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. Bermuda has
developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum
on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.
Government
type: parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government
Capital: Hamilton
Currency: 1 Bermudian dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents
Geography of Bermuda
Location: Bermuda is an archipelago consisting of seven main
islands and many smaller islands and islets lying about 1,050 kilometers
(650 mi.) east of North Carolina, USA. The main islands--with hilly terrain and
subtropical climate--are clustered together and connected by bridges; they
are considered to be a geographic unit and are referred to as the Island of
Bermuda.
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area:
total: 58.8 sq km
land: 58.8 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 94% (55% developed, 39% rural/open space) (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues: asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation
of open space
Geography - note: consists of about 360 small coral islands with
ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land, reclaimed and
otherwise, was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995
People of Bermuda
Population: 65,365 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.4%
15-64 years: 69.43%
65 years and over: 11.17%
Population growth rate: 0.74%
Birth rate: 12.16 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 7.42 deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: 2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.12 years
male: 75.04 years
female: 79.06 years
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman
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.)
SOURCES: The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State |