The Bahamas

highest point:

1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m

lowest point:

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

noun:

Bahamian(s)

adjective:

Bahamian

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.)

improved:

total: 98.9% of population

unimproved:

total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)

improved:

total: 98.2% of population

unimproved:

total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)

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

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.)

urban population:

83.4% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization:

1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

[email protected]; https://www.bahamasembdc.org/

consulate(s) general:

Atlanta, Miami, New York, Washington, DC

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:

[email protected]; https://bs.usembassy.gov/

• 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

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)

agriculture:

3%

industry:

11%

services:

49%

tourism:

37% (2011 est.)

total:

25.8%

male:

20.8%

female:

31.6% (2016 est.)

lowest 10%:

1%

highest 10%:

22% (2007 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)

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)

total:

2,700 km (2011)

paved:

1,620 km (2011)

unpaved:

1,080 km (2011)

total:

1,323

by type:

bulk carrier 333, container ship 45, general cargo 64, oil tanker 224, other 657 (2021)

major seaport(s):

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

cruise port(s):

Nassau

container port(s) (TEUs):

Freeport (1,396,568) (2019)

• 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