Bermuda
none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-governmentIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bermuda as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 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 a 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 use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
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
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 6,091; female 6,230) 15-64 years: 69.43% (male 21,783; female 22,309) 65 years and over: 11.17% (male 3,073; female 4,017) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 0.94 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 (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.12 years male: 75.04 years female: 79.06 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.)
Government
Parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 40 seatsone dot, one seat
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 [Dessaline WALDRON];
- 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 D. 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
Flag description
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
Economy
32 fieldsElectricity
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)
Budget
revenues: $504.6 million expenditures: $537 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY97/98)
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
10 fieldsTelephone system
general assessment: NA domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsHighways
total: 225 km paved: 225 km unpaved: 0 km note: in addition, there are 232 km of paved and unpaved roads that are privately owned (1997)
Merchant marine
total: 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,836,538 GRT/9,728,045 DWT ships by type: bulk 27, cargo 4, container 15, liquefied gas 7, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea passenger 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Canada 10, Hong Kong 10, Japan 1, Nigeria 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, UK 10, US 7 (2000 est.)
Military
Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary
4 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bermuda.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bermuda/2001.