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Bermuda's Population

Origins of citizens and residents, 63% black, 33% white, 4% Asian and other

By Keith Archibald Forbes (see About Us) exclusively for Bermuda Online

To refer by e-mail to this file use "bermuda-online.org/population" as your Subject

Population and racial ratio

Population density

Bermuda today is the third most densely populated place on earth, with an estimated resident population at year-end 2008 of 64,209 in its 20.75 (twenty point seven five) square miles or 3,094 permanent residents per square mile, or a population density per square kilometer of 1,181 people.

In terms of population per square miles, this is only exceeded by Monaco with 15,921 and Singapore with 6,891 persons. After Bermuda comes Vatican City with 2,200 per square mile; Malta, with 1,229; Puerto Rico, with 1112 (yet often written about in USA, including by the National Geographic, as one of the most densely populated places in the world); Bahrain, with 1,042; Maldives, with 1,036; Bangladesh, 962; Taiwan, with 699; Mauritius, with 647; and Barbados, with 642. In contrast, note the very low populations per square mile of the United States of America - from where over 85% of its visitors come; then Canada; United Kingdom (632); Japan (870); Netherlands (1002).

Bermuda is also the fifth smallest country in the world at only 21 square miles in total, after Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru and Tuvalu; and is one of the most isolated.

The least densely populated area of mainland Bermuda is Tucker's Town in St. George's Parish, an exclusive area for the very wealthy that denies access to all locals and visitors who are not members of the Mid Ocean Club.

Unlike most other places with a native population dating back to the mists of time, Bermuda had no resident permanent population at all until 1609 when English settlers came by accident, then came deliberately from 1612. Only a few stranded mariners were here earlier, involuntarily and briefly. Bermuda was too tiny (only 21 square miles in total area), had no natural resources, no gold or silver or anything else that could be mined or refined. It remained without a permanent population long after the Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch East Indies empires were established, the French founded French Canada and the British founded Jamestown. See History. Nowadays, Bermuda is both a tourism resort and offshore business center.

Other population statistics, Bermuda has

In its ratio of legislators per square mile, far more than any other country in the world. In the ratio of legislators to voters, Bermuda is hugely over-governed compared to places elsewhere. For example, in the European Union, there are 736 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for 350 million voters throughout the EU, equivalent to 1 MEP for every 470,000 voters; in the United Kingdom 647 MPs for 40 million voters, equivalent to 1 MP for every 64,000 voters; but in Bermuda 36 MPs for 33,500 voters or 1 MP for every 1097 voters in its 21 square miles. Other examples include St. Lucia, with 14 parliamentarians in its 240 square miles; Barbados, also in the Caribbean, with 28 elected members in its parliament and 12 senators, in its 166 square miles and with a population of 266,000.
A very high rate of AIDS and HIV. However, Bermuda reports these accurately and it is believed some other countries do not.
Highest number of telephone lines, computers online and televisions per population.
The highest in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the World, according to the World Bank, but also one of the highest in cost of living.
By far and away the least generous benefits and services to its senior citizens and the disabled of any of the countries with a high GDP.

There is a current population growth rate of 1.5% per annum. The birth rate is 15 births per 1,000 population and the total fertility rate is 1.7 children born per woman. The death rate is 7 deaths per 1,000 population, the net migration rate is 7 migrants per 1,000 population, and the infant mortality rate is 3.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth is 72 years for males and 78 years for females.

Most - about 78% - of residents were born in Bermuda of Bermudian parents or a Bermudian parent and are therefore Bermudian. For decades now, it has not been sufficient for persons born in Bermuda to be regarded as Bermudian, even if born here, unless one parent is also Bermudian.

Citizenship

Majority

The majority of the permanent residents are described first, followed by the minorities. More than 68 percent of Bermudians are black, of African heritage, Afro-Bermudians. The first came here in about 1616, appreciably after the first white colonists. Some descend from slaves imported by British settlers, not directly from Africa but from Africa via the Caribbean more than 900 miles to the south. Some American Indians were also brought to Bermuda in the 17th and 18th centuries, as slaves or prisoners-of-war. Black slavery (like white slavery or serfdom much earlier) was effectively abolished in Britain since the early 1800s. Slavers and slave ships were relentlessly hunted down in the Atlantic and Caribbean by Royal Navy warships. Slavery was formally abolished in Britain much earlier and in Bermuda in 1834.

Poor	Bermuda 19 percent	United States 24 percent
Nearly poor	Bermuda 11 percent	United States 8 percent
Middle income	Bermuda 46 percent	United States 34 percent
Affluent	Bermuda 24 percent	United States 34 percent

From the 1880s to the early 1900s, many Afro-West Indians arrived voluntarily from many islands of the Caribbean 900 or more miles to the south and settled. Many Bermudians have forebears who came originally from them. There are also Bermudians and non-Bermudians here, originally or currently from the following islands, most - but not all - of whom are black.


Anguilla	Antigua	Aruba	Bahamas	Barbados

Belize	Bonaire	British Virgin Islands	Cayman Islands	Chile

Costa Rica	Curacao	Dominica	Dominican Republic	Grenada

Guyana	Haiti	Jamaica	Mexico	Montserrat

Panama	Puerto Rico	Saba	St. Kitts & Nevis	St. Lucia

St. Vincent	Trinidad & Tobago	Venezuela

A surprising number of non-white Bermudians are now millionaires, in land value by Bermudian prices, or as the result of very profitable enterprises in Bermuda, or both.

In July 2003, Bermuda formally joined the Caribbean Community, as an Associate Member (non-voting member), in certain areas but not in others. This specifically excludes the free movement of Caribbean nationals to Bermuda and any prospect of Bermuda joining CARIFTA or its newest free trade organization - the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) - and its hopes. Membership of the Caribbean Community will cost Bermuda about US$90,000 a year. Direct trade between Bermuda and Caribbean countries is also welcomed and encouraged, especially given the close or extended family links many Bermudians have with Caribbean islands or territories. Because of this, there is a Monday-Friday 10 am and 5:45 pm 5-minute Caribbean news feature on local radio (VSB) produced by the BBC of England and a lively Caribbean-produced feature on certain evenings. But the irony is that there are no scheduled air or sea services at all between Bermuda and the Caribbean, as there were in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Only Japanese car carriers - no regular freighters - call at both Bermuda's City of Hamilton and some Caribbean ports. It is hoped they will resume. Many visitors to Bermuda from the USA and Canada assume - wrongly - that there are air services connecting Bermuda with the Caribbean nearly 1,000 miles to the south. Presently, virtually all imports to Bermuda made in the Caribbean come via the USA or Canada. All visitors to Bermuda who are nationals of and resident in Caribbean islands must come via the USA or Canada or United Kingdom and must have appropriate visas to come via those countries. Effective January 2003, all Jamaican nationals who are not Bermudian must also have a visa to enter Bermuda on business or vacation.

Caribbean map

Minority

The second-largest (about 33 percent) ethnic group of Bermudians are Caucasians - white. They were the first to arrive as colonists by an appreciable time and for years outnumbered Afro-Bermudians. Many are of European extraction, descend from original British colonists who emigrated here voluntarily and can often trace their roots back to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. More were imported, either as free people or as indentured laborers for a period until they earned their freedom. Relatively few came in one of these two ways originally from Ireland, France or other European countries. They were joined by one-time Portuguese laborers brought in initially from the Madeira Islands as agricultural labor when slavery was abolished in the 1830's, then from the Azores. More recent arrivals have come, in order of numbers, from Canada, the United Kingdom again and the United States of America.


Austria	Belgium	Canada	Czech Republic	Denmark

England	Finland	France	Germany	Greece

Guernsey	Iceland	India	Ireland	Isle of Man

Israel	Italy	Jersey	Luxembourg	Netherlands

Norway	Philippines	Portugal	Scotland	Spain

Sweden	Switzerland	United Kingdom	USA	Wales

In those who are not Bermudian - not by preference but by law, despite having been here for many years and would easily qualify by residence as citizens in all other Western Hemisphere countries - Canadians are the most prevalent in the international industry of accounting and auditing, banking, Bermuda Government, commerce and education, the largest single group of guest workers. Britons are next. Many Americans are here, some as spouses of Bermudians. A number of Asians work in the hotels and restaurants. Some from the Philippines are in domestic service or the restaurant industry or are registered nurses.

Those born in other countries, or in Bermuda but without a Bermudian parent and are also not Bermudian, may have access to a Bermuda-based Consulate from or representing their country. A number of these are in Bermuda, serving both their incoming or resident nationals and visitors going to such countries from Bermuda.

Expatriate Organizations in Bermuda

Quite a few, including:

Alliance Francaise en Bermudes. The organization for French nationals and French-speaking locals. With a strong presence on 14 July and other days. Registered charity 537.
American Ladies in Bermuda (ALIB). Despite its name, it provides information, support and fund-raising activities for new residents of all nationalities. Meets third Sunday each month at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, 2-4 pm. For further information call Gail Adcock at 236-6881. Registered charity 103.
Association of Canadians in Bermuda. P. O. Box HM 2071, Hamilton HM HX. A non-profit organization for Canadians in Bermuda, to help keep the Canadian culture alive. Founded in 2000. Registered charity 566.
Association of Filipinos in Bermuda. There are about 600, including doctors, accountants, nurses, waiters including domestic servants and more. Bermuda Registered charity 529.
Bahamas Association of Bermuda.
Barbados Association of Bermuda. An organization of Barbadians living and working in Bermuda. Includes an annual show of Bajan dishes cooked by men. About 300 Bajans work in Bermuda, including teachers, Police, chefs, lawyers, judiciary. Registered charity 401.
Bermuda Branch of the British Conservative Party. Contact Neil Hitchcock, The Glebe House, 17 Glebe Hill, Tucker's Town, HS 02, Bermuda. E-mail nhitchcock@northrock.bm
Bermuda Newcomers Inter-varsity Club. Every Tuesday, 8:30 pm, Docksiders Pub, Hamilton. Social and sporting club for new residents. Phone 292-9018.
Caledonian Society of Bermuda. A Scottish society founded in Bermuda in 1936. It has frequent ceilidhs and other events such as the Annual Burn's Dinner in January and St. Andrew's Ball in November.
Circulo Hispanico. Informal bi-weekly gathering of people in Spanish/Central or South American/language and culture. Beginners to native speakers. Alternate Thursdays 6 pm at Wesley Methodist Church Hall, Church Street, Hamilton. Phone 295-7506 by day or 238-0724 evenings.
Club de la Boule Gourmande. Petanque or boule every second Sunday of the month, 1-3 pm. Bermuda College.
Emerald Isle Society. Meets third Friday of each month. Phone 292-6889 evenings. Primarily for Irish nationals resident in Bermuda. Dolores Always celebrates St. Patrick's Day at La Coquille with a fine, black-tie 5-course dinner, with everything in green, white and gold and an Irish entertainer flown in.
English Speaking Union. The Cedars, Cedar Avenue, Hamilton HM 10. Telephone 292-7684. Not a union at all but a cultural organization established in England in 1918 to promote understanding and friendship. The Bermuda branch was established in 1922 and held its first meeting at the long-gone Hamilton Hotel. It has about 165 members.
German Association. For German nationals resident in Bermuda.
Jamaican Association (Bermuda). An organization of Jamaicans living and working in Bermuda.
New Islanders group. Phone Sonja at 293-0925. It has monthly get-togethers for new female residents. A way to meet new women and participate in sporting activities. Affiliated with the International American Women's Club but not confined to Americans.
Sri Lankan Community. There is a sizeable one (many accountants, chefs and at least one lawyer). After the 26 December 2004 Tsunami disaster that affected Sri Lanka very badly, they and their Bermudian sympathizers formed a registered Bermuda charity "Bermuda Help Sri Lanka Relief Fund". It has collected over $80,000 for housing relief in Sri Lanka.
West Indian Association (Bermuda). An association for nationals of the Caribbean living and working in Bermuda. For further info: westindianber@hotmail.com.

Voter statistics

There are currently over 39,500 voters. The last time there was a general election - see Bermuda Government - there were about 38,000 registered voters, about 58 percent of Bermuda's total current population. It is no longer a requirement for voters to register every year. As soon as local citizens become at least 18 years old they can register.