Bahamas, The

total: 82,295 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21.13 (2019 est.)

The Bahamas has 4 major TV providers that provide service to all major islands in the archipelago; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes freely with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 31 are privately owned FM radio stations operating on New Providence, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco Island, and on smaller islands in the country; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio broadcasting network that has national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)

.bs

total: 335,800 (2021 est.) percent of population: 85% (2019 est.)

general assessment: the telecom sector across the Caribbean continues to be a growth area, contributing to the country's overall GDP; totally automatic system; highly developed; operators focus investment on mobile networks; the activation of (mobile number portability) MNP in April 2017, allowing mobile subscribers to port their numbers between competing MNO (mobile network operators) has contributed to the competition and liberalization of the market (2020) domestic: 23 per 100 fixed-line, 109 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 1-242; landing points for the ARCOS-1, BICS, Bahamas 2-US, and BDSN fiber-optic submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

total subscriptions: 91,129 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23.4 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions: 425,507 (2019) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109.3 (2019 est.)

sugar cane, grapefruit, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, poultry, tropical fruit, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas

revenues: 2.139 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.46 billion (2017 est.)

-2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Moody's rating: Ba2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2020)

-$1.909 billion (2017 est.) -$868 million (2016 est.)

$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

The Bahamas has the second highest per capita GDP in the English-speaking Caribbean with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and financial services. Tourism accounts for approximately 50% 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, accounting for about 15% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than 7% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The new government led by Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS has prioritized addressing fiscal imbalances and rising debt, which stood at 75% of GDP in 2016. Large capital projects like the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel are driving growth. Public debt increased in 2017 in large part due to hurricane reconstruction and relief financing. The primary fiscal balance was a deficit of 0.4% of GDP in 2016. The Bahamas is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a member of the World Trade Organization.

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2017 est.) 1 (2016 est.) 1 (2015 est.) 1 (2014 est.) 1 (2013 est.)

$1.69 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $5.14 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $4.75 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, crustaceans, styrene polymers (2019)

Poland 32%, United States 17%, Ecuador 9%, China 6%, Japan 5% (2019)

1 July - 30 June

$12.16 billion (2017 est.)

household consumption: 68% (2017 est.) government consumption: 13% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 33.7% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -41.8% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.) industry: 7.7% (2017 est.) services: 90% (2017 est.)

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

$3.64 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.) $4.91 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $5.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

ships, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, recreational boats, cars (2019)

United States 31%, South Korea 29%, Japan 14% (2019)

5.8% (2017 est.)

tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals

1.4% (2017 est.) -0.3% (2016 est.)

196,900 (2013 est.)

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

9.3% (2010 est.)

54.6% of GDP (2017 est.) 50.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

$12.1 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $14.45 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $14.28 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

1.4% (2017 est.) -1.7% (2016 est.) 1% (2015 est.)

$30,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $37,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $37,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$1.522 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.002 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

10.1% (2017 est.) 12.2% (2016 est.)

total: 25.8% male: 20.8% female: 31.6% (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

1.654 billion kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

577,000 kW (2016 est.)

1.778 billion kWh (2016 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

48,020 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

48,020 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (2017 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

20,040 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

19,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 17.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.79 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.23 megatons (2020 est.)

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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

agricultural land: 1.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.) forest: 51.4% (2018 est.) other: 47.2% (2018 est.)

coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)

700 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

urban population: 83.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 264,000 tons (2015 est.)

total: 13,880 sq km land: 10,010 sq km water: 3,870 sq km

slightly smaller than Connecticut

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

3,542 km

highest point: 1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

24 15 N, 76 00 W

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

10 sq km (2012)

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 1.4% (2018 est.) arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.) forest: 51.4% (2018 est.) other: 47.2% (2018 est.)

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

Central America and the Caribbean

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

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

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

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

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 etymology: named after William III (1650-1702), king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was a member of the House of Nassau

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

history: previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973 amendments: proposed as an "Act" by Parliament; passage of amendments to articles such as the organization and composition of the branches of government requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of the membership of both houses of Parliament and majority approval in a referendum; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as fundamental rights and individual freedoms, the powers, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, or changes to the Bahamas Independence Act 1973 requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of the membership of both houses and majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2016

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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Usha E. PITTS (since 1 January 2021) embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370 telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181 FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174 email address and website: acsnassau@state.gov https://bs.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney Stanley COLLIE (since 29 November 2017) chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 email address and website: embassy@bahamasembdc.org https://www.bahamasembdc.org/ consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York, Washington, DC

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cornelius A. SMITH (since 28 June 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Philip DAVIS (since 17 September 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; 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

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

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

10 July 1973 (from the UK)

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

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)

highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and a maximum of 11 and a minimum of 2 justices) 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 note: the Bahamas is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community but is not party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest appellate court; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas

common law system based on the English model

description: bicameral Parliament consists of: 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) House of Assembly (39 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last appointments on 24 May 2017 (next appointments in 2022) House of Assembly - last held on 16 September 2021 (next to be held by September 2026) election results: Senate - appointed; composition - men 9, women 7, percent of women 43.8% House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, FNM 36.2%; seats by party - PLP 32, FNM 7; composition note: the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time

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)

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

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

Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Christopher MORTIMER, interim leader] Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS] Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Philip "Brave" DAVIS]

18 years of age; universal

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. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas close proximity to shipping lanes. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management, which comprise up to 85% of GDP. Because of its proximity to the US - the nearest Bahamian landmass being only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida - the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking, particularly to the US mainland, as well as Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas, and the US Coast Guard assists Bahamian authorities in coastal defense through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or OPBAT.

the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-narcotics operations; it is a naval force, but includes a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security, as well as a few light non-combat aircraft; the maritime element has coastal patrol craft and patrol boats; the RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and the US

Royal Bahamas Defense Force: includes land, air, maritime elements (2021)

the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) has approximately 1,500 total personnel (2021)

most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory is supplied by the Netherlands (2021)

0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2020) 0.7% of GDP (2019) 0.7% of GDP (2018)

18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2021)

0-14 years: 21.7% (male 38,811/female 37,719) 15-24 years: 14.91% (male 26,636/female 25,945) 25-54 years: 43.56% (male 76,505/female 77,119) 55-64 years: 10.75% (male 17,508/female 20,391) 65 years and over: 9.08% (male 12,587/female 19,434) (2021 est.)

14.78 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

NA

6.3% (2018)

6.34 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio: 41.5 youth dependency ratio: 30.6 elderly dependency ratio: 11 potential support ratio: 9.1 (2020 est.)

improved: total: 98.9% of population unimproved: total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)

2.5% of GDP (2020)

African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.) note: data represent population by racial group

1.2% (2020 est.)

<200 (2018)

4,700 (2020 est.)

3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

total: 13.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

total population: 75.87 years male: 72.93 years female: 78.9 years (2021 est.)

280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)

70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

total: 32.8 years male: 31.7 years female: 34 years (2020 est.)

noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

31.6% (2016)

2.01 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

352,655 (July 2021 est.) 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

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

0.84% (2021 est.)

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%, other Protestant .9%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)

improved: total: 98.2% of population unimproved: total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)

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: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

1.98 children born/woman (2021 est.)

total: 25.8% male: 20.8% female: 31.6% (2016 est.)

urban population: 83.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

a transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; illicit production of marijuana continues

total: 54 (2020)

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 (2017)

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

C6

1 (2013)

total: 1,323 by type: bulk carrier 333, container ship 45, general cargo 64, oil tanker 224, other 657 (2021)

number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,197,116 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 160,000 mt-km (2018)

major seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point cruise port(s): Nassau container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,396,568) (2019)

total: 2,700 km (2011) paved: 1,620 km (2011) unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)