ARCHIVE // BM // 1998

Bermuda

1998 Edition — territory

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Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $430.9 million expenditures: $452.9 million, including capital expenditures of $50 million (FY95/96 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]
$NA
Economic aid [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.
Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]
145,000 kW (1996)
Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]
7,856 kWh (1996)
Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]
527,526,728 kWh (1996)
Exchange rates [time series]
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1-1.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports [time series]
total value: $67.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals partners: Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April-31 March Communications
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity-$1.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity-$29,000 (1996 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]
2.4% (1996 est.)
Imports [time series]
total value: $569 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals partners: US 73%, UK 5%, Canada 4% (1996 est.)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]
1.8% (November 1997)
Labor force [time series]
total: 34,633 by occupation: clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
78,000 (1992 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
54,000 (1991 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
3
Televisions [time series]
57,000 (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
NEGL% (1995)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 50 sq km land: 50 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Coastline [time series]
103 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]
asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space
International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]
consists of about 360 small coral islands with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
Irrigated land [time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 6% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA (1997 est.) note: developed (55%), and rural and open space (39%) comprise 94% of Bermudian land area
Location [time series]
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)
Map references [time series]
North America
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
hurricanes (June to November)
Natural resources [time series]
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Terrain [time series]
low hills separated by fertile depressions
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Constitution [time series]
8 June 1968
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda
Data code [time series]
BD
Dependency status [time series]
dependent territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Consul General Robert A. FARMER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5300 telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since June 1997) head of government: Premier Pamela GORDON (since 25 March 1997); Deputy Premier Jerome DILL (since 1 September 1995) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; premier appointed by the governor
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (441) 295-1592
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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
Government type [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
International organization participation [time series]
Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court
Legal system [time series]
English law
Legislative branch [time series]
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 October 1993 (next to be held by NA October 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-UBP 50%, PLP 46%, independents 4%; seats by party-UBP 22, PLP 18
Capital (National capital) [time series]
Hamilton
National holiday [time series]
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA (Leleath BAILEY)
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]
$NA
Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]
NA%
Military - note (Military-note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 20% (male 6,191; female 6,046) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,330; female 21,912) 65 years and over: 10% (male 2,777; female 3,753) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
12.21 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.22 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
black 61%, white and other 39%
Infant mortality rate [time series]
9.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official), Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 76.77 years male: 75 years female: 78.63 years (1998 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Net migration rate [time series]
2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population [time series]
62,009 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.77% (1998 est.)
Religions [time series]
Anglican 28%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 12%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Methodist 5%, other 34% (1991)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.71 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]
none BHUTAN
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (1997 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 225 km paved: 225 km unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.) note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 91 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,590,132 GRT/7,440,524 DWT ships by type: bulk 18, chemical tanker 1, container 18, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 8 countries among which are UK 31, Canada 13, US 10, Norway 2, Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, and Mexico 1 (1997 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Hamilton, Saint George
Railways [time series]
0 km