Introduction :: BAHAMAS, THE
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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, international banking, and investment management. Because of its location, 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 :: BAHAMAS, THE
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chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
24 15 N, 76 00 W
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 13,880 sq km
land: 10,010 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
country comparison to the world: 161
slightly smaller than Connecticut
0 km
3,542 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
agricultural land: 1.4%
arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 0.2%
forest: 51.4%
other: 47.2% (2011 est.)
10 sq km (2012)
most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
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
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
People and Society :: BAHAMAS, THE
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327,316
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 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
0-14 years: 22.75% (male 37,779/female 36,691)
15-24 years: 16.79% (male 27,843/female 27,116)
25-54 years: 44.12% (male 72,295/female 72,107)
55-64 years: 8.87% (male 13,023/female 15,998)
65 years and over: 7.47% (male 9,399/female 15,065) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Central America and Caribbean
::BAHAMAS, THE
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 41.2%
youth dependency ratio: 29.6%
elderly dependency ratio: 11.7%
potential support ratio: 8.5% (2015 est.)
total: 31.8 years
male: 30.6 years
female: 32.9 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
0.83% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
15.4 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
urban population: 82.9% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.53% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
NASSAU (capital) 267,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
80 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
total population: 72.4 years
male: 70 years
female: 74.8 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
1.95 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
7.7% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 70
2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 98.4% of population
rural: 98.4% of population
total: 98.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.6% of population
rural: 1.6% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 8% of population (2015 est.)
3.22% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
8,100 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
300 (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
36.6% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 13
NA
total: 30.8%
male: 29.6%
female: 32.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Government :: BAHAMAS, THE
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conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
etymology: name derives from the Spanish "baha mar," meaning "shallow sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks
parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
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
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
10 July 1973 (from the UK)
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973; amended many times, last in 2016 (2016)
common law system based on the English model
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of The Bahamas
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 6-9 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Marguerite PINDLING (since 8 July 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2012)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
description: 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 5-year terms) and the House of Assembly (38 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 48.6%, FNM 42.1%, DNA 8.5%, other.8%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9
highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices – as of 2015)
note: as of 2008, the Bahamas was not a party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest appellate court for the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68, but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65, but can be extended until age 67
subordinate courts: Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Democratic National Alliance [Branville MCCARTNEY]
Friends of the Environment
other: trade unions
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eugene Glenwood NEWRY (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Lisa A. JOHNSON (since 9 July 2014
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
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
blue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black
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 :: BAHAMAS, THE
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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. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 35% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than one 10th of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The economy of The Bahamas shrank at an average pace of 0.8% annually between 2007 and 2011, and tourism, financial services, and construction - pillars of the national economy - remain subdued. Conditions are improving in the tourism sector, however, due to steady foreign investment led activity. New resort and marina developments are likely to provide sustained employment opportunities.
$9.166 billion (2015 est.)
$9.122 billion (2014 est.)
$9.03 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 161
$8.705 billion (2015 est.)
0.5% (2015 est.)
1% (2014 est.)
0% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
$25,200 (2015 est.)
$25,300 (2014 est.)
$25,400 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 77
11.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
9.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
10.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
household consumption: 65.4%
government consumption: 16%
investment in fixed capital: 26.2%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 38.6%
imports of goods and services: -47.2% (2015 est.)
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 7.6%
services: 90.2% (2015 est.)
citrus, vegetables; poultry
tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
1.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
196,900 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
agriculture: 3%
industry: 11%
tourism: 49%
other services: 37% (2011 est.)
15% (2014 est.)
15.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
9.3% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 22% (2007)
revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion (2015 est.)
20.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
-4.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
64.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
60.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
1 July - 30 June
1.9% (2015 est.)
1.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
4.5% (1 January 2014)
4.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 82
4.8% (31 December 2015 est.)
4.75% (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$2.051 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.996 million (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$6.453 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$6.076 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$9.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$8.825 million (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$2.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
-$1.021 billion (2015 est.)
-$1.898 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$800 million (2015 est.)
$859 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
crawfish, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products
Poland 26.3%, Cote dIvoire 20.9%, US 15.9%, Dominican Republic 14.3% (2015)
$2.585 billion (2015 est.)
$3.309 billion (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals
US 22.3%, China 14.8%, Japan 9.5%, Poland 7.7%, South Korea 7.3%, Colombia 6.8%, Brazil 5.6%, Singapore 5.5% (2015)
$895.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$874.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
1 (2015 est.)
1 (2014 est.)
1 (2013 est.)
1 (2012 est.)
1 (2011 est.)
Energy :: BAHAMAS, THE
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electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
1.7 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
1.6 billion kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
600,000 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 109
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
24,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
922.7 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
26,330 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0 cu m (1 January 2009 es)
country comparison to the world: 114
4.1 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Communications :: BAHAMAS, THE
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total subscriptions: 120,925
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
total: 311,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) privatized in 2011, but the government reacquired 51% share in 2014
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 (2015)
2 TV 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)
.bs
total: 253,000
percent of population: 78% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Transportation :: BAHAMAS, THE
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number of registered air carriers: 4
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 587,516
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 172,730 mt-km (2015)
C6 (2016)
61 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 80
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 17 (2013)
1 (2013)
total: 2,700 km
paved: 1,620 km
unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 171
total: 1,160
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 238, cargo 170, carrier 2, chemical tanker 87, combination ore/oil 8, container 57, liquefied gas 71, passenger 102, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 225, refrigerated cargo 97, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 61
foreign-owned: 1,069 (Angola 6, Australia 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 15, Brazil 1, Canada 96, Croatia 1, Cyprus 23, Denmark 69, Finland 8, France 15, Germany 30, Greece 225, Guernsey 6, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Ireland 3, Italy 1, Japan 88, Jordan 2, Kuwait 1, Malaysia 13, Monaco 8, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 23, Nigeria 2, Norway 186, Poland 34, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 7, South Korea 1, Spain 6, Sweden 11, Switzerland 1, Thailand 4, Turkey 3, UAE 23, UK 18, US 109)
registered in other countries: 6 (Panama 6) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 10
major seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,116,272)(2011)
cruise port(s): Nassau
Military and Security :: BAHAMAS, THE
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Royal Bahamas Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)
18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2012)
Transnational Issues :: BAHAMAS, THE
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disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
