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Bermuda - General Country Information

Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues

Introduction

General Information: Bermuda

Bermuda is an island located in the Atlantic Ocean covering 22-mi in length.

The subtropical climate of Bermuda is a mild, rather humid one, but there are not many sources of fresh water so rainfall is the main source. People use tanks to store it.

The period between May and mid-October, with temperature ranging from 75°F to 85°F is the hottest. Due to the high humidity, summertime heat index can be high, reaching up to 90°F in July and August. During the months of August and September the shores of Bermuda are frequently battered by hurricanes that come form north.

Winters are mild, with average daytime temperatures in January and February around 68°F.

Although a small island, Bermuda is said to be the home of the oldest town of English origin that is still inhabited nowadays in the Western Hemisphere. Beside a multitude of odd old cottages, the island is a conglomerate of military forts which makes this place unique in the world.

Bermuda's culture is a mixture of the various sources of its population: strong colonial British influences together with Afro-Caribbean.

You can easily visit all these attractions on foot as they are located in one town. But if you want to explore the rest of the island then you would better choose a taxi, motor scooter, the pink-and-blue buses or even a bicycle. The four major roads are South Shore Road, Harbour Road, North Shore Road and Middle Road.

Because Bermuda is an island, it also implies traveling by water. You can rent a kayak to paddle, or a motor boat.

Located at East End of Bermuda, the town of St. George's, a 1600s settlement is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The city of Hamilton is known to be Bermuda's main harbor and also one of the best places where to shop. A major attraction constitutes The Royal Naval Dockyard, a former British shipyard.
As Bermuda offers a great variety of tourist attractions, you may buy a Heritage Passport and visit the Bermuda National Gallery, Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, Bermuda Maritime Museum, Bermuda National Trust Museum and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum & Zoo.

Bermuda offers a wide array and vibrant choice of activities that range from boating to diving, surfing lessons at SurfShack, snorkeling at Vixen wreck, and water-skiing, from sightseeing to golfing. Fishing, horseback riding -- an attractive choice of activities designed to keep you busy as long as you have the energy.

The activities that you can experience in this colorful island may be divided according to the two seasons. In winter you can play golf and tennis while summer is the ideal time of the year for water sports. Bermuda is surrounded by some of the most beautiful blue waters in the world and there are few better ways to spend a vacation in this island paradise than engaging in water sports.

Bermuda offers an array of exquisite beaches of pink sand and turquoise water.

Bermuda offers a variety of shopping experiences. Art galleries exhibit artists’ and artisans’ works ranging from photographs, paintings and sculptures to furniture and hand-blown glass. China and crystal are available at low prices. Liquor, cigarettes, rum cakes are to be found also in duty-free shops .

Bermuda is well-known for its rum and rum-based liqueurs and cookies, as well as for the local honey. Moreover, condiments give a delicious flavour to stews, soups and drinks. The island has a varied selection of restaurants from which to choose

Although few hotels and restaurants close in winter, the others diminish the rates by 40%.

Entertainment in Bermuda is varied and plentiful. Hotels offer an exciting nightlife within their services while Hamilton is hosts the majority of clubs and bars where you can enjoy the music and fine drinks.

Geography

Location:	North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Coordinates:	32 20 N, 64 45 W
Area:	total: 53.3 sq km land: 53.3 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area Comparative:	about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land Boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	103 km
Maritime Claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:	subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain:	low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation Extremes:	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Town Hill 76 m
Natural Resources:	limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land Use:	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 0% other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)
Irrigated Land:	NA sq km
Natural Hazards:	hurricanes (June to November)
Environment Current Issues:	asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development
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

Population:	64,935 (July 2004 est.)
Age Structure:	total: 39.2 years male: 38.3 years female: 40.1 years (2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate:	0.68% (2004 est.)
Birth Rate:	11.83 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death Rate:	7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Migration Rate:	2.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex Ratio:	at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 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 (2004 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate:	total: 8.79 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Expectancy Birth:	total population: 77.6 years male: 75.54 years female: 79.7 years (2004 est.)
Fertility Rate:	1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Bermudian(s) adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic Groups:	black 58%, white 36%, other 6%
Religions:	non-Anglican Protestant 39%, Anglican 27%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 19%
Languages:	English (official), Portuguese
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 99% (1970 est.)

Gouvernment

Country Name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands
Government Type:	parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
Capital:	Hamilton
Administrative Divisions:	9 parishes and 2 municipalities; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Independence:	none (overseas territory of the UK)
National Holiday:	Bermuda Day, 24 May
Constitution:	8 June 1968, amended 1989 and 2003
Legal System:	English law
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
Executive Branch:	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since NA April 2002) head of government: Premier Alex SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN 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 NA July 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts
Political Parties Leaders:	Gombey Liberation Party or GLP [Gavin Sundjata SMITH]; National Liberal Party or NLP [Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS];
Political Pressure Groups 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, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
Diplomatic in US:	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic from US:	chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3 mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, 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

Economy Overview:	Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002-03. 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, only 6% of the land being arable.
GDP:	purchasing power parity - $2.33 billion (2003 est.)
GDP Growth Rate:	2% (2003 est.)
GDP Capital:	purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)
GDP Composition:	agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89% (2002 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line:	19% (2000)
Household Income:	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Inflation Rate:	3.3% (mid-2003 est.)
Labor Force:	37,470 (2000)
Labor Force Occupation:	agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment Rate:	5% (2002 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $671.1 million expenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55 million (FY03/04)
Agriculture Products:	bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products
Industries:	tourism, international business, light manufacturing
Electricity Production:	643.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Consumption:	598.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity Exports:	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity Imports:	0 kWh (2001)
Oil Production:	0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Consumption:	4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Exports:	NA (2001)
Oil Imports:	NA (2001)
Exports:	$879 million (2002)
Exports Commodities:	reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports Partners:	France 62%, Norway 13.8%, UK 7.5% (2003)
Imports:	$5.523 billion (2002)
Imports Commodities:	machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals
Imports Partners:	Kazakhstan 46.7%, France 32.5%, US 8.5% (2003)
Debt External:	$160 million (FY99/00)
Currency:	Bermudian dollar (BMD)
Currency Code:	BMD
Exchange Rates:	Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Fiscal Year:	1 April - 31 March

Communications

Telephones Lines Use:	56,000 (2002)
Mobile Cellular:	37,873 (2003)
Telephone System:	general assessment: good domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: country code - 1-441; 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio Stations:	AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television Stations:	4 (2003)
Internet Code:	.bm
Internet Hosts:	5,161 (2001)
Internet Users:	34,500 (2003)

Transportation

Highways:	total: 450 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 0 km note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)
Waterways:	general assessment: good domestic: modern, fully automatic telephone system international: country code - 1-441; 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Ports Harbors:	Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard
Merchant Marine:	total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT by type: bulk 25, cargo 4, container 17, liquefied gas 9, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea/passenger 3 foreign-owned: Croatia 5, Germany 2, Greece 21, Hong Kong 9, Indonesia 1, Sweden 6, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 33, United States 12 registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports:	1 (2003 est.)
Airports Paved Runways:	total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)