2012 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

13,880 sq km 10,010 sq km 3,870 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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected 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

0.58% 0.29% 99.13% (2005)

arable land

0.58%

other

99.13% (2005)

permanent crops

0.29%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

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

24% (male 38,483/ female 37,373) 69.5% (male 108,364/ female 111,340) 6.5% (male 7,891/ female 12,731) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

24% (male 38,483/ female 37,373)

15-64 years

69.5% (male 108,364/ female 111,340)

65 years and over

6.5% (male 7,891/ female 12,731) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

15.95 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.1% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,600 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

13.09 deaths/1,000 live births 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

13.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

13.09 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth

71.44 years 69.04 years 73.91 years (2012 est.)

female

73.91 years (2012 est.)

total population

71.44 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 95.6% 94.7% 96.5% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.5% (2003 est.)

male

94.7%

total population

95.6%

Major cities - population

NASSAU (capital) 248,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

47 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

30.5 years 29.4 years 31.7 years (2012 est.)

female

31.7 years (2012 est.)

male

29.4 years

total

30.5 years

Nationality

Bahamian(s) Bahamian

adjective

Bahamian

noun

Bahamian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

1.05 physicians/1,000 population (1998)

Population

316,182 (July 2012 est.) 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

0.904% (2012 est.)

Religions

Protestant 67.6% (Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%), Roman Catholic 13.5%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population

urban

100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 12 years 12 years (2006)

female

12 years (2006)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.62 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

18.9% 16.7% 21.7% (2007)

female

21.7% (2007)

total

18.9%

Urbanization

84% of total population (2010) 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

84% of total population (2010)

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

Nassau 25 05 N, 77 21 W UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November

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

Commonwealth of The Bahamas The Bahamas

conventional long form

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

conventional short form

The Bahamas

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires John DINKELMAN 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370 [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours) [1] (242) 328-2206

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires John DINKELMAN

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

Ambassador (vacant) 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 319-2660 [1] (202) 319-2668 Miami, New York

chancery

2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 319-2668

telephone

[1] (202) 319-2660

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010) Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2011) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation 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

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation

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 Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2011)

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 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, 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

common law system based on the English model

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 last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9

elections

last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017)

National anthem

"March On, Bahamaland!" Timothy GIBSON adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

lyrics/music

Timothy GIBSON

name

"March On, Bahamaland!"

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

National symbol(s)

blue marlin; flamingo

Political parties and leaders

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Friends of the Environment trade unions

other

trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Budget

$1.5 billion $1.8 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$1.8 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$1.5 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2011 est.) 5.25% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2012 est.) 5.06% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.139 billion (2012 est.) -$1.091 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$16.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $14.93 billion (31 December 2011 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. 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 10th of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The Bahamas since 2008 has been hard hit by the global economic crisis; the economy contracted in 2008 and 2009 and growth remains slow.

Exchange rates

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2012 est.) 1 (2011 est.) 1 (2010 est.) 1 (2008) 1 (2007)

Exports

$790 million (2012 est.) $834.9 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables

Exports - partners

Singapore 28.2%, US 26.9%, Dominican Republic 11.7%, Ecuador 8.6%, Switzerland 5.1% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition by sector

2.1% 7.1% 90.8% (2012 est.)

agriculture

2.1%

industry

7.1%

services

90.8% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$31,300 (2012 est.) $30,900 (2011 est.) $30,800 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2012 est.) 1.6% (2011 est.) 0.2% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.249 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.04 billion (2012 est.) $10.77 billion (2011 est.) $10.6 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% 27% (2000)

highest 10%

27% (2000)

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.882 billion (2012 est.) $2.966 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 25.8%, India 18.6%, South Korea 14.3%, Venezuela 9.6%, Singapore 7.7%, China 4.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2012 est.) 3.2% (2011 est.)

Labor force

184,000 (2009)

Labor force - by occupation

5% 5% 50% 40% (2005 est.)

agriculture

5%

industry

5%

other services

40% (2005 est.)

tourism

50%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

9.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.095 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.07 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.482 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $6.104 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $8.511 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.436 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.435 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

14.2% (2009 est.) 8.7% (2008 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.573 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.808 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

493,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

1.945 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

36,300 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

41,610 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

70,990 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.bs

Internet hosts

20,661 (2012)

Internet users

115,800 (2009)

Telephone system

modern facilities 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 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)

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

133,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

298,800 (2011)

Airports

61 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

13

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

5 (2012)

over 3,047 m

2

total

22

Airports - with unpaved runways

20 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

914 to 1,523 m

15

total

39

under 914 m

20 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

1,160 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 1,063 (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) 6 (Panama 6) (2010)

foreign-owned

1,063 (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)

total

1,160

Ports and terminals

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Roadways

2,717 km 1,560 km 1,157 km (2002)

total

2,717 km

unpaved

1,157 km (2002)

Manpower available for military service

85,568 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

85,568 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

63,429 64,645 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

64,645 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

63,429

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

2,829 2,750 (2010 est.)

female

2,750 (2010 est.)

male

2,829

Military branches

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

Royal Bahamas Defense Force

Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

17 1/2-25 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