View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2014 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.bs

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

20,661 (2012) country comparison to the world: 117

Internet users [time series]

115,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 156

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 stations - 2 (2007)

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

137,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 141

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

254,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 176

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.41 billion expenditures: $2.1 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-8.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.5% (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 4.5% (31 December 2012 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.75% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 4.75% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.372 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 -$1.424 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 a 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 2007-2011, 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 [time series]

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2013 est.) 1 (2012 est.) 1 (2010 est.) 1 (2008 est.) 1 (2007 est.)

Exports [time series]

$960 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $984 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crawfish, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products

Exports - partners [time series]

Singapore 25.1%, US 20.6%, Dominican Republic 12.9%, Ecuador 9.4%, Canada 5.8%, Switzerland 4.1%, China 4.1% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$8.373 billion (2013 est.)

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

$11.4 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $11.19 billion (2012 est.) $10.98 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 68.7% government consumption: 15.5% investment in fixed capital: 34.4% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 45.8% imports of goods and services: -64.4% (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 2.1% industry: 7.1% services: 90.8% (2013 est.)

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

$32,000 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $31,800 (2012 est.) $31,500 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

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

1.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 1.8% (2012 est.) 1.7% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

14.3% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 19.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 17.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$3.245 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $3.386 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 30.1%, India 20.3%, Singapore 8.7%, South Korea 6.8%, China 5%, Colombia 4.5%, Canada 4.2% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 2% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

196,900 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

9.3% (2010 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$830 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $846.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$6.329 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $6.088 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$9.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $8.653 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.435 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $1.575 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

16.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Unemployment rate [time series]

16.2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 14% (2012 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

4.734 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.795 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

493,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - production [time series]

1.93 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

36,300 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

41,770 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

64,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 13,880 sq km country comparison to the world: 161 land: 10,010 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: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.06% (2011)

Location [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.02 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [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]

previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973; amended many times, last in 2002; note - in 2012, a constitutional commission was appointed to review and recommend constitutional changes (2013)

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' Affaires John DINKELMAN (since November 2011) 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010) head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 8 May 2012) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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

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; 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 [time series]

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence [time series]

10 July 1973 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

highest court(s): The Bahamas Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, sitting in panels of 3 justices) 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 justices appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister and in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 68-70 subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates Courts; Family Island Administrators

Legal system [time series]

common law system based on the English model

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 (38 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 on 7 May 2012 (next to be held by May 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLP 30, FNM 8

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "March On, Bahamaland!"

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

National symbol(s) [time series]

blue marlin; flamingo

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

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

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

Friends of the Environment other: trade unions

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 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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 85,568 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 63,429 females age 16-49: 64,645 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 2,829 female: 2,750 (2010 est.)

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

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

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 37,962/female 36,857) 15-24 years: 17.4% (male 28,387/female 27,639) 25-54 years: 44.1% (male 70,765/female 71,038) 55-64 years: 8.3% (male 11,882/female 14,885) 65 years and over: 7% (male 8,591/female 13,828) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.65 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 40.9 % youth dependency ratio: 29.6 % elderly dependency ratio: 11.3 % potential support ratio: 8.9 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 98.4% of population rural: 98.4% of population total: 98.4% of population unimproved: urban: 1.6% of population rural: 1.6% of population total: 1.6% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

3.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 18

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

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

7,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

7.7% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 67

Hospital bed density [time series]

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 124 male: 12.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.93 years country comparison to the world: 140 male: 69.48 years female: 74.46 years (2014 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.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

NASSAU (capital) 254,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

47 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 111

Median age [time series]

total: 31.2 years male: 30.1 years female: 32.3 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

34.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 13

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population [time series]

321,834 country comparison to the world: 179 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 2014 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.87% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

improved: urban: 92% of population rural: 92% of population total: 92% of population unimproved: urban: 8% of population rural: 8% of population total: 8% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.97 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 30.8% country comparison to the world: 25 male: 29.6% female: 32.2% (2012)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 84.3% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

61 (2013) country comparison to the world: 79

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,160 country comparison to the world: 10 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: 1,063 (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)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 2,700 km country comparison to the world: 170 paved: 1,620 km unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)

Bahamas, The