Bermuda
parliamentaryIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Bermuda as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 137 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. Self-governing since 1620, Bermuda is the oldest and most populous of the British overseas territories. Vacationing 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 also developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.
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
24 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2010 est.)
Religions(2010 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.72 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.94 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Government
Parliamentary; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Premier Michael DUNKLEY (since 20 May 2014)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 36 seats, elected 17 December 2012one 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
Constitution
- several previous (dating to 1684);
- latest entered into force 8 June 1968;
- amended several times, last in 2003 (2013)
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 George FERGUSSON (since 23 May 2012)
- head of government:
- Premier Michael DUNKLEY (since 20 May 2014)
- 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 held on 17 December 2012 (next to be held not later than 2017)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - OBA 51.7%, PLP 46.1%, other 2.2%; seats by party - OBA 19, PLP 17
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 4 puisne judges, and 1 associate justice); note - the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London, is the court of last resort
- judge selection and term of office:
- Court of Appeal justice appointed by the governor;
- justice tenure by individual appointment;
- Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and appointed by the governor;
- judge tenure NA
- subordinate courts:
- commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders
Progressive Labor Party or PLP [Marc BEAN]; One Bermuda Alliance or OBA [Thad HOLLIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers or ABIR [Bradley KADING];
- Association of Bermuda International Companies or ABIC [George HUTCHINGS];
- Bermuda Employer's Council [Keith JENSEN];
- Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Chris Furbert];
- Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Kevin GRANT and Ed BALL];
- Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization participation
Caricom (associate), ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UPU, WCO
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Consul General Robert SETTJE (since August 2012)
- 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
31 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Despite four years of recession and a public debt of $1.4 billion, Bermuda enjoys the fourth highest per capita income in the world, about 70% higher than that of the US. The average cost of a single-family home in 2012 was $1.1 million. Its economy is primarily based on international business and the provision of financial services to that sector, and to a lesser extent tourism.
A number of reinsurance companies relocated to the island following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US and again after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 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 and has dropped in its relevant importance to the economy, although it is still important as a job creator.
Bermuda must import almost everything. Agriculture is limited due to the small size of the island and Bermuda's industrial sector is small.
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
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 165,000 kW(2011 est.)
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, CBUS, and the Challenger Bermuda-1 (CB-1) submarine cables;
- satellite earth stations - 3 (2010)
Broadcast media
- 3 TV stations;
- cable and satellite TV subscription services are available;
- roughly 13 radio stations operating (2012)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 139 ships by type
Roadways
- total:
- 447 km
country comparison to the world: 197
- paved:
- 447 km
note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads (2010)
Military
Bermuda Regiment (2012)
6 fieldsMilitary service age and obligation
- 18-45 years of age for voluntary male or female enlistment in the Bermuda Regiment;
- males must register at age 18 and may be subject to conscription;
- term of service is 38 months for volunteers or conscripts (2012)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bermuda.” The World Factbook 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bermuda/2014.