Bermuda

• subtropical;
• mild, humid;
• gales, strong winds common in winter

agricultural land:

14.8%;

• arable land 14.8%;
• permanent crops 0%;
• permanent pasture 0%

forest:

20%

other:

65.2% (2011 est.)

• dense population and heavy vehicle traffic create serious pollution problems;
• water resources scarce (most obtained as rainwater or from wells);
• there is no sewage treatment on the island

• 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

noun:

Bermudian(s)

adjective:

Bermudian

at birth:

1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

0.89 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.73 male(s)/female

total population:

0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Bermuda

former:

Somers Islands

etymology:

the islands making up Bermuda are named after Juan de BERMUDEZ, an early 16th century Spanish sea captain and the first European explorer of the archipelago

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

• several previous (dating to 1684);
• latest entered into force 8 June 1968;
• amended several times, last in 2012 (2017)

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of the UK

dual citizenship recognized:

yes

residency requirement for naturalization:

10 years

chief of state:

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor John RANKIN (since 5 December 2016)

head of government:

Premier David BURT (since 19 July 2017)

cabinet:

Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• governor appointed by the monarch;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor

highest resident court(s):

• Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 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 final appeal

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 based on terms of appointment

subordinate courts:

commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts

• Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers or ABIR [Bradley KADING]
• Association of Bermuda International Companies or ABIC [Patrick TANNOCK]
• Bermuda Employers' Council [Keith JENSEN]
• Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Chris FURBERT]
• Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Kevin GRANT, Edward G. BALL, Jr.]
• Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

chief of mission:

Consul General Mary Ellen KOENIG (since 28 November 2015)

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

• 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 the 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

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)

agriculture:

2%

industry:

15%

services:

83% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

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 (2015)

• 3 TV stations;
• cable and satellite TV subscription services are available;
• roughly 13 radio stations operating (2012)

total:

447 km

paved:

447 km

note: 225 km public roads; 222 km private roads (2010)

country comparison to the world: 198

• 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)