These are of volcanic origin capped with limestone. The Islands lie some 570 miles east of the North Carolina, USA coast.
Resource flows largely from tourism, off-shore banking, and customs revenues.
Bermudians voted in a national referendum held in August to remain a British Dependent Territory. The decline is attributed to emigration and a slight reduction in the annual natural growth rate, from 1.0 percent to 0.7 percent. The median age of the Bermuda population is 31 years and increase compared to 26 years in 1970 and 29 years in 1980. Population Concerns Bermuda has no explicit population policy. Emigration is one of the nation's concerns.