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Bermuda Population, Official Language And More.
Bermuda has a rich and diverse history, involving shipwrecks, pirates, slavery, naval and military bases, tourism, and offshore finance. If you want to learn more about any of these aspects, please let me know.
Population, Official Language And More.
Bermuda
THE POPULATION
Bermuda has a population of about 64,000 people as of 2020. The majority of the population is of African descent (52%), followed by white (31%), mixed (9%), and other (8%). The population density is very high, with about 1,300 people per square kilometer.
THE LANDMARK
Bermuda has many landmarks that reflect its natural beauty and historical heritage. Some of the most famous ones are:
The Crystal Caves, a network of underground caverns filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and clear pools of water.
The Royal Naval Dockyard, a former naval base that now houses museums, shops, restaurants, and a cruise ship terminal.
The Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the world, built in 1846.
The Unfinished Church, a Gothic-style church that was never completed due to lack of funds and disputes among the parishioners.
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The official language of Bermuda is English, but some Portuguese is also spoken by the island’s sizable Portuguese community. Bermudian English has some distinctive features, such as the use of “ain’t” as a general negator, the pronunciation of “th” as “f” or “v”, and the use of “wunna” as a second person plural pronoun.
THE CULTURE
The culture of Bermuda reflects the heritage of its people, who are chiefly of Native American, African, and European descent. A small percentage of Asians also live on the island. Although Bermuda is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, it also has strong historical links with the United States. Some aspects of Bermudian culture are:
The Gombey dancers, who perform colorful and rhythmic dances that combine elements of African, Native American, and British traditions.
The Bermuda shorts, a type of formal attire that consists of knee-length trousers and a blazer or jacket. They are worn by men and women for business and social occasions.
The Bermuda kite, a diamond-shaped kite that is flown on Good Friday as a symbol of Christ’s ascension. The kites are usually homemade and decorated with colorful paper and wood.
THE ECONOMIC STABILITY
Bermuda has had steady economic prosperity since the end of World War II, although the island has experienced recessions, including during the early 1990s and 2001–02, both paralleling recessions in the United States. Bermuda now has the fourth highest per capita incomes in the world, primarily fueled by offshore financial services for non-resident firms, especially offshore insurance and reinsurance, and tourism. In 2021, gross value added of international business activity totaled just under $1.8 billion. The five year average growth rate for the sector is 2.4%. Tourism is also a major source of income for Bermuda, with over half a million visitors annually.
The GDP: The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Bermuda was worth 7.08 billion US dollars in 2021, according to official data from the World Bank. The GDP value of Bermuda represents less than 0.01 percent of the world economy.
The Currency: The Bermuda dollar is the official currency of Bermuda and is pegged to the US dollar at a one-to-one ratio. Both currencies are equally acceptable at all establishments.
The Food: Bermuda has a variety of dishes that reflect its history and culture. Some of the most popular foods are codfish and potato breakfast, fish chowder, fish sandwich, codfish cakes, peas and rice, bread pudding, shark hash, conch stew, and rum cake. You can try some of these foods at restaurants like Barracuda Grill Seafood & Chops or Crown and Anchor.
Major Cities: The capital and largest city of Bermuda is Hamilton, which has a population of about 1,000 people. Other major cities include St. George’s, Somerset Village, Flatts Village, and Tucker’s Town.
Major Airport, Sea Port and Schools: The only airport in Bermuda is L.F. Wade International Airport, which is located in St. George’s Parish. The main sea port is Hamilton Harbour, which handles cruise ships and cargo vessels. Some of the major schools in Bermuda are Warwick Academy, Saltus Grammar School, Bermuda High School for Girls, Somersfield Academy, and CedarBridge Academy.
