Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

19 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.bs

Internet users [time series]

16,900 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern facilities domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

96,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6,152 (1997)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $918.5 million expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY 99/00)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

BSD

Debt - external [time series]

$371.6 million (2001)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$9.8 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in these sectors in 2002. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of most of the visitors.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.451 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.56 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1 (1998)

Exports [time series]

$560.7 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables

Exports - partners [time series]

US 39.1%, Germany 15.4%, Spain 10.8%, France 7.4%, Poland 4.6%, Switzerland 4.3% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $4.59 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 7% services: 90% (1999 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

0.1% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.86 billion (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 20.3%, South Korea 20.1%, Germany 11.5%, Norway 11.5%, Japan 10%, Italy 7.2% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (2001 est.)

Labor force [time series]

156,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

tourism 50%, other services 40%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.9% (2001 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 13,940 sq km water: 3,870 sq km land: 10,070 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Coastline [time series]

3,542 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

24 15 N, 76 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.6% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 99% (1998 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

Natural resources [time series]

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Terrain [time series]

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Administrative divisions [time series]

21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

Capital [time series]

Nassau

Constitution [time series]

10 July 1973

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Robert M. WITAJEWSKI embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370 telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours) FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS consulate(s) general: Miami and New York FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation elections: none; the monarch 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

Government type [time series]

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

10 July 1973 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Arawak 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 have 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 its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$20 million (FY95/96)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.7% (FY99)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28.8% (male 42,799; female 42,730) 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 95,718; female 98,875) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 7,092; female 10,263) (2003 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

3.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

610 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,200 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 26.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 32.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.71 years male: 62.3 years female: 69.18 years (2003 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.6% male: 94.7% female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 27 years male: 26.2 years female: 27.7 years (2002)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population [time series]

297,477 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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.77% (2003 est.)

Religions [time series]

Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary with the US

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Airports [time series]

64 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 30 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 22 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,090 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,065,778 GRT/46,202,085 DWT ships by type: bulk 150, cargo 223, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 18, container 108, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 102, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, refrigerated cargo 135, roll on/roll off 40, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none

Bahamas, The