1.
[syn: Bermuda, Bermudas]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Bermuda \Bermuda\ n.
same as Bermudas.
Syn: Bermudas.
[WordNet 1.5]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Bermuda
n 1: a group of islands in the Atlantic off the Carolina coast;
British colony; a popular resort [syn: Bermuda,
Bermudas]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Bermuda
Introduction Bermuda
--------------------
Background: 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. A
referendum on independence was
soundly defeated in 1995.
Geography Bermuda
-----------------
Location: North America, group of islands in
the North Atlantic Ocean, east of
North Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-third the size of
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (55% developed, 45%
rural/open space) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution;
preservation of open space;
sustainable development
Geography - note: consists of about 138 coral islands
and islets with ample rainfall, but
no rivers or freshwater lakes; some
land, reclaimed and otherwise, was
leased by US Government from 1941 to
1995
People Bermuda
--------------
Population: 63,960 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.2% (male 6,058;
female 6,225)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 21,950;
female 22,442)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male
3,163; female 4,122) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.69% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 11.82 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 2.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 0.94 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.3 years
female: 79.27 years (2002 est.)
male: 75.21 years
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
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.)
Government Bermuda
------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
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
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 Jennifer
SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the
premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; governor invites the
leader of largest party in
Parliament to form a government as
premier
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 (40 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last general election
held 9 November 1998 (next to be
held NA November 2003)
election results: percent of vote by
party - PLP 54%, UBP 44%, NLP 1%,
independents 1%; seats by party -
PLP 26, UBP 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal;
Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: National Liberal Party or NLP
[Dessaline WALDRON]; Progressive
Labor Party or PLP [Jennifer SMITH];
United Bermuda Party or UBP [Dr.
Grant GIBBONS]
Political pressure groups and Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie
leaders: SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or
BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda
Public Services Association or BPSA
[leader NA]; Bermuda Union of
Teachers [Michael CHARLES]
International organization Caricom (observer), CCC, ICFTU,
participation: Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Acting Consul
US: General Karen EMMERSON
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16
Middle Road, Devonshire DVQ3
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 Bermuda
---------------
Economy - overview: Bermuda enjoys one of the highest
per capita incomes in the world,
with its economy 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 already weakening
tourism industry - which derives
over 80% of its visitors from the US
- has been further hit as American
tourists have chosen not to travel.
Most capital equipment and food must
be imported, with the US serving as
the primary source of goods,
followed by the UK. Bermuda's
industrial sector is small, although
construction continues to be
important. Agriculture is limited,
only 6% of the land being arable.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.2
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $34,800
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (July 2001)
Labor force: 37,472 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: clerical 22%, services 20%, laborers
17%, professional and technical 17%,
administrative and managerial 13%,
sales 8%, agriculture and fishing 3%
(2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1993)
Budget: revenues: $609.5 million
expenditures: $574.6 million,
including capital expenditures of
$54.8 million (FY00/01)
Industries: tourism, international business,
light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 595 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 553.35 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: bananas, vegetables, citrus,
flowers; dairy products
Exports: $51 million (2000)
Exports - commodities: reexports of pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners: EU excluding UK 77.9%, US 9.8%, UK
6.9% (1999)
Imports: $719 million (2000)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
construction materials, chemicals,
food and live animals
Imports - partners: EU excluding UK 35.4%, US 17.8%, UK
15.4%, Russia 14.6% (1999)
Debt - external: $145 million (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
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 Bermuda
----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 7,980 (1996)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: modern, fully automatic
telephone system
international: 3 submarine cables;
satellite earth stations - 3
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 82,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 66,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .bm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 20 (2000)
Internet users: 25,000 (2000)
Transportation Bermuda
----------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 450 km
paved: NA
note: public roads - 209 km; private
roads - 241 km (2002)
unpaved: NA
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Hamilton, Saint George's, Dockyard
Merchant marine: total: 102 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 5,485,450 GRT/8,782,869 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Croatia 5, Denmark 2,
Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 9,
Indonesia 1, Norway 2, Sweden 11,
United Kingdom 52, United States 13
(2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 4,
container 16, liquefied gas 6,
passenger 3, petroleum tanker 17,
refrigerated cargo 16, roll on/roll
off 9, short-sea passenger 3
Airports: 1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2960 m) (2002)
Military Bermuda
----------------
Military branches: no regular indigenous military
forces; Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda
Police Force, Bermuda Reserve
Constabulary
Military expenditures - dollar $4,027,970 (January 2002)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 0.11% (FY00/01)
GDP:
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
UK
Transnational Issues Bermuda
----------------------------
Disputes - international: none