2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

10,010 sq km

total

13,880 sq km

water

3,870 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Coastline

3,542 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

24 15 N, 76 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0.58%

other

99.13% (2005)

permanent crops

0.29%

Location

Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

Natural resources

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Terrain

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Total renewable water resources

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.3% (male 39,493/female 38,355) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 103,889/female 107,528) 65 years and over: 5.9% (male 6,998/female 11,289) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.25 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2000)

Ethnic groups

black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,200 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

13.68 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.68 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.27 years (2010 est.)

male

68.48 years

total population

70.84 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.5% (2003 est.)

male

94.7%

total population

95.6%

Median age

female

31 years (2010 est.)

male

28.8 years

total

29.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Bahamian

noun

Bahamian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

310,426 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 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.935% (2010 est.)

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)

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

84% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

geographic coordinates

25 05 N, 77 21 W

name

Nassau

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

10 July 1973

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

conventional short form

The Bahamas

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Nicole A. AVANT

embassy

42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence

FAX

[1] (242) 328-2206

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2668

telephone

[1] (202) 319-2660

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007)

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

Government type

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

10 July 1973 (from the UK)

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)

Judicial branch

Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

election results

percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18

elections

last held on 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)

National anthem

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)

name

"March On, Bahamaland!"

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Central bank discount rate

5.25% (31 December 2009) 5.25% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2009 est.) 5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$283.2 million (2009 est.) -$1.442 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$342.6 million (2004 est.)

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 more strict 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.

Electricity - consumption

1.902 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

2.045 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2009), 1 (2008), 1 (2007), 1 (2006)

Exports

$674 million (2006)

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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.2%

industry

14.7%

services

84.1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$28,600 (2010 est.) $29,000 (2009 est.) $30,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.5% (2010 est.) -3.9% (2009 est.) -1.7% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.538 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.878 billion (2010 est.) $8.923 billion (2009 est.) $9.285 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: 27% (2000)

Imports

$2.401 billion (2006)

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)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force

184,000 (2009)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

5%

industry

5%

other services

40% (2005 est.)

tourism

50%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

NA cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

Oil - consumption

36,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

transshipments of 41,570 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

20,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

9.3% (2004)

Stock of broad money

$5.991 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $5.893 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.993 billion (31 December 2009) $7.883 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$1.284 billion (31 December 2009) $1.275 billion (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (2006 est.)

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)

Internet users

115,800 (2009)

Telephone system

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

general assessment

modern facilities

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

129,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

358,800 (2009)

Airports

62 (2010)

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)

Merchant marine

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)

registered in other countries

10 (Bolivia 1, Malta 1, Panama 7, Peru 1) (2010)

total

1,170

Ports and terminals

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Roadways

paved

1,560 km

total

2,717 km

unpaved

1,157 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 84,903 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 62,779 females age 16-49: 63,954 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

2,758 (2010 est.)

male

2,840

Military branches

Royal Bahamian Defense Force

Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2010)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age; no conscription (2010)

Disputes - international

disagrees with the US on the alignment the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary; continues to monitor and interdict drug dealers and Haitian and Cuban refugees in Bahamian waters

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center page last updated on January 26, 2011 ======================================================================