Bahamas, The

Bahamas, The

Introduction

Background

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 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 Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Geography

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

Area

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

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

3,542 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

Climate

tropical marine

moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m

Natural resources

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Land use

arable land: 0.58%
permanent crops:0.29%
other:99.13% (2005)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

NA

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective:Bahamian

Ethnic groups

black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%

Languages

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Religions

Protestant 67.6% (Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%), Roman Catholic 13.5%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)

Population

313,312 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.4% (male 38,834/female 37,715)
15-64 years:69.2% (male 106,882/female 110,081)
65 years and over:6.3% (male 7,578/female 12,222) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 30.2 years
male:29.1 years
female:31.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.922% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Birth rate

16.1 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Death rate

6.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Urbanization

urban population: 84% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

NASSAU (capital) 248,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.62 male(s)/female
total population:0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

49 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.49 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 127 male:13.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female:13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.18 years
country comparison to the world: 140 male:68.8 years
female:73.63 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Health expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 73

Physicians density

1.05 physicians/1,000 population (1998)
country comparison to the world: 102

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 72

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 98% of population
rural: 86% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2% of population
rural: 14% of population
total: 4% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

3.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

6,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:95.6%
male:94.7%
female:96.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years
male:12 years
female:12 years (2006)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 18.9%
country comparison to the world: 62 male:16.7%
female:21.7% (2007)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

10 July 1973 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution

10 July 1973

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy 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 seats

members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 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 on 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%

seats by party – FNM 23, PLP 18

Judicial branch

Privy Council in London

Courts of Appeal

Supreme (lower) Court

Magistrates’ Courts

Political parties and leaders

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]

Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Friends of the Environment
other:trade unions

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole A. AVANT
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

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

blue marlin

flamingo

National anthem

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)

Economy

Economy – overview

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. Prior to 2006, a steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to solid GDP growth but since then tourism receipts have begun to drop off. The global recession in 2009 took a sizeable toll on the Bahamas, resulting in a contraction in GDP and a widening budget deficit. The decline continued in 2010 as tourism from the US and sector investment lagged. 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, the financial sector currently is smaller than it has been in the past because of the enactment of new and stricter financial regulations in 2000 that caused many international businesses to relocate elsewhere. 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.921 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152 $8.877 billion (2009 est.)
$9.275 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.538 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181 -4.3% (2009 est.)
-1.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$28,700 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49 $28,900 (2009 est.)
$30,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.6%
industry:8.1%
services:90.4% (2010 est.)

Labor force

184,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 5%
industry:5%
tourism:50%
other services:40% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.6% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Population below poverty line

9.3% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:27% (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

29.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

Budget

revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures:$1.3 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36 2.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70 5.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155 5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.31 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132 $1.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$6.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116 $5.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$8.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99 $7.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

citrus, vegetables

poultry

Industries

tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

1.945 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity – consumption

1.907 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Oil – consumption

35,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Oil – exports

transshipments of 41,610 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Oil – imports

70,990 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Current account balance

-$1.038 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136 -$893.3 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$702.4 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162 $710.7 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables

Exports – partners

US 35.9%, Singapore 18.1%, Germany 15.6%, Dominican Republic 7.9% (2010)

Imports

$2.591 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 $2.535 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels

food and live animals

Imports – partners

US 23.6%, Venezuela 19.3%, South Korea 11.3%, France 8%, India 7.5%, Japan 6.7%, Singapore 5.4%, China 4.6% (2010)

Debt – external

$342.6 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Exchange rates

Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
1 (2009)
1 (2008)
1 (2007)
1 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

62 (2010)
country comparison to the world:78

Airports – with paved runways

total: 23
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:13
914 to 1,523 m:5 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 39
1,524 to 2,437 m:5
914 to 1,523 m:12
under 914 m:22 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 2,717 km
country comparison to the world: 169 paved:1,560 km
unpaved:1,157 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 1,170
country comparison to the world: 10 by type:barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 229, cargo 191, carrier 2, chemical tanker 80, combination ore/oil 8, container 50, liquefied gas 78, passenger 100, passenger/cargo 29, petroleum tanker 222, refrigerated cargo 106, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 60
foreign-owned:1,080 (Angola 5, Belgium 9, Bermuda 12, Brazil 1, Canada 102, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 14, Denmark 59, Finland 8, France 19, Germany 39, Greece 209, Guernsey 6, Hong Kong 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 3, Italy 5, Japan 93, Jordan 2, Kuwait 2, Malaysia 13, Monaco 14, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 22, Nigeria 2, Norway 198, Poland 32, Saudi Arabia 16, Singapore 7, Slovenia 1, Spain 9, Sweden 6, Switzerland 2, Thailand 4, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 3, UAE 27, UK 24, US 100)
note:this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag

these ships operate under the laws of the flag state
registered in other countries:10 (Bolivia 1, Malta 1, Panama 7, Peru 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Military

Military branches

Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age

no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 85,568 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 63,429
females age 16-49:64,645 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,829
female:2,750 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 151

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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

Trafficking in persons

current situation: the Bahamas is a destination, source, and transit country for men, women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking

women from South American countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Panama may be subjected to forced prostitution

some workers from Haiti, Jamaica, China, Peru, and the Philippines could be vulnerable to involuntary servitude
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – despite making significant efforts to fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, the government did not demonstrate evidence of an overall increase in its anti-trafficking or victim-assistance efforts (2011)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe

offshore financial center