Introduction

Background: |  |

`
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`24 15 N, 76 00 W`
Map references: |  |
`Central America and the Caribbean`
Area: |  |
`total: 13,880 sq km country comparison to the world: 160 land: 10,010 sq km water: 3,870 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly smaller than Connecticut`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`3,542 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm`
Climate: |  |
`tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream`
Terrain: |  |
`long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`salt, aragonite, timber, arable land`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0.58% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.13% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`10 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`coral reef decay; solid waste disposal`
Environment - international agreements: |  |
`party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements`
Geography - note: |  |
`strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited`

People

Population: |  |
`313,312 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 24.4% (male 38,834/female 37,715) 15-64 years: 69.2% (male 106,882/female 110,081) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 7,578/female 12,222) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 30.2 years male: 29.1 years female: 31.3 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.922% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 123`
Birth rate: |  |
`16.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 128`
Death rate: |  |
`6.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 141`
Net migration rate: |  |
`0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 84% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`NASSAU (capital) 248,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 13.49 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 127 male: 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 71.18 years country comparison to the world: 140 male: 68.8 years female: 73.63 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.99 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 129`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`3.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`6,600 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 86% of population total: 96% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 14% of population total: 4% of population (2000)`
Sanitation facility access: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%`
Religions: |  |
`Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)`
Languages: |  |
`English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.6% male: 94.7% female: 96.5% (2003 est.)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2006)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas`
Government type: |  |
`constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm`
Capital: |  |
`name: Nassau geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November`
Administrative divisions: |  |

`
31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
`

Independence: |  |
`10 July 1973 (from the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Independence Day, 10 July (1973)`
Constitution: |  |
`10 July 1973`
Legal system: |  |
`common law system based on the English model`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held on 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Friends of the Environment other: trade unions`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole A. AVANT embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370 telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours) FAX: [1] (242) 328-2206`
Flag description: |  |

`
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "March On, Bahamaland!" lyrics/music: Timothy GIBSON note: adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Prior to 2006, a steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to solid GDP growth but since then tourism receipts have begun to drop off. The global recession in 2009 took a sizeable toll on the Bahamas, resulting in a contraction in GDP and a widening budget deficit. The decline continued in 2010 as tourism from the US and sector investment lagged. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 36% of GDP. However, the financial sector currently is smaller than it has been in the past because of the enactment of new and stricter financial regulations in 2000 that caused many international businesses to relocate elsewhere. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$8.921 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $8.877 billion (2009 est.) $9.275 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$7.538 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`0.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 -4.3% (2009 est.) -1.7% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$28,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $28,900 (2009 est.) $30,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 1.2% industry: 14.7% services: 84.1% (2001 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`184,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 173`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 5% industry: 5% tourism: 50% other services: 40% (2005 est.)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`7.6% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 81`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`9.3% (2004)`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: 27% (2000)`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $1.03 billion expenditures: $1.03 billion (FY04/05)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`2.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 61`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`5.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 78 5.25% (31 December 2008)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`5.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$1.284 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 131 $1.275 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$5.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $5.893 billion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$7.993 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 101 $7.883 billion (31 December 2008)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`citrus, vegetables; poultry`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`NA%`
Electricity - production: |  |
`2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 133`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`1.902 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 152`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108`
Oil - exports: |  |
`transshipments of 41,570 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 80`
Oil - imports: |  |
`20,560 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-283.2 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $-1.442 billion (2007 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$674 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 162`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables`
Exports - partners: |  |
`US 35.99%, Singapore 18.64%, Poland 12.1%, Germany 6.24% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$2.401 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 148`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals`
Imports - partners: |  |
`US 27.23%, South Korea 20.08%, Japan 14.55%, Singapore 5.89%, China 4.75%, Venezuela 4.26%, Italy 4.12% (2009)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$342.6 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 168`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2009) 1 (2008) 1 (2007) 1 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`129,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 141`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`358,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 166`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links 14 of the islands and is designed to satisfy increasing demand for voice and broadband Internet services
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber-optic submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`2 television stations operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB); multi-channel cable TV subscription service is available; about 15 radio stations operating with BCB operating a multi-channel radio broadcasting network alongside privately-owned radio stations (2007)`
Internet country code: |  |
`.bs`
Internet hosts: |  |
`21,939 (2010) country comparison to the world: 107`
Internet users: |  |
`115,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 156`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`62 (2010) country comparison to the world: 78`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 22 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`1 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 2,717 km country comparison to the world: 168 paved: 1,560 km unpaved: 1,157 km (2002)`
Merchant marine: |  |

`
total: 1,170
country comparison to the world: 10
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 229, cargo 191, carrier 2, chemical tanker 80, combination ore/oil 8, container 50, liquefied gas 78, passenger 100, passenger/cargo 29, petroleum tanker 222, refrigerated cargo 106, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 60
foreign-owned: 1,080 (Angola 5, Belgium 9, Bermuda 12, Brazil 1, Canada 102, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 14, Denmark 59, Finland 8, France 19, Germany 39, Greece 209, Guernsey 6, Hong Kong 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 3, Italy 5, Japan 93, Jordan 2, Kuwait 2, Malaysia 13, Monaco 14, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 22, Nigeria 2, Norway 198, Poland 32, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 7, Slovenia 1, Spain 9, Sweden 6, Switzerland 2, Thailand 4, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 3, UAE 27, UK 24, US 100)
note: this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag; these ships operate under the laws of the flag state
registered in other countries: 10 (Bolivia 1, Malta 1, Panama 7, Peru 1) (2010)
`

Ports and terminals: |  |
`Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age; no conscription (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 85,568 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 63,429 females age 16-49: 64,645 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 2,829 female: 2,750 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`0.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 151`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`disagrees with the US on the alignment the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011