Background: Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973 The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. By the early 1980s the islands had become a major center for drug trafficking particularly shipments to the US.

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 13,940 km²
Land: 10,070 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3,542 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

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

Land use
Arable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 32%
Other: 67%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage

Geography
Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain

Population: 273,055 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 1.57% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Bahamian(s)

Ethnic groups: black 85%, white 15%

Languages: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

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

Population growth rate: 1.57% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 18.86 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 5.38 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.24 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA

Infant mortality rate: 33.5 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.52 years
Male: 67.66 years
Female: 75.49 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963 est.)
Total population: 90%
Male: 90%
Female: 89%

Government type: commonwealth

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: National 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 Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January 1992)
Head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Orville A. TURNQUEST (since 19 August 1992)

Legislative branch: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general
House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

International organization participation: ACP, C, CCC, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lino GUTIERREZ
From the us chancery: 2,220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: (809) 322-1181 or 328-2,206
From the us fax: (809) 328-7,838
From the us consulates general: Miami and New York
From the us embassy: Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box N-8,197, Nassau

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

Economy overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation whose economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides about 40% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, per capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.

Real gdp growth rate: 2% (1991)

Real gdp per capita: $16,500 (1993 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal products - citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of food

Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe

Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1990; accounts for 15% of GDP

Labor force: 127,400
By occupation government: 30%
By occupation hotelsandrestaurants: 25%
By occupation businessservices: 10%
By occupation agriculture: 5% (1989)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1992 est.)

Budget: revenues:$628.5 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $310 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish
Partners: US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%

Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b,,1992)
Commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, mineral fuels, crude oil
Partners: US 32%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%

Debt external: $1.2 billion (December 1990)

Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)

Electricity
Capacity: 424,000 kW
Production: 929 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,599 kWh (1992)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $65 million, 2.7% of GDP (1990)

Airports: 60
Usable: 55
With permanentsurface runways: 31
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 3
With runways 1220-2439 m: 26

Merchant marine: 879 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,424,439 GRT/33,330,160 DWT, bulk 167, cargo 148, chemical tanker 43, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 20, container 48, liquefied gas 18, oil tanker 177, passenger 54, refrigerated cargo 132, roll-on/roll-off cargo 41, short-sea passenger 16, vehicle carrier 7
Note: a flag of convenience registry

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; also money-laundering center