Bermuda ( Somers Islands) is a country in North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US). Bermuda geographic coordinates 32 20 N, 64 45 W; area 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:introduction 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. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995. government type parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government; capital Hamilton; administrative divisions 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick; independence none (overseas territory of the UK); national holiday Bermuda Day, 24 May; constitution 8 June 1968, amended 1989 and 2003; legal system English law; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Bermuda population 65,365 (July 2005 est.); age structure 11.9% (male 3,378/female 4,406) (2005 est.); median age 40.58 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 0.64% (2005 est.); birth rate 11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 79.91 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate NA; hiv people with aids NA; hiv deaths NA; nationality 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 99% (1970 est.);

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