Background: Lucayan Indians inhabited the Bahama islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World 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 gaining 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 is only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida -- the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking to the US mainland, as well as to Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas; the Drug Enforcement Administration, US Coast Guard, and US Customs and Border Protection assist Bahamian authorities with 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
Country comparison total: 0 km

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.)
Agricultural land forest: 51.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land 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 m³ (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
Total: 410,862
Male: 190,100
Female: 220,762 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 1.07% (2024 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%, Plymouth Brethren 1.6%, other Protestant 0.9%), 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: 21.4% (male 41,675/female 46,363)
15-64 years: 70% (male 132,626/female 154,866)
65 years and over: 8.6% (2024 est.) (male 15,799/female 19,533)

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: 30.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 30.6 years
Female: 30.7 years

Population growth rate: 1.07% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 13.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 75.1 years
Female: 78.4 years

Total fertility rate: 1.44 children born/woman (2024 est.)

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

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

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

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: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 26.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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 Edward 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 parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is appointed prime minister by the governor-general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor-general - 9 selected on the advice of the prime minister, 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, and 3 on the advice of the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader; members serve 5-year terms), House of Assembly (39 seats statutory, 38 seats current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last appointments on 7 October 2021 (next appointments by 31 October 2026), House of Assembly - last held on 16 September 2021 (next to be held by September 2026)
Elections results: Senate - appointed: PLP 12, FNM 4; composition - men 12, women 4, percentage women 25%, House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, FNM 36.2%; seats by party - PLP 32, FNM 7; composition - men 32, women 7, percentage women 18%; total Parliament percentage women 20%
Note: Parliament sits for 5 years from the date of the last general election: 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 6 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 19 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; Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators (can also serve as magistrates)
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: Coalition of Independents Party or COI, Democratic National Alliance or DNA, Free National Movement or FNM, Progressive Liberal Party or PLP

International organization participation: ACP, ACS, 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: embassy@bahamasembdc.org; [link]
In the us consulates general: Atlanta, Miami, New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Kimberly FURNISH (since June 2024)
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: acsnassau@state.gov; [link]

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: $13.224 billion (2023 est.); $12.884 billion (2022 est.); $11.63 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 2.64% (2023 est.); 10.78% (2022 est.); 15.4% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $32,000 (2023 est.); $31,400 (2022 est.); $28,500 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 67.5% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 13% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 19.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 39.7% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Industry: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Services: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 10.34% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 242,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 9.2% (2023 est.); 9.87% (2022 est.); 11.69% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 26.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $2.606 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $3.102 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 16.43% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 82.16% of GDP (2022 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

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

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.05% (2023 est.); 5.61% (2022 est.); 2.9% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance: -$1.763 billion (2022 est.); -$2.434 billion (2021 est.); -$2.285 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $4.744 billion (2022 est.); $3.33 billion (2021 est.); $1.688 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 49%, Cote d'Ivoire 20%, Germany 9%, Thailand 7%, Poland 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, postage stamps/documents, plastics (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $5.692 billion (2022 est.); $4.947 billion (2021 est.); $3.411 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: US 59%, South Korea 6%, Germany 6%, China 5%, Brazil 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, crude petroleum, coal tar oil (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.512 billion (2023 est.); $2.609 billion (2022 est.); $2.433 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 578,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.021 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 13.847 million m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 13.847 million m³ (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.431 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.409 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 22,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 115.318 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 86,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 404,000 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2024)
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 (2024)

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: 55 (2024)

Heliports: 9 (2024)

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

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