Bermuda
parliamentaryIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bermuda as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 126 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 54 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 the US Government from 1941 to 1995
People and Society
23 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2000 census)
Religions(2000 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.015 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.71 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Government
Parliamentary; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Paula COX (since 29 October 2010)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 36 seatsone dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Capital
- name:
- Hamilton
- geographic coordinates:
- 32 17 N, 64 47 W
- time difference:
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Richard GOZNEY (since 12 December 2007)
- head of government:
- Premier Paula COX (since 29 October 2010); Deputy Premier Derrick BURGESS
- cabinet:
- Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- the monarchy is hereditary;
- governor appointed by the monarch;
- following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; members appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition to serve a five-year term) 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 on 18 December 2007 (next to be held not later than 2012)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, UBP 47.3%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court (Chief Justice and other justices appointed by the governor; remain in office until they reach 65 years of age);
- Court of Appeal (President of the Court of Appeal and other justices appointed by the governor for a specific period laid out in their respective instruments of appointment);
- Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Kim SWAN]
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), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Consul General Grace W. SHELTON
- 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, 296-9233
Flag description
- red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (a white shield with a red lion standing on a green grassy field holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag;
- it was the shipwreck of the vessel, filled with English colonists originally bound for Virginia, that led to settling of Bermuda
note: the flag is unusual in that it is only British overseas territory that uses a red ensign, all others use blue
National anthem
- name:
- "Hail to Bermuda"
- lyrics/music:
- Bette JOHNS
note: serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world, more than 50% higher than that of the US; the average cost of a house by the mid-2000s exceeded $1,000,000.
43 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Bermuda enjoys the third highest per capita income in the world, more than 50% higher than that of the US; the average cost of a house by the mid-2000s exceeded $1,000,000. 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 the 11 September 2001 attacks and again after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 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 largely focused on construction and 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.)
Current account balance
$660 million (2010 est.) · $548 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Imports - commodities
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- a good, fully automatic digital telephone system with fiber-optic trunk lines
- domestic:
- the system has a high fixed-line teledensity coupled with a mobile-cellular teledensity of roughly 125 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 1-441;
- landing points for the GlobeNet, Gemini Bermuda, and the Challenger Bermuda-1 (CB-1)submarine cables;
- satellite earth stations - 3 (2009)
Broadcast media
- 3 television stations;
- cable and satellite TV subscription services are available;
- roughly 10 radio stations operating (2007)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 139 ships by type
Roadways
- total:
- 447 km
country comparison to the world: 196
- paved:
- 447 km
note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)
Military
Bermuda Regiment (2009)
7 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
- 18-30 years of age for voluntary or compulsory enlistment in the Bermuda Regiment;
- males must register at age 18;
- term of service is 38 months (2009)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bermuda.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bermuda/2011.