Bermuda
parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-governmentIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bermuda as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 103 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. Bermuda has developed into highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of North Carolina (US)
17 fieldsLand useshare of 58.8 sq km
Geography - note
- 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
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2000 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 20% (male 6,107; female 6,212)
- 15-64 years:
- 70% (male 21,620; female 22,171)
- 65 years and over:
- 10% (male 2,972; female 3,915) (2000 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.76 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Government
Parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997); Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 40 seats, elected 9 November 1998one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint Georges, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton, Warwick
Executive branch
- 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;
- governor invites leader of largest party in Parliament to form a government as premier
Legislative branch
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
Political parties and leaders
- National Liberal Party or NLP [Charles JEFFERS];
- Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH];
- United Bermuda Party or UBP [Pamela GORDON]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Association or BPSA [Betty CHRISTOPHER]
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Consul General Lawrence OWEN
- 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
- telephone:
- [1] (441) 295-1342
- FAX:
- [1] (441) 295-1592
Flag description
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
31 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(1995 est.)
Electricity
Economy - overview
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. Government economic priorities are the further strengthening of the tourist and international financial sectors.
Labor force - by occupation
clerical 23%, services 22%, laborers 17%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 12%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2% (1996)
Industries
tourism, finance, insurance, structural concrete products, paints, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, ship repairing
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- modern, fully automatic telephone system
- international:
- 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 115 ships by type(1999 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Highways
- 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
Military
Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
4 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bermuda.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bermuda/2000.