Branches:
Armed Forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
eligible 15-49, 2,165,515; of the 1,031,738 males 15-49, 528,366 are fit for
military service; of the 1,133,777 females 15-49, 572,603 are fit for
military service; about 55,697 males and 53,786 females reach military age
(18) annually; both sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.7% of GDP (1988 est.)
:Bermuda Geography
Total area:
50 km2
Land area:
50 km2
Comparative area:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
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
Natural resources:
limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 20%; other 80%
Environment:
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; consists of about 360
small coral islands
Note:
1,050 km east of North Carolina; some reclaimed land leased by US Government
:Bermuda People
Population:
60,213 (July 1992), growth rate 0.8% (1992)
Birth rate:
15 births/1,000 population (1992)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1992)
Net migration rate:
NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)
Infant mortality rate:
13 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth:
73 years male, 77 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate:
1.8 children born/woman (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Bermudian(s); adjective - Bermudian
Ethnic divisions:
black 61%, white and other 39%
Religions:
Anglican 37%, Roman Catholic 14%, African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) 10%,
Methodist 6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, other 28%
Languages:
English
Literacy:
98% (male 98%, female 99%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
Labor force:
32,000; clerical 25%, services 22%, laborers 21%, professional and technical
13%, administrative and managerial 10%, sales 7%, agriculture and fishing 2%
(1984)
Organized labor:
8,573 members (1985); largest union is Bermuda Industrial Union
:Bermuda Government
Long-form name:
none
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Hamilton
Administrative divisions:
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget,
Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smiths, Southampton,
Warwick
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
8 June 1968
Legal system:
English law
National holiday:
Bermuda Day, 22 May
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, deputy governor, premier, deputy premier,
Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
or House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Lord
David WADDINGTON
Head of Government:
Premier John William David SWAN (since January 1982)
Political parties and leaders:
United Bermuda Party (UBP), John W. D. SWAN; Progressive Labor Party (PLP),
Frederick WADE; National Liberal Party (NLP), Gilbert DARRELL
Suffrage:
universal at age 21
Elections:
House of Assembly:
last held 9 February 1989 (next to be held by February 1994); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (40 total) UBP 23, PLP 15, NLP 1, other
1
Other political or pressure groups:
Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU), headed by Ottiwell SIMMONS
Member of:
CARICOM (observer), CCC, ICFTU, IOC
Diplomatic representation:
as a dependent territory of the UK, Bermuda's interests in the US are
represented by the UK
US:
Consul General L. Ebersole GAINES; Consulate General at Crown Hill, 16
Middle Road, Devonshire, Hamilton (mailing address is P. O. Box HM325,
Hamilton HMBX; PSC 1002, FPO AE 09727-1002); telephone (809) 295-1342; FAX
(809) 295-1592
Flag:
red with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
Bermudian coat of arms (white and blue 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
:Bermuda Economy
Overview:
Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, having
successfully exploited its location by providing luxury tourist facilities
and financial services. The tourist industry attracts more than 90% of its
business from North America. The industrial sector is small, and agriculture
is severely limited by a lack of suitable land. About 80% of food needs are
imported.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $1.3 billion, per capita $22,400; real growth
rate 2.0% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (June 1989, annual rate)
Unemployment rate:
2.0% (1988)
Budget:
revenues $361.6 million; expenditures $396.1 million, including capital
expenditures of $74.1 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$30 million (f.o.b., FY88)
commodities:
semitropical produce, light manufactures
partners:
US 25%, Italy 25%, UK 14%, Canada 5%, other 31%
Imports:
$420 million (c.i.f., FY88)
commodities:
fuel, foodstuffs, machinery
partners:
US 58%, Netherlands Antilles 9%, UK 8%, Canada 6%, Japan 5%, other 14%
External debt:
NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
154,000 kW capacity; 504 million kWh produced, 8,625 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
tourism, finance, structural concrete products, paints, pharmaceuticals,
ship repairing
Agriculture:
accounts for less than 1% of GDP; most basic foods must be imported;
produces bananas, vegetables, citrus fruits, flowers, dairy products
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $34 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $277 million
Currency:
Bermudian dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Bermudian dollar (Bd$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
:Bermuda Communications