The Bahamas

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

constitutional parliamentary democracyIndependence 10 July 1973 (from UK)

The Bahamas as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalNassau

Position24 15 N, 76 00 W

Area13,940 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

299,697 people July 2004 est. · 246,491 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.72% 2004 est. · 1.62% in 1993

Median ageyears

27.3 years 2004 est. · 27 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

65.63 years 2004 est. · 72.02 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.23 children per woman 2004 est. · 1.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

25.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 21 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$16,700 2003 est. · $10,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0% 2003 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 13,940 sq km

arable land 0.8%permanent crops 0.4%other 98.8% (2001)

Area

13,940sq km

land: 10,070 sq kmwater: 3,870 sq kmslightly smaller than Connecticut

Coastline

3,542km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Highest point

63m

Mount Alvernia, on Cat Islandlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

24 15 N, 76 00 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Climate

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Natural resources

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

Environment - current issues

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

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

People

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Population

299,697

growth rate: 0.72% (2004 est.)

Note

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 2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth

18.22Death

8.82Net migration

-2.2

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)65.63

62.21 · 69.11Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)25.7

31.73 · 19.55

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)95.6%

94.7% · 96.5%Median age years (2004 est.)27.3

26.5 · 28

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

black 85%white 12%Asian and Hispanic 3%

Religions

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

(2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 28.3% (male 42,474; female 42,423)
15-64 years:: 65.7% (male 96,825; female 99,985)
65 years and over:: 6% (male 7,351; female 10,639) (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

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 (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.23 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Bahamian(s)
adjective:: Bahamian

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Government

Constitutional parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002); Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.8%

PLP 50.8%FNM 41.1%independents 5.2%last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)

Legislature, 40 seats, elected 1 May 2002one dot, one seat

PLP 29FNM 7independents 4

Percent of vote

PLP 50.8%FNM 41.1%independents 5.2%

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital

Nassau

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

10 July 1973 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution

10 July 1973

Legal system

based on English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame 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

Legislative branch

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);
the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court;
Court of Appeal;
magistrates courts

Political parties and leaders

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador John D. ROOD
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

Flag description

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

Economy

The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking.

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Real growth rate

(2003 est.)industrial production growth: NA (2002 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.7%

(2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.9%

(2001 est.)

Labor force

156,000

(1999)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

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

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

35%

20.8%

South Korea

17.4%

Italy

11.4%

9.6%

Spain

7.6%

France

9.1%

7.8%

Germany

Brazil

7.5%

Japan

5.6%

5.3%

Poland

Venezuela

5.3%

4.8%

Switzerland

4.2%

Peru

4.2%

Paraguay

Exports $617 million (2002 est.)Imports $1.614 billion (2002 est.)(2003)

Budget

Revenues

$918.5 millionExpenditures

$956.5 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY99/00)

Electricity

Electricity production

1.56 billion (2001)Electricity consumption

1.451 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

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 2001-03.

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. In addition to tourism and banking, the government supports the development of a "third pillar," e-commerce.

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

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

121,800

(2002)

Internet users

302

(2003)

Fixed lines

131,700

(2003) · country code .bs

Telephone system

general assessment:: modern facilities
domestic:: totally automatic system; highly developed
international:: country code - 1-242;
tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida;
3 coaxial submarine cables;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 29Unpaved 34

Highways

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

Ports and harbors

Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau

Merchant marine

total:: 1,035 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,631,252 GRT/43,025,977 DWT
by type:: bulk 165, cargo 188, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 17, container 97, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large load carrier 4, passenger 108, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 163, refrigerated cargo 133, roll on/roll off 34, short-sea/passenger 18, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned:: Algeria 1, Australia 7, Belgium 14, Bermuda 1, Canada 4, Chile 1, China 4, Croatia 1, Cuba 3, Cyprus 14, Denmark 49, Estonia 1, Faroe Islands 1, Finland 9, France 21, Germany 13, Gibraltar 1, Greece 163, Hong Kong 9, India 1, Indonesia 3, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 7, Japan 35, Kenya 2, South Korea 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malaysia 11, Malta 1, Monaco 68, Netherlands 29, New Zealand 1, Norway 231, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 14, Reunion 1, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, Spain 6, Sweden 9, Switzerland 1, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2
registered in other countries:: 11 (2004 est.)