Bermuda
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists heading 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

location

32.20° N, 64. 45° W
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)

area

54 sq km
land
54 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

103 km

climate

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

terrain

low hills separated by fertile depressions

elevation

lowest point
Atlantic Ocean
0
highest point
Town Hill
79

natural resources

  • limestone
  • pleasant climate fostering tourism

land use

arable land
14.8 %
permanent crops
0 %
permanent pasture
0 %
forest
20 %
other
65.2 %

population distribution

relatively even population distribution throughout

people

population

  • 71,750
  • 203
    global rank

nationality

  • Bermudian(s)
    noun
  • Bermudian
    adjective

ethnic groups

African descent
53.8 %
white
31 %
mixed
7.5 %
other
7.1 %
unspecified
0.6 %

languages

  • English
    official
  • Portuguese

religions

Protestant
46.2 %
Roman Catholic
14.5 %
Jehovah's Witness
1.3 %
other Christian
9.1 %
Muslim
1 %
other
3.9 %
none
17.8 %
unspecified
6.2 %

birth rate

  • 11.2
    per 1,000 population
  • 175
    global rank

death rate

  • 9.1
    per 1,000 population
  • 57
    global rank

urban population

100 %

major urban areas

  • Hamilton
    pop. 10,000

life expectancy

  • 81.7
    total population
  • 27
    global rank
78.5
male
84.9
female

government

government type

parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK

capital

Hamilton
32.17 N, 64.47 W

independence

national holidays

  • Bermuda Day
    24 May

legal system

English common law

age of suffrage

18

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 the settling of Bermuda

national anthem

Hail to Bermuda

economy

overview

International business, which consists primarily of insurance and other financial services, is the real bedrock of Bermuda's economy, consistently accounting for about 85% of the island's GDP. Tourism is the country’s second largest industry, accounting for about 5% of Bermuda's GDP but a much larger share of employment. Over 80% of visitors come from the US and the sector struggled in the wake of the global recession of 2008-09. Even the financial sector has lost roughly 5,000 high-paying expatriate jobs since 2008, weighing heavily on household consumption and retail sales. Bermuda must import almost everything. Agriculture and industry are limited due to the small size of the island. Bermuda's economy returned to negative growth in 2016, reporting a contraction of 0.1% GDP, after growing by 0.6% in 2015. Unemployment reached 7% in 2016 and 2017, public debt is growing and exceeds $2.4 billion, and the government continues to work on attracting foreign investment. Still, Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

GDP

6,127,000,000 USD
2016

agriculture products

  • bananas
  • vegetables
  • citrus
  • flowers
  • dairy products
  • honey

poverty level

11%
2008

budget

  • 999,200,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 1,176,000,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 21,883
    total subscriptions
  • 174
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 64,997
    total subscriptions
  • 200
    global rank

broadcast media

3 TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; roughly 13 radio stations operating

internet

.bm
country code

    users

  • 69,126
    total
  • 98
    % of population
  • 180
    global rank

energy

electricity access

100%
2016

transportation

air transport

    airports

  • 1
    total
  • 1
    paved

roadways

447 km
total length

military

service age

18