (2005) deaths: 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)

Religions: Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%,

other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (2005 est.)

School life total: 13 years expectancy male: 13 years (primary to female: 14 years (2005) tertiary education): Education 1.2% of GDP (2006) expenditures: Government Bermuda

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Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands

Dependency overseas territory of the UK status: Government parliamentary; self-governing territory type: 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 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, divisions: Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's,

Southampton, Warwick
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK) National Bermuda Day, 24 May holiday: Constitution: 8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003 Legal system: English law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); branch: represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December

2007) 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: 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
Legislative bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members branch: 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 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; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts Political parties Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda

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and leaders: Party or UBP [Kim SWAN] Political Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union pressure or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU groups and [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES] leaders: International Caricom (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO organization participation: Diplomatic none (overseas territory of the UK) representation in the US: Diplomatic chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON representation consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 from the US: 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
Flag red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the description: 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
Economy Bermuda

Economy - Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world, more overview: 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 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 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.
GDP $4.5 billion (2004 est.) (purchasing power parity): GDP (official $NA exchange rate): GDP - real 4.6% (2004 est.) growth rate: GDP - per capita $69,900 (2004 est.) (PPP):

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GDP - agriculture: 1% composition by industry: 10% sector: services: 89% (2002 est.) Labor force: 38,360 (2004) Labor force - by agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and occupation: technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services

19% (2004 est.)

Unemployment 2.1% (2004 est.) rate: Population 19% (2000) below poverty line: Household lowest 10%: NA% income or highest 10%: NA% consumption by percentage share: Inflation rate 2.8% (November 2005) (consumer prices): Budget: revenues: $738 million

expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)

Agriculture - bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey products: Industries: international business, tourism, light manufacturing Industrial NA% production growth rate: Electricity - 618 million kWh (2005) production: Electricity - fossil fuel: 100% production by hydro: 0% source: nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 574.8 million kWh (2005) consumption: Electricity - 0 kWh (2005) exports: Electricity - 0 kWh (2005) imports: Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2005) Oil - 4,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

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consumption: Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2005) Oil - imports: 4,250 bbl/day (2004) Oil - proved 0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.) reserves: Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005 est.) production: Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005 est.) consumption: Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005 est.) exports: Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005) imports: Natural gas - 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) proved reserves: Exports: $763 million (2006) Exports - reexports of pharmaceuticals commodities: Exports - Brazil 15%, Spain 13.7%, Germany 11.6%, Denmark 6.5%, UK 6% partners: (2007) Imports: $1.162 billion (2006) Imports - clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction commodities: materials, chemicals, food and live animals Imports - US 25.1%, Germany 21.2%, Italy 19%, France 5.7% (2007) partners: Economic aid - $90,000 (2004) recipient: Debt - external: $160 million (FY99/00) Stock of direct $NA foreign investment - at home: Stock of direct $NA foreign investment abroad: Market value of $2.125 billion (2005) publicly traded shares: Currency

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(code): Bermudian dollar (BMD) Currency code: BMD Exchange rates: Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US

dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March Communications Bermuda Telephones - 57,700 (2006) main lines in use: Telephones - 60,100 (2006) mobile cellular: Telephone general assessment: good system: domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines

international: country code - 1-441; landing point for the Atlantica-1 telecommunications submarine cable that extends from the US to Brazil; satellite earth stations - 3 (2007)
Radio AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005) broadcast stations: Radios: 82,000 (1997) Television 3 (2005) broadcast stations: Televisions: 66,000 (1997) Internet country .bm code: Internet hosts: 2,949 (2007) Internet Service 20 (2000) Providers (ISPs): Internet users: 48,000 (2007) Transportation Bermuda Airports: 1 (2007) Airports - with total: 1 paved runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2007) Roadways: total: 447 km

paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)

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Merchant total: 138 ships (1000 GRT or over) 8,949,799 GRT/9,181,925 DWT marine: by type: bulk carrier 23, chemical tanker 3, container 22, liquefied gas

32, passenger 24, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 2, Belgium 2, China 9, France 1, Germany 22, Greece 9, Hong Kong 4, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Japan 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 20, UK 2, US 23) registered in other countries: 56 (Bahamas 12, Croatia 1, Marshall Islands 4, Philippines 39) (2008)
Ports and Hamilton, Saint George terminals: Military Bermuda

Military Bermuda Regiment (2008) branches: Military service 18-23 years of age; eligible men required to register for conscription as age and needed into the Bermuda Regiment, which is largely voluntary; term of obligation: service 39 months (2007) Manpower males age 16-49: 15,623 (2008 est.) available for military service: Manpower fit for males age 16-49: 12,682 (2008 est.) military service: Manpower male: 426 reaching female: 445 (2008 est.) militarily significant age annually: Military 0.11% of GDP (2005 est.) expenditures: Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Bermuda Issues Disputes - none international:
This page was last updated on 2 October, 2008

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