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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bs

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

248 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

103,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2006)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern facilities 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 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 station - 2 (2007)

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

133,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

227,800 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (2006)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.03 billion expenditures: $1.03 billion (FY04/05)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Debt - external [time series]

$342.6 million (2004 est.)

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

$4.78 million (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation 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. 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 2001-03. The current government has presided over a period of economic recovery and an upturn in large-scale private sector investments in tourism. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the government enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international businesses have left The Bahamas. 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 more than 80% of the visitors.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.762 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.894 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$451 million (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Spain 23.8%, US 21.1%, Poland 14.4%, Germany 7.3%, UK 6.1%, Guatemala 5.2% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$6.159 billion (2006 est.)

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

$6.556 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 7% services: 90% (2001 est.)

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

$21,600 (2006 est.)

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

4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: 27% (2000)

Imports [time series]

$2.16 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 24.5%, Brazil 15.6%, Japan 13%, South Korea 7.8%, Spain 7.1% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.2% (2004)

Labor force [time series]

176,300 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

transshipments of 41,290 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

9.3% (2004)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.2% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.58% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.13% (2005)

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]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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

Government

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]

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

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 Ned L. SIEGEL embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau 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, 356-3229 (after hours) FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Arthur D. HANNA (since 1 February 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007) 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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Privy Council (London); Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; magistrates courts

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

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 elections: last held 2 May 2007 (next to be called by May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

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

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 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 Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 73,121 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 44,309 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 2,804 (2005 est.)

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

Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2007)

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

0.5% (2006)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27% (male 41,268/female 41,186) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 99,961/female 103,230) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 8,176/female 11,834) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.3 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.13 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

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

5,600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 24.17 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.66 years male: 62.37 years female: 69.02 years (2007 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: 28.1 years male: 27.3 years female: 28.9 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

305,655 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 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.602% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.002 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.968 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.691 male(s)/female total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.15 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

disagrees with the US on the alignment of a potential maritime boundary; continues to monitor and interdict drug dealers and Haitian refugees in Bahamian waters

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

62 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 24 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 22 (2007)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,213 ships (1000 GRT or over) 40,403,455 GRT/54,276,183 DWT by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 225, cargo 240, chemical tanker 84, combination ore/oil 13, container 72, liquefied gas 49, livestock carrier 2, passenger 117, passenger/cargo 34, petroleum tanker 196, refrigerated cargo 118, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 4, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 39 foreign-owned: 1,134 (Angola 6, Australia 3, Belgium 15, Bermuda 12, Brazil 1, Canada 13, China 9, Croatia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 20, Denmark 66, Finland 8, France 43, Germany 40, Greece 214, Hong Kong 3, Iceland 1, Indonesia 3, Ireland 2, Italy 1, Japan 62, Jordan 2, Kenya 1, Malaysia 11, Monaco 11, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 24, Nigeria 2, Norway 232, Philippines 1, Poland 15, Russia 5, Saudi Arabia 15, Singapore 9, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, Spain 11, Sweden 5, Switzerland 2, Taiwan 1, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 5, UAE 20, UK 68, US 162, Uruguay 1, Venezuela 1) registered in other countries: 3 (Barbados 1, Panama 2) (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Roadways [time series]

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

Bahamas, The