Seventy-seven percent of voters are opposed to Independence according to a recent survey released yesterday.

And 33 percent of Bermudians say the economy is good or excellent.

Conducted by Profiles of Bermuda, the poll canvassed 401 registered voters between June 12 and 17 on Independence and the economy.

The figures are a rise on those in the lead-in to the 2007 General Election, when two-thirds of voters, or 64 percent, were against Bermuda breaking ties with Great Britain.

"By demographics, all subgroups opposed Independence," the survey stated. "The widest gaps were found by race and party lines. Nearly all white and other races (94 percent) opposed Independence, compared to 67 percent of blacks."

It continued: "And by party lines, the results were similar: 93 percent of those who voted for the opposition United Bermuda Party in the last election were opposed to Independence, compared to 65 percent of those who voted for the ruling Progressive Labour Party."

The survey also revealed that households earning less than $50,000 were the most opposed to Independence — 84 percent.

By age, those between the ages of 35 and 54 were most opposed to independence. The poll found one-third of voters believed the economy to be "good or excellent" while more than half, 55 percent, rated it as "fair".

Eleven percent said the economy was poor and the rest were unsure.

The majority of people, 78 percent believed the economy had worsened in the past year and just under one in ten, eight percent said the economy had improved while nine percent said it had remained the same.