veloped 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: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 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 US
Government from 1941 to 1995

People Bermuda

Population:
65,773 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954)
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
0.61% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.96 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)

Total fer