Bermuda
parliamentaryIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bermuda as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 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. 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.
Geography
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
17 fieldsLand useshare of 53.3 sq km
Geography - note
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
People
19 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2000 census)
Religions(2000 census)
Sex ratio
- 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.)
Government
Parliamentary; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002); Premier Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 36 seatsone dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Capital
- 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
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Executive branch
- 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
Legislative branch
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
Political parties and leaders
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- 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]
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO
Diplomatic representation from the US
- 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
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
37 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2002 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
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.
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 19%, professional and technical 21%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales 7%, services 19% (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- 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)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 132 ships by typeships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
No regular military forces
6 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bermuda.” The World Factbook 2006. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bermuda/2006.