World Facts Index
> Bahamas > Nassau
 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 of the Bahamas
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Location:
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Caribbean, chain of islands
in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba |
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Coordinates:
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24 15 N, 76 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 13,940 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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3,542 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; moderated
by warm waters of Gulf Stream |
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Terrain:
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long, flat coral formations
with some low rounded hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m |
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Natural resources:
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salt, aragonite, timber,
arable land |
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and other
tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage |
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Environment - current issues:
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coral reef decay; solid
waste disposal |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location adjacent
to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
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Population of the Bahamas
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Population:
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307,451 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.4% (male 40,608/female 40,506)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 101,150/female 104,457)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 8,472/female 12,258) |
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Median age:
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total: 28.4 years
male: 27.6 years
female: 29.2 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.72% (2004 est.), 0.64% (2006 est.), 0.57%
(2008 est.) |
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Infant mortality:
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23.67 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 65.72 years
male: 62.5 years
female: 69 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.18 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian |
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Ethnic groups:
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black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3% |
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Religions:
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Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic
19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% |
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Languages:
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English (official), Creole (among Haitian
immigrants) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Commonwealth
of The Bahamas |
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Government type:
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constitutional parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Nassau |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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10 July 1973 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 10 July (1973) |
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Constitution:
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10 July 1973 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by Governor General Arthur D. HANNA (since 1
February 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's
recommendation
elections: 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 |
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Legislative branch:
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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 |
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Judicial branch:
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Privy Council (London); Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower)
Court; magistrates courts |
Economy
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. 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 tourist arrivals have been on the decline since 2006. Financial services
constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when
combined with business services, account for about 36% 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 combined 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.
Tourism, in turn, depends on growth in the US, the source of more than 80% of
the visitors.
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GDP:
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$8.553 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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1% (2003 est.), 3.5% (2005 est.), 2.8% (2007
est.) |
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GDP per capita:
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$28,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% |
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Population below poverty line:
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9.3% |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services
40% (2005 est.) |
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Unemployment:
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6.9% (2001 est.), 10.2% (2005 est.), 7.6% (2006
est.) |
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Industries:
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tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil
refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel
pipe |
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Agriculture:
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citrus, vegetables; poultry |
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Exports:
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fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals;
fruit and vegetables |
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Export partners:
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US 21.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Spain 15.1%, Poland
14.9%, Germany 6.9%, Guatemala 5.9% |
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Imports:
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machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals |
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Import partners:
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US 22.7%, Brazil 16.6%, Japan 11.5%, South Korea
8.2%, Italy 6.3%, Singapore 4.4% |
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Currency:
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Bahamian dollar (BSD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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