2025 Edition Primary
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Introduction
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.
Geography
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
Continent
North America
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
- 1.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
- arable land
- 0.8%
- Forest
- 50.9% (2023 est.)
- Other
- 47.8% (2023 est.)
- permanent crops
- 0.3%
Landlocked
No
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 links
- Google Maps
- https://goo.gl/maps/1YzRs1BZrG8p8pmVA
- OpenStreetMap
- https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/547469
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
Subregion
Caribbean
Terrain
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Time zone
- UTC-05:00
- number of time zones
- 1
People and Society
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 (2025 est.)
Death rate
- 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- adult female
- 121 per 1,000
- adult male
- 208 per 1,000
Dependency ratios
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 13 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 7.7 (2025 est.)
- Total dependency ratio
- 43.2 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 30.2 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
- Improved: total
- total: 98.9% of population
Education expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 10.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Education expenditures
3 % of GDP
Ethnic groups
- African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> data represent population by racial group
Gross reproduction rate
0.71 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
- 6 % of GDP
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 7.1% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 15.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.19%
Hospital bed density
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- Female
- 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- Male
- 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- neonatal
- 9 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Languages
- English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
- languages
- English
- number of languages
- 1
Life expectancy at birth
- Female
- 78.4 years
- Male
- 75.1 years
- Total population
- 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Major urban areas - population
280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio
76 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Median age
- Female
- 30.7 years
- Male
- 30.6 years
- Total
- 31.1 years (2025 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
25 births/1,000 women 15-19
Nationality
- Adjective
- Bahamian
- Noun
- Bahamian(s)
Net migration rate
3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
31.6% (2016)
Physician density
1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Population
- Female
- 223,251
- Male
- 192,055
- Total
- 415,306 (2025 est.)
Population growth rate
1.08% (2025 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.)
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
- 1.9% (2025 est.)
- Male
- 20.8% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 10.8% (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Urbanization
- Rate of urbanization
- 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- Urban population
- 83.6% of total population (2023)
Vaccination rate
- measles
- 86%
Government
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 King WILLIAM III of England (1650-1702), who was a member of the House of Orange-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
Coat of arms
- svg
- https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/bs.svg
Constitution
- Amendment process
- 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
- History
- previous 1964 (pre-independence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973
Country name
- alternative spellings
- BS, Commonwealth of the Bahamas
- Conventional long form
- Commonwealth of The Bahamas
- Conventional short form
- The Bahamas
- Etymology
- name may be derived from the Spanish <em>baha mar</em>, meaning "low sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks; alternatively, it may be a form of the local name Guanahani, which is of unknown origin and meaning
- FIFA code
- BAH
- local long form (eng)
- Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Diplomatic representation from the US
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Herschel WALKER (since 9 December 2025)
- Email address and website
- <br>acsnassau@state.gov<br><br>https://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
- <br>embassy@bahamasembdc.org<br><br>https://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)
- Election/appointment process
- the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
- Head of government
- Prime Minister Philip Edward DAVIS (since 17 September 2021)
Flag
<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the band colors represent the islands' golden beaches surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black stands for the vigor and force of a united people, and the triangle for the people's enterprise and determination
Flag description
The flag of the Bahamas is composed of three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine, yellow and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle superimposed on the hoist side of the field. This triangle has its base on the hoist end and spans about one-third the width of the field.
Flag image
- svg
- https://flagcdn.com/bs.svg
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
- <strong>note:</strong> 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
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
- Legislature name
- Parliament
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> 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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
- Chamber name
- House of Assembly
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Expected date of next election
- September 2026
- Most recent election date
- 9/16/2021
- Number of seats
- 39 (all directly elected)
- Parties elected and seats per party
- Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) (32); Free National Movement (FNM) (7)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 17.9%
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Term in office
- 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber
- Chamber name
- Senate
- Expected date of next election
- October 2026
- Most recent election date
- 10/6/2021
- Number of seats
- 16 (all appointed)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 31.3%
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Term in office
- 5 years
National coat of arms
the motto on the Bahamas coat of arms is “Forward, Upward, Onward Together;” the flamingo and marlin supporting the shield are national animals that represent respectively the land and sea; the pink conch shell symbolizes the marine life of the islands, and the green palm fronds represent the natural vegetation; the <em>Santa Maria</em>, Christopher Columbus’s flagship, also appears; the sun signifies the world-famous climate and the bright future of the islands
National color(s)
aquamarine, yellow, black
National holiday
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
National symbol(s)
blue marlin, flamingo, yellow elderflower
Political parties
Coalition of Independents Party or COI<br>Democratic National Alliance or DNA<br>Free National Movement or FNM<br>Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
Start of week
Monday
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
UN Member
Yes
Economy
Agricultural products
- sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget
- Expenditures
- $3.389 billion (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> 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
- $2.855 billion (2023 est.)
Currency
- code
- BSD, USD
- name
- Bahamian dollar (BSD) [$], United States dollar (USD) [$]
Current account balance
- $-1,052,660,800
- Current account balance 2022
- -$1.233 billion (2022 est.)
- Current account balance 2023
- -$1.069 billion (2023 est.)
- Current account balance 2024
- -$1.053 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> 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 2020
- 1 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 1 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 1 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 1 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 1 (2024 est.)
Exports
- $5.98 billion
- Exports 2022
- $5.425 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports 2023
- $6.011 billion (2023 est.)
- Exports 2024
- $6.771 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, shellfish, plastics (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
- USA 36%, Zimbabwe 16%, Cote d'Ivoire 14%, Germany 8%, Guyana 8% (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Foreign direct investment
- net inflows
- $240.55 million
GDP - composition, by end use
- Exports of goods and services
- 37.8% (2024 est.)
- Government consumption
- 12.9% (2024 est.)
- Household consumption
- 64.3% (2024 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -41.5% (2024 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 25.7% (2024 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 1.1% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- Agriculture
- 0.5% (2024 est.)
- Industry
- 9.6% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Services
- 77.2% (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
- $15.833 billion (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita (nominal)
$39,455
GNI (gross national income)
$15.2 billion
GNI per capita
$37,020
Gross domestic investment
27 % of GDP
Imports
- $6.56 billion
- Imports 2022
- $5.843 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports 2023
- $6.273 billion (2023 est.)
- Imports 2024
- $7.069 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, cars, crude petroleum (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
- USA 60%, Germany 13%, China 5%, Japan 3%, Brazil 2% (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
- 12.5% (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> 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)
- 0.41%
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 5.6% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 3.1% (2023 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
- 0.4% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
- 237,100 (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- total
- 245,159 persons
Labor force - by occupation
- agriculture
- 0.77%
- industry
- 14.79%
- services
- 84.44%
Public debt
- 74 % of GDP
- Note
- <b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
- Public debt 2023
- 73.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $16.53 billion
- Note
- <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $13.653 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $14.069 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $14.544 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
- 3.38%
- Note
- <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 10.9% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 3% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
- $41,198
- Note
- <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $34,300 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $35,200 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $36,200 (2024 est.)
Remittances
- $65.93 million
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2022
- 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Remittances 2024
- 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $2.51 billion
- Note
- <b>note:</b> 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.)
Revenue (excl grants)
19 % of GDP
Tax revenue
16 % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
- 16.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
- 9.21%
- Note
- <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 9.3% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 8.7% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 8.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- Female
- 17.8% (2024 est.)
- Male
- 17.8% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 17.8% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Imports
- 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Consumption
- 2.036 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 608,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
- Electrification - total population
- 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity generation sources
- Fossil fuels
- 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- hydroelectric
- 0%
- nuclear
- 0%
- renewable
- 0.48%
- Solar
- 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 104.409 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Natural gas
- Consumption
- 14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Renewable energy consumption
1.1%
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- per 100 inhabitants
- 24 per 100
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 24 (2023 est.)
- Total
- 95,000 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
4 major TV providers; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, with 31 privately owned FM radio stations; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio network with national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)
Internet country code
.bs
Internet users
- Percent of population
- 95% (2023 est.)
Telephone calling code
+1242
Telephones - fixed lines
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 23 (2024 est.)
- Total subscriptions
- 93,100 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
- subscriptions per 100
- 100 per 100
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 97 (2024 est.)
- Total subscriptions
- 388,000 (2024 est.)
Transportation
Air transport
- passengers carried
- 1.47 million passengers
- registered carrier departures
- 41,831 departures
Airports
54 (2025)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
C6
Driving side
Left
Heliports
9 (2025)
Merchant marine
- By type
- bulk carrier 345, container ship 39, general cargo 58, oil tanker 193, other 639
- Total
- 1,274 (2023)
Ports
- Key ports
- Clifton Pier, Cockburn Town, Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau, South Riding Point
- Large
- 0
- Medium
- 1
- Ports with oil terminals
- 4
- Small
- 1
- Total ports
- 6 (2024)
- Very small
- 4
Vehicle registration code
BS
Military and Security
Military - note
the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are maritime security and safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Bahamas, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal law and order in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies; the RBDF is a naval force with a few light aircraft, coastal patrol craft, and patrol boats, as well as a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security; the RBDF has training relationships with the UK and the US (2025)
Military and security forces
- Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2025)
- active duty personnel
- 2,000
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> 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
- percent of total labor force
- 0.92 %
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 1,500-1,800 active RBDF (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory has been acquired from the Netherlands or the US (2025)
Military expenditures
- 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 Expenditures 2024
- 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military service age and obligation
18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2025)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
- USG identification
- <br>major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- IDPs
- 30 (2024 est.)
- Refugees
- 30 (2024 est.)
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From consumed natural gas
- 23,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 2.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Total emissions
- 2.99 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environmental issues
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
International environmental 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
Particulate matter emissions
5.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Protected areas
8 % of total land area
Renewable electricity output
0 % of total
Total renewable water resources
700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- Municipal
- 31 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Waste and recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 264,000 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 24.9% (2022 est.)