2024 Edition Primary

Background

Lucayan Indians inhabited the Bahama islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World 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 gaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management, which comprise up to 85% of GDP. Because of its proximity to the US -- the nearest Bahamian landmass is only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida -- the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking to the US mainland, as well as to Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas; the Drug Enforcement Administration, US Coast Guard, and US Customs and Border Protection assist Bahamian authorities with maritime security and law enforcement through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or OPBAT.

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

highest point

1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.)

forest

51.4% (2018 est.)

other

47.2% (2018 est.)

Location

chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba; note - although The Bahamas does not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically it is often designated as a Caribbean nation

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

21.4% (male 41,675/female 46,363)

15-64 years

70% (male 132,626/female 154,866)

65 years and over

8.6% (2024 est.) (male 15,799/female 19,533)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

13.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Current health expenditure

7.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

38.9% (2023 est.)

Death rate

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

11.9

potential support ratio

8.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

39.3

youth dependency ratio

27.3

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 98.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ethnic groups

African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

note

note: data represent population by racial group

Gross reproduction rate

0.71 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

10.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.4 years

male

75.1 years

total population

76.7 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

77 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

30.7 years

male

30.6 years

total

30.7 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bahamian

noun

Bahamian(s)

Net migration rate

3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

31.6% (2016)

Physician density

1.94 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

female

220,762 (2024 est.)

male

190,100

total

410,862

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

1.07% (2024 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%, Plymouth Brethren 1.6%, other Protestant 0.9%), 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: total

total: 98.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

0.9 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

2.4% (2020 est.)

male

18.8% (2020 est.)

total

10.6% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

83.6% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

named after William III (1650-1702), king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was a member of the House of Nassau

geographic coordinates

25 05 N, 77 21 W

name

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

history

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

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); Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly FURNISH (since June 2024)

email address and website

acsnassau@state.govhttps://bs.usembassy.gov/

embassy

42 Queen Street, Nassau

FAX

[1] (242) 356-7174

mailing address

3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370

telephone

[1] (242) 322-1181

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Miami, New York

email address and website

embassy@bahamasembdc.orghttps://www.bahamasembdc.org/

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

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Cynthia A. PRATT (since 1 September 2023)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is appointed prime minister by the governor-general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Philip Edward DAVIS (since 17 September 2021)

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 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, ACS, 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 court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 6 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 19 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

note: The Bahamas is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community but is not party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest appellate court; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas

subordinate courts

Industrial Tribunal; Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators (can also serve as magistrates)

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 - 9 selected on the advice of the prime minister, 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, and 3 on the advice of the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader; members serve 5-year terms)House of Assembly (39 seats statutory, 38 seats current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - appointed: PLP 12, FNM 4; composition - men 12, women 4, percentage women 25%House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, FNM 36.2%; seats by party - PLP 32, FNM 7; composition - men 32, women 7, percentage women 18%; total Parliament percentage women 20%

elections

Senate - last appointments on 7 October 2021 (next appointments by 31 October 2026)House of Assembly - last held on 16 September 2021 (next to be held by September 2026)

note

note: Parliament sits for 5 years from the date of the last general election: the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time

National anthem

lyrics/music

Timothy GIBSON

name

"March On, Bahamaland!"

note

note: adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the King" 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

Coalition of Independents Party or COIDemocratic National Alliance or DNAFree National Movement or FNMProgressive Liberal Party or PLP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$3.102 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$2.606 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Moody's rating

Ba2 (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB- (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$2.285 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$2.434 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.763 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income tourism and financial services economy; major income inequality; strong US bilateral relations; several tax relief programs; targeted investment in agriculture, energy, light manufacturing, and technology industries

Exchange rates

Currency

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

1 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

1 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$1.688 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$3.33 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$4.744 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, postage stamps/documents, plastics (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

US 49%, Cote d'Ivoire 20%, Germany 9%, Thailand 7%, Poland 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

39.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption

13% (2023 est.)

household consumption

67.5% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-43% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

19.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

1.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.4% (2023 est.)

industry

8.8% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

80.8% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.339 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2020

$3.411 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$4.947 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$5.692 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, cars, crude petroleum, coal tar oil (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 59%, South Korea 6%, Germany 6%, China 5%, Brazil 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

10.34% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.9% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.61% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.05% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

242,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

82.16% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$11.63 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$12.884 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$13.224 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

15.4% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

10.78% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.64% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$28,500 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$31,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$32,000 (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0.47% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.44% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.38% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$2.433 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.609 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$2.512 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.43% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

11.69% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

9.87% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

9.2% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

26.7% (2023 est.)

male

21.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

23.6% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from consumed natural gas

22,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

3.409 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

3.431 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

2.021 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

578,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

115.318 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

13.847 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

13.847 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

22,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2020 est.)

total

83,000 (2020 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 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 31 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.bs

Internet users

percent of population

94% (2021 est.)

total

385,400 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

22 per 100 fixed-line, 115 per 100 mobile-cellular (2020)

general assessment

the two local providers ensure  good telecoms coverage across the archipelago; fiber-to-home investments have been prioritized with 5G adoption pending (2023)

international

country code - 1-242; landing points for the ARCOS-1, BICS, Bahamas 2-US, and BDSN 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; (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

86,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

99 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

404,000 (2022 est.)

Airports

55 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C6

Heliports

9 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 345, container ship 39, general cargo 58, oil tanker 193, other 639

total

1,274 (2023)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

160,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,197,116 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

35

number of registered air carriers

5 (2020)

Ports

key ports

Clifton Pier, Cockburn Town, Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau, South Riding Point

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

4

small

1

total ports

6 (2024)

very small

4

Roadways

paved

1,620 km

total

2,700 km

unpaved

1,080 km (2011)

Military - note

established in 1980; the RBDF's primary responsibilities are disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-narcotics operations; it also provides security at a detention center for migrants and performs some domestic security functions, such as guarding embassies; the RBDF is a naval force, but includes a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security, as well as a few light non-combat aircraft; the maritime element has coastal patrol craft and patrol boats; the RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and the US (2024)

Military and security forces

Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2024)

note

note: the RBPF maintains internal security; both the RBDF and the RBPF, as well as the Department of Corrections, report to the Minister of National Security

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 1,700 active RBDF personnel (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory has been acquired from the Netherlands or the US (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2024)

Illicit drugs

a transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; small scale illicit production of marijuana continues

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

1.79 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.23 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

5.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Environment - current issues

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

1.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.)

forest

51.4% (2018 est.)

other

47.2% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

83.6% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

264,000 tons (2015 est.)