Bahamas, The

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 users

total: 253,000 | percent of population: 78% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Telephone system

general assessment: modern facilities | domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) privatized in 2011, but the government reacquired 51% share in 2014 | 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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 120,925 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 311,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Agriculture - products

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Budget

revenues: $1.8 billion | expenditures: $2.2 billion (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Central bank discount rate

4.5% (1 January 2014) | 4.5% (31 December 2012) | country comparison to the world: 82

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.8% (31 December 2015 est.) | 4.75% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Current account balance

-$1.021 billion (2015 est.) | -$1.898 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Debt - external

$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | $16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

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. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 35% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than one 10th of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The economy of The Bahamas shrank at an average pace of 0.8% annually between 2007 and 2011, and tourism, financial services, and construction - pillars of the national economy - remain subdued. Conditions are improving in the tourism sector, however, due to steady foreign investment led activity. New resort and marina developments are likely to provide sustained employment opportunities.

Exchange rates

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - | 1 (2015 est.) | 1 (2014 est.) | 1 (2013 est.) | 1 (2012 est.) | 1 (2011 est.)

Exports

$800 million (2015 est.) | $859 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Exports - commodities

crawfish, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products

Exports - partners

Poland 26.3%, Cote dIvoire 20.9%, US 15.9%, Dominican Republic 14.3% (2015)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$8.705 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$9.166 billion (2015 est.) | $9.122 billion (2014 est.) | $9.03 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 161

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 65.4% | government consumption: 16% | investment in fixed capital: 26.2% | investment in inventories: 1% | exports of goods and services: 38.6% | imports of goods and services: -47.2% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.2% | industry: 7.6% | services: 90.2% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,200 (2015 est.) | $25,300 (2014 est.) | $25,400 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 77

GDP - real growth rate

0.5% (2015 est.) | 1% (2014 est.) | 0% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 205

Gross national saving

11.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | 9.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 10.1% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% | highest 10%: 22% (2007)

Imports

$2.585 billion (2015 est.) | $3.309 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 22.3%, China 14.8%, Japan 9.5%, Poland 7.7%, South Korea 7.3%, Colombia 6.8%, Brazil 5.6%, Singapore 5.5% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Industries

tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.9% (2015 est.) | 1.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Labor force

196,900 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3% | industry: 11% | tourism: 49% | other services: 37% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Population below poverty line

9.3% (2010 est.)

Public debt

64.4% of GDP (2015 est.) | 60.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$895.5 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $874.3 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 132

Stock of broad money

$6.453 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $6.076 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Stock of domestic credit

$9.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $8.825 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Stock of narrow money

$2.051 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $1.996 million (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Taxes and other revenues

20.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Unemployment rate

15% (2014 est.) | 15.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

4.1 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 135

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 109

Electricity - consumption

1.6 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Electricity - installed generating capacity

600,000 kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - production

1.7 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 es) | country comparison to the world: 114

Refined petroleum products - consumption

24,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Refined petroleum products - exports

922.7 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Refined petroleum products - imports

26,330 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Area

total: 13,880 sq km | land: 10,010 sq km | water: 3,870 sq km | country comparison to the world: 161

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Coastline

3,542 km

Elevation

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m

Environment - current issues

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

24 15 N, 76 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 1.4% | arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 0.2% | forest: 51.4% | other: 47.2% (2011 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

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 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

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

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

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

previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973; amended many times, last in 2016 (2016)

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 Lisa A. JOHNSON (since 9 July 2014 | embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence | 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) | FAX: [1] (242) 328-2206

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eugene Glenwood NEWRY (since 3 December 2013) | chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 | FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Marguerite PINDLING (since 8 July 2014) | head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2012) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; 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

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 resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices – as of 2015) | 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 | 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 | 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 the 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) and the House of Assembly (38 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time | elections: last held on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017) | election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 48.6%, FNM 42.1%, DNA 8.5%, other.8%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 9

National anthem

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

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

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS] | Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE] | Democratic National Alliance [Branville MCCARTNEY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Friends of the Environment | other: trade unions

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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, 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.

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.75% (male 37,779/female 36,691) | 15-24 years: 16.79% (male 27,843/female 27,116) | 25-54 years: 44.12% (male 72,295/female 72,107) | 55-64 years: 8.87% (male 13,023/female 15,998) | 65 years and over: 7.47% (male 9,399/female 15,065) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

15.4 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Death rate

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 41.2% | youth dependency ratio: 29.6% | elderly dependency ratio: 11.7% | potential support ratio: 8.5% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98.4% of population | rural: 98.4% of population | total: 98.4% of population | 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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.22% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

HIV/AIDS - deaths

300 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

8,100 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Health expenditures

7.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 70

Hospital bed density

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 11.8 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.4 years | male: 70 years | female: 74.8 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145

Major urban areas - population

NASSAU (capital) 267,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

80 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Median age

total: 31.8 years | male: 30.6 years | female: 32.9 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Nationality

noun: Bahamian(s) | adjective: Bahamian

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

36.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 13

Physicians density

2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

327,316 | note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

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

0.83% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

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

urban: 92% of population | rural: 92% of population | total: 92% of population | urban: 8% of population | rural: 8% of population | total: 8% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female | total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.95 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 30.8% | male: 29.6% | female: 32.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Urbanization

urban population: 82.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.53% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Airports

61 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 80

Airports - with paved runways

total: 24 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 | 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 37 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 | 914 to 1,523 m: 16 | under 914 m: 17 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

C6 (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 1,160 | by type: 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 | foreign-owned: 1,069 (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) | country comparison to the world: 10

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 4 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 587,516 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 172,730 mt-km (2015)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point | container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,116,272)(2011) | cruise port(s): Nassau

Roadways

total: 2,700 km | paved: 1,620 km | unpaved: 1,080 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 171