2018 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. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas close proximity to shipping lanes. 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. Current Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS is only the fourth prime minister in Bahamian history following its independence from the UK; he is also the first prime minister in 25 years besides Perry CHRISTIE and Hubert INGRAHAM, who repeatedly traded the premiership from 1992 to 2017.

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

0 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean

note

64 highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island

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 (2012)

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 0.8% (2014 est.) / permanent crops: 0.4% (2014 est.) / permanent pasture: 0.2% (2014 est.)

agricultural land

1.4% (2014 est.)

forest

51.4% (2014 est.)

other

47.2% (2014 est.)

Location

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

Population Distribution

most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located

Terrain

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Age Structure

0-14 years

22.39% (male 37,777 /female 36,686)

15-24 years

16.01% (male 26,984 /female 26,281)

25-54 years

44.1% (male 73,627 /female 73,068)

55-64 years

9.45% (male 14,298 /female 17,140)

65 years and over

8.05% (male 10,318 /female 16,455) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

15.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

11.7 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

8.5 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

40.8 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

29.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

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.)

Education Expenditures

NA

Ethnic Groups

black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

note

data represent population by racial group

Health Expenditures

7.7% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

1.9% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

5,300 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

10.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

75.4 years (2018 est.)

male

70.4 years (2018 est.)

total population

72.9 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

80 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

33.5 years (2018 est.)

male

31.1 years

total

32.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Bahamian

noun

Bahamian(s)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

31.6% (2016)

Physicians Density

2.26 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population

332,634 (July 2018 est.)

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

Population Growth Rate

0.79% (2018 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 92% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 92% of population (2015 est.)

total: 92% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 8% of population (2015 est.)

total: 8% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.94 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

32.2% (2012 est.)

male

29.6% (2012 est.)

total

30.8% (2012 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.13% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

83% of total population (2018)

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

note

etymology: named after William III, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was a member of the House of Nassau

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

amendments

proposed as an "Act" by Parliament; passage of amendments to articles such as the organization and composition of the branches of government requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of the membership of both houses of Parliament and majority approval in a referendum; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as fundamental rights and individual freedoms, the powers, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, or changes to the Bahamas Independence Act 1973 requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of the membership of both houses and majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2016 (2018)

history

previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973 (2018)

Country Name

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

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Stephanie BOWERS (since 1 March 2018)

embassy

42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence

FAX

[1] (242) 356-7174

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 Sidney Stanley COLLIE (since 20 November 2017)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2668

telephone

[1] (202) 319-2660

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Marguerite PINDLING (since 8 July 2014)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; 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

head of government

Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS (since 11 May 2017)

note

Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS is only the fourth prime minister in Bahamian history following its independence from the UK; he is also the first prime minister in 25 years besides Perry CHRISTIE and Hubert INGRAHAM, who repeatedly traded the premiership from 1992 to 2017

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

parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Independence

10 July 1973 (from the UK)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International Organization Participation

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)

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and a maximum of 11 and a minimum of 2 justices)

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

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

subordinate courts

Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators

Legal System

common law system based on the English model

Legislative Branch

description

bicameral Parliament consists of: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)House of Assembly (39 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - FNM 57%, PLP 36.9%, other 6.1%; seats by party - FNM 35, PLP 4

elections

last held on 10 May 2017 (next to be held by May 2022)

note

the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Timothy GIBSON

name

March On, Bahamaland!

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)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

National Symbol S

blue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black

Political Parties And Leaders

Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Christopher MORTIMER]Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Philip "Brave" DAVIS]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

citrus, vegetables; poultry; seafood

Budget

expenditures

2.46 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

2.139 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

4.5% (1 January 2014)

4.5% (31 December 2012)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

4.25% (31 December 2017 est.)

4.75% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$1.909 billion (2017 est.)

-$868 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Economy Overview

The Bahamas has the second highest per capita GDP in the English-speaking Caribbean with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and financial services. Tourism accounts for approximately 50% 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, accounting for about 15% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than 7% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The new government led by Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS has prioritized addressing fiscal imbalances and rising debt, which stood at 75% of GDP in 2016. Large capital projects like the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel are driving growth. Public debt increased in 2017 in large part due to hurricane reconstruction and relief financing. The primary fiscal balance was a deficit of 0.4% of GDP in 2016. The Bahamas is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a member of the World Trade Organization.

Exchange Rates

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -

1 (2017 est.)

1 (2016 est.)

1 (2015 est.)

1 (2014 est.)

1 (2013 est.)

Exports

$550 million (2017 est.)

$444.3 million (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

Rock lobster, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products

Exports Partners

US 63.9%, Namibia 19.3% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

33.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption

13% (2017 est.)

household consumption

68% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-41.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.7% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

2.3% (2017 est.)

industry

7.7% (2017 est.)

services

90% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$12.16 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$32,400 (2017 est.)

$32,300 (2016 est.)

$33,200 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$12.06 billion (2017 est.)

$11.89 billion (2016 est.)

$12.09 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

1.4% (2017 est.)

-1.7% (2016 est.)

1% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

11.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

18.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

12.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

22% (2007)

lowest 10%

22% (2007 est.)

Imports

$3.18 billion (2017 est.)

$2.594 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals

Imports Partners

US 83.2% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

5.8% (2017 est.)

Industries

tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.4% (2017 est.)

-0.3% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

196,900 (2013 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

3%

industry

11%

services

49%

tourism

37% (2011 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$2.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

9.3% (2010 est.)

Public Debt

54.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

50.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$1.522 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.002 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$2.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.461 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$8.805 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$9.09 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$2.654 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.461 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

10.1% (2017 est.)

12.2% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

3.089 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

1.654 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

577,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

1.778 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

48,020 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

48,020 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

20,040 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

19,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2017 est.)

total

86,868 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

The Bahamas has 4 major TV providers that provide service to all major islands in the archipelago; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes freely with 3 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 31 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 28 are privately owned FM radio stations operating on New Providence, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco Island, and on smaller islands in the country; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio broadcasting network that has national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2017)

Internet Country Code

.bs

Internet Users

percent of population

80% (July 2016 est.)

total

261,853 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

totally automatic system; highly developed; operators focus investment on mobile networks; 35 per 100 fixed-line, 107 per 100 mobile-cellular (2017)

general assessment

modern facilities;  the telecom sector provides a relatively high contribution to overall GDP; activation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in April 2017, allowing mobile subscribers to port their numbers between competing MNO (mobile network operators) (2017)

international

country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and two additional fiber-optic submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; (2017)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

113,852 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

107 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

353,540 (2017 est.)

Airports

61 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

13 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

7 (2017)

over 3,047 m

2 (2017)

total

24 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

16 (2013)

total

37 (2013)

under 914 m

17 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

C6 (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 335, container ship 53, general cargo 98, oil tanker 284, other 670 (2017)

total

1,440 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

172,730 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

587,516 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

16 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

4 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Freeport (1,116,272)(2011)

cruise port(s)

Nassau

major seaport(s)

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Roadways

paved

1,620 km (2011)

total

2,700 km (2011)

unpaved

1,080 km (2011)

Military Branches

Royal Bahamas Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2012)

Disputes International

disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary

Illicit Drugs

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center