Bermuda

dependent territory of the UKIndependence none (dependent territory of the UK)

Bermuda as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 65 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalHamilton
Area50 km2
Populationas each edition published it
58,433 people July 1991 · 58,337 in 1990
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 0.78% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 38.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 75.03 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.7 children per woman 1991 · 1.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
12 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 12 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $22,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition -1.5% in 1993

Geography

10 fields
Total area
50km2
land area: 50 km2Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

103 km Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

  • subtropical;
  • mild, humid;
  • gales, strong winds common in winter

Terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Natural resources

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use

  • arable land 0%;
  • permanent crops 0%;
  • meadows and pastures 0%;
  • forest and woodland 20%;
  • other 80%

Environment

ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360 small coral islands

Note

1,050 km east of North Carolina; some reclaimed land leased by US Government

People

14 fields
Population
58,433
(July 1991), growth rate 1.5% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth
15Death
7Net migration
7

Religion

Anglican 37%Roman Catholic 14%African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%Methodist 6%Seventh-Day Adventist 5%other 28%
Literacy
98%
(male 98%, female 99%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)

Infant mortality rate

12 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth

72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (1991)

Nationality

noun--Bermudian(s); adjective--Bermudian

Ethnic divisions

black 61%, white and other 39%

Language

English

Labor force

32,000; clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional and technical 13%, administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1984)

Organized labor

8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda Industrial Union

Government

Dependent territory of the UK

17 fields

House of Assembly, 40 seats, elected 9 February 1989one dot, one seat

UBP 23PLP 15NLP 1other 1

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Capital

Hamilton

Administrative divisions

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution

8 June 1968

National holiday

Bermuda Day, 22 May

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier, deputy premier, Executive Council (cabinet)

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Assembly

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir Desmond LANGLEY (since NA October 1988);
  • Head of Government--Premier John William David SWAN (since NA January 1982) United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. SWAN;
  • Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Frederick WADE;
  • National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL

Suffrage

  • universal at age 21 House of Assembly--last held 9 February 1989 (next to be held by February 1994);
  • results--percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats--(40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other 1

Communists

negligible

Other political or pressure groups

Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), headed by Ottiwell SIMMONS

Member of

CARICOM (observer), ICFTU, IOC

Diplomatic representation

  • as a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda's interests in the US are represented by the UK;
  • US--Consul General L. Ebersole GAINES;
  • Consulate General at Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton (mailing address is P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX, or FPO New York 09560-5300);
  • telephone (809) 295-1342

Flag

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

Economy

Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$1.3billion
per capita $22,400; real growth rate 2.0% (1989 est.)
Unemployment
2.0%
(1988)

Budget

Revenues
$307 millionExpenditures
$275 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $31 million (FY90 est.)

Overview

Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% 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.

Exports

  • $30 million (f.o.b., FY88);
  • commodities--semitropical produce, light manufactures;
  • partners--US 25%, Italy 25%, UK 14%, Canada 5%, other 31%

Imports

  • $420 million (c.i.f., FY88);
  • commodities--fuel, foodstuffs, machinery;
  • partners--US 58%, Netherlands Antilles 9%, UK 8%, Canada 6%, Japan 5%, other 14%

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

154,000 kW capacity; 504 million kWh produced, 8,640 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing

Agriculture

  • accounts for less than 1% of GDP;
  • most basic foods must be imported;
  • produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy products

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $267 million

Currency

Bermudian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1--1.0000 (fixed rate)

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

Communications

6 fields

Merchant marine, 84 ships by typeone square, one ship

short-sea passenger 3cargo 8refrigerated cargo 7container 4roll-on/roll-off 8petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker 26liquefied gas 11bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry 1784 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,826,756 GRT/6,932,981 DWT

Highways

210 km public roads, all paved (about 400 km of private roads)

Ports

Freeport, Hamilton, Saint George

Civil air

16 major transport aircraft

Airports

1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Telecommunications

  • modern with fully automatic telephone system;
  • 52,670 telephones;
  • stations--5 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV;
  • 3 submarine cables;
  • 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations

Defense Forces

Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Reserve Constabulary

2 fields

Branches

Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Reserve Constabulary

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Bermuda.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bermuda/1991.