Communications
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 3, 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 (1997)
Televisions [time series]
57,000 (1992 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $504.6 million expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]
$NA
Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]
$27.9 million (1995)
Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing financial services for international firms and luxury tourist facilities for 360,000 visitors annually. The tourist industry, which accounts for an estimated 28% of GDP, attracts 84% of its business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are imported. International business contributes over 60% of Bermuda's economic output; a failed independence vote in late 1995 can be partially attributed to Bermudian fears of scaring away foreign firms.
Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]
480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]
480 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates [time series]
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed rate)
Exports [time series]
$57 million (1997)
Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]
Netherlands 50%, Brazil 13%, Canada 6% (1996)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April--31 March
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1997 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?$30,000 (1997 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]
3% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$617 million (1997)
Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]
miscellaneous manufactured articles, machinery and transport equipment, food and live animals, chemicals
Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]
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) [time series]
2.1% (1997)
Labor force [time series]
35,296 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]
clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
NEGL% (1995)
Geography
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: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1997 est.) note: developed (55%) and rural/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
Capital [time series]
Hamilton
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]
overseas 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 20520-5300
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997) head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; premier appointed by the governor
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 (overseas 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 9 November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%, independents 1%; seats by party--PLP 26, UBP 14
National holiday [time series]
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
United Bermuda Party or UBP
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Bermuda Industrial Union
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 6,174; female 6,023) 15-64 years: 70% (male 21,479; female 22,041) 65 years and over: 10% (male 2,897; female 3,858) (1999 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
11.83 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.27 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
black 61%, white and other 39%
Infant mortality rate [time series]
9.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages [time series]
English (official), Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 76.97 years male: 75.19 years female: 78.83 years (1999 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]
2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population [time series]
62,472 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.72% (1999 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.71 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (1998 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 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: 97 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,647,576 GRT/7,612,686 DWT ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 7, oil tanker 27, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11 countries among which are UK 24, Canada 12, Hong Kong 11, US 11, Nigeria 4, Sweden 4, Norway 3, and Switzerland 2 (1998 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Hamilton, Saint George
Railways [time series]
0 km