Annual Report Shows the Population of Bermuda is Falling
HAMILTON, Bermuda — The resident population of Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, fell by more than 200 people between 2020 and 2021, with a growing number of deaths and fewer births.
Image courtesy of the Government of BermudaThe Registry General’s annual report showed 494 births in 2021, 47 fewer than in the previous year, while 730 deaths were reported, 158 more than in 2020.
The report added that the overall resident population — not considering immigration and emigration — had fallen from 63,881 to 63,648.
While the population has fallen regularly over the past five years, the figures show an accelerating decline. After a slight increase between 2016 and 2017, the resident population fell by five people between 2017 and 2018, and 10 the following year.
Between 2019 and 2020 the population fell by 25, while 2020 to 2021 saw a decline of 233 people.
The report said the number of births on the island had fallen by 8.7 percent with 239 females and 255 males born in 2021. It said 76.9 percent had at least one Bermudian parent, while 23.1 percent had two Bermudian parents.
The number of deaths recorded on the island rose from 572 to 730, including the deaths of six non-residents in 2020 and three non-residents in 2021.
The figures meant the number of residents who died year-on-year increased by 28.4 percent from 566 to 727.
According to the figures, the average age at death was 72.2 years. For women, the average age of death was 79.5 years, while the average age of death for men was 72.9 years.
Armed with a British passport, several thousand Bermudians have reportedly moved to the United Kingdom to live in recent years, although official records are unavailable.
Last month Economy and Labour Minister, Jason Hayward, announced an “aggressive” strategy to head off a rapidly ageing population.
Hayward said the government needed to get an estimated 8,418 extra people working at a rate of 1,684 additional workers, or a five percent annual increase, over five years in the island whose national debt has climbed to US$3.35 billion.
