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. Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the issue.
Geography ::Bermuda
Location:
North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of
South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates:
32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references:
North America
Area:
total: 54 sq km country comparison to the world: 231 land: 54 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) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to November)
Environment - current issues:
sustainable development
Geography - note:
consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by the US Government from 1941 to 1995
People ::Bermuda
Population:
68,265 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Age structure:
0–14 years: 18.3% (male 6,271/female 6,163)
15–64 years: 67.5% (male 22,555/female 23,215)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 3,979/female 5,654) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.6 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 43.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.62% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Birth rate:
11.47 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Death rate:
7.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Net migration rate:
2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.3% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.018 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.46 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 221 male: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.6 years country comparison to the world: 19 male: 77.37 years
female: 83.88 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.3% (2005) country comparison to the world: 90
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
163 (2005) country comparison to the world: 161
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
392 (2005) country comparison to the world: 100
Nationality:
noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups:
black
