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. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas close proximity to shipping lanes. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management, which comprise up to 85% of GDP. Because of its proximity to the US - the nearest Bahamian landmass being only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida - the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking, particularly to the US mainland, as well as Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas, and the US Coast Guard assists Bahamian authorities in maritime security and law enforcement through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or OPBAT.

Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 13,880 km²
Land: 10,010 km²
Water: 3,870 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries
Total: 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
Highest point: 1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Land use
Agricultural land: 1.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.)
Forest: 51.4% (2018 est.)
Other: 47.2% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 km² (2012)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

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

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

Population
Distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located: 358,508 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 1.06% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 9.3% (2010 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Bahamian(s)
Adjective: Bahamian

Ethnic groups: African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
Note: data represent population by racial group

Languages: English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Religions: Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%, other Protestant .9%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 21.37% (male 38,851/female 37,765)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 122,134/female 124,530)
65 years and over: 9.83% (2023 est.) (male 13,922/female 21,306)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 39.3
Youth dependency ratio: 27.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.9
Potential support ratio: 8.4 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.2 years (2023 est.)
Male: 30.2 years
Female: 30.2 years

Population growth rate: 1.06% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 13.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located

Urbanization
Urban population: 83.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
International agreements 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
International agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.79 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.23 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 77 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.2 years (2023 est.)
Male: 74.5 years
Female: 77.9 years

Total fertility rate: 1.44 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Drinking water source
Improved: total: 98.9% of population
Unimproved: total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 7.6% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 1.94 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved: total: 98.2% of population
Unimproved: total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 31.6% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 10.6% (2020 est.)
Male: 18.8% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.4% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 30.8% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 27.5%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 35.6%

Country name
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

Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; 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
Etymology: named after William III (1650-1702), king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was a member of the House of Nassau

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
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

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

Citizenship
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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Cynthia A. PRATT (since 1 September 2023)
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

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:
Note: the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and a maximum of 11 and a minimum of 2 justices)
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68 but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65 but can be extended until age 67
Subordinate courts: Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators
Note: The Bahamas is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community but is not party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest appellate court; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), 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 Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022)
In the us chancery: 600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20,037
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 319-2,660
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 319-2,668
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Usha E. PITTS (since 1 January 2021)
From the us embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
From the us mailing address: 3,370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20,521-3,370
From the us telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181
From the us FAX: [1] (242) 356-7,174
From the us email address and website:

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 symbols: blue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black

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 King" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

Economy overview: high-income tourism and financial services economy; major income inequality; strong US bilateral relations; several tax relief programs; targeted investment in agriculture, energy, light manufacturing, and technology industries

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 68% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 13% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 33.7% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -41.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.)
Industry: 7.7% (2017 est.)
Services: 90% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: sugar cane, grapefruit, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, poultry, tropical fruit, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas

Industries: tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate: 8.51% (2021 est.)

Labor force: 224,400 (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 30.8% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 27.5%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 35.6%

Population below poverty line: 9.3% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: 1%
Highest 10%: 22% (2007 est.)

Budget
Revenues: $2.087 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $2.899 billion (2020 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: -2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 19.16% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:

Current account balance:

Exports:
Note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Partners: United States 26%, Germany 16%, Singapore 13%, Poland 13%, Thailand 9% (2021)
Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, lobsters and crawfish, styrene polymers (2021)
Commodities note: Bahamian cannabis production remains a significant illicit trade export

Imports:
Partners: United States 37%, South Korea 12%, Germany 9%, China 7%, Russia 6% (2021)
Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, crude petroleum, floating docks (2021)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 578,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 2,103,248,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 245,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 25,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 19,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 4.417 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 4.417 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.984 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.976 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 140.505 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 86,484 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 466,000 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media: 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)

Internet
Country code: .bs
Users total: 385,400 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 94% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 83,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2020 est.)

Military expenditures:

Military and security forces: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2023)
Note: the RBPF maintains internal security; both the RBDF and the RBPF, as well as the Department of Corrections, report to the Minister of National Security

Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2023)

National air transport system
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 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C6

Airports: 54 (2021)
With paved runways: 24
With paved runways civil airports: 3
With paved runways military airports: 0
With paved runways joint use (civil-military) airports: 0
With paved runways other airports: 21
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 37
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports: 1 (2021)

Roadways
Total: 2,700 km (2011)
Paved: 1,620 km (2011)
Unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)

Merchant marine
Total: 1,307 (2022)
By type: bulk carrier 337, container ship 40, general cargo 63, oil tanker 213, other 654

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
Cruise ports: Freeport, Half Moon Cay, Nassau
Container ports teus: Freeport (1,642,780) (2021)

Disputes international: The Bahamas-US: in declaring its archipelagic waters and 200 nm EEZ in 1993 legislation, The Bahamas did not delimit the outer limits of the EEZ; but in areas where EEZs overlap with neighbors, The Bahamas agreed to equidistance as a line of separation; however, The Bahamas has yet to define maritime boundaries with any of its neighbors, including the US, whose Florida coast lays about 70 nm from Grand Bahama Island

Illicit drugs: a transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; small scale illicit production of marijuana continues