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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 [time series]

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

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Budget [time series]

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

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

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

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

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 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 [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

crawfish, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$8.705 billion (2015 est.)

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

$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 [time series]

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

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

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

$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

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

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

Gross national saving [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

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

Labor force [time series]

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

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]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

9.3% (2010 est.)

Public debt [time series]

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

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

Stock of broad money [time series]

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

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

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

Stock of narrow money [time series]

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

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Energy

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

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

Crude oil - exports [time series]

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

Crude oil - imports [time series]

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

Crude oil - production [time series]

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

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

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

Electricity - consumption [time series]

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

Electricity - exports [time series]

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

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

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

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

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

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

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

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

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

Electricity - imports [time series]

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

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

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

Electricity - production [time series]

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

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

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

Natural gas - exports [time series]

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

Natural gas - imports [time series]

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

Natural gas - production [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

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

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

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

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: 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 (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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 [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

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located

Terrain [time series]

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

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

Citizenship [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [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 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 (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]

parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; 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, 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

common law system based on the English model

Legislative branch [time series]

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(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

National symbol(s) [time series]

blue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black

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

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

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 and Security

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: 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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Dependency ratios [time series]

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 [time series]

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]

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

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

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

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

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

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

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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 [time series]

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population [time series]

NASSAU (capital) 267,000 (2014)

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

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

Median age [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahamian(s) | adjective: Bahamian

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

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

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population [time series]

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 [time series]

most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located

Population growth rate [time series]

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

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]

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

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

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

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

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 82.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.53% 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: 80

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)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

C6 (2016)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Bahamas, The