ARCHIVE // BM // 2006
Bermuda
2006 Edition — territory
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Communications
Internet country code
[time series]
.bm
Internet users
(Internet hosts)
[time series]
8,114 (2006)
Internet users
[time series]
39,000 (2005)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: good domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines international: country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiber optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
56,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
49,000 (2004)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
3 (2005)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $738 million expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)
Exchange rates
(Currency (code))
[time series]
Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Debt - external
[time series]
$160 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid
(Economic aid - recipient)
[time series]
$NA
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
Bermuda enjoys the highest per capita income in the world, more 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 11 September 2001 and again after Hurricane Katrina, 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.
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
616.7 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production
[time series]
682.5 million kWh (2005)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Exports
[time series]
$1.469 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners
[time series]
France 65.6%, Spain 11.7%, US 4.5% (2005)
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 April - 31 March
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
NA
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$69,900 (2004 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
4.6% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
$982 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports - partners
[time series]
Kazakhstan 51%, France 19%, South Korea 10.2%, US 7.6% (2005)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.8% (November 2005)
Labor force
[time series]
38,360 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption
[time series]
4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
[time series]
NA bbl/day
Oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2003)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
19% (2000)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
2.1% (2004 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 53.3 sq km land: 53.3 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
about one-third 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
[time series]
sustainable development
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Geography - note
[time series]
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2005)
Location
[time series]
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Map references
[time series]
North America
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 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 George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Capital
[time series]
name: Hamilton geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
[time series]
8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
Dependency status
[time series]
overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON 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, [1] (441) 296-9233
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 Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002) 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: none; 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
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 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
Government type
[time series]
parliamentary; self-governing territory
Independence
[time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
[time series]
Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Legal system
[time series]
English law
Legislative branch
[time series]
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body 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 24 July 2003 (next to be held not later than July 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
National holiday
[time series]
Bermuda Day, 24 May
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
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]
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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.
Military
Manpower available for military service
[time series]
males age 18-49: 15,151 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
[time series]
males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
[time series]
males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)
Military - note
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
no regular military forces
Military expenditures
(Military expenditures - percent of GDP)
[time series]
0.11% (FY00/01)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098) 15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954) 65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
0.297% (2005)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
392 (2005)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
163 (2005)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Languages
[time series]
English (official), Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.96 years male: 75.85 years female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (2005 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 40.2 years male: 39.3 years female: 41 years (2006 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Net migration rate
[time series]
2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Population
[time series]
65,773 (July 2006 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.61% (2006 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 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 (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
none
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21, Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2, Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27) registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4, Panama 1) (2006)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
Hamilton, Saint George
Roadways
[time series]
total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2002)