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: 94% (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: 79.27 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1