Bahamas, The
Top Sights & Landmarks
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.
Location
chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba; note - although The Bahamas does not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically it is often designated as a Caribbean nation
Area
Elevation
Detailed Geography Information
Coastline
3,542 km
Geography - note
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Natural resources
Terrain
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Population & Growth
Age Distribution
Demographic Longevity
Vital Dynamics
Detailed People & Society Information
Alcohol consumption per capita
9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 43.2 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 30.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 13 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 7.7 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
2.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gross reproduction rate
0.71 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
7.1% of GDP (2021) 15.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Major urban areas - population
280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio
76 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Nationality
noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
31.6% (2016)
Physician density
1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Population distribution
most of the population lives in urban areas, with two thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Religions
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.)
Tobacco use
total: 10.8% (2025 est.) male: 20.8% (2025 est.) female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Climate & Issues
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Land Cover
Air & Carbon Emissions
Water Resources & Use
Detailed Environmental Information
International environmental agreements
Urbanization
urban population: 83.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 264,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Capital & State Profile
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
National Identity & Symbols
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the left side
Detailed Government Information
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
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
Constitution
history: previous 1964 (pre-independence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973 amendment process: 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
Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas etymology: name may be derived from the Spanish baha mar, meaning "low sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks; alternatively, it may be a form of the local name Guanahani, which is of unknown origin and meaning
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
Legal system
common-law system based on the English model
Political parties
Coalition of Independents Party or COI Democratic National Alliance or DNA Free National Movement or FNM Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economic 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
Size & Performance
GDP Sector Breakdown
Trade Balance
Budget Balance
Export Profile
Top Export Partners
Major Export Commodities
Labor & Employment
Income Inequality
Detailed Economic Data
Agricultural products
Current account balance
-$1.053 billion (2024 est.) -$1.069 billion (2023 est.) -$1.233 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exchange rates
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 1 (2024 est.) 1 (2023 est.) 1 (2022 est.) 1 (2021 est.) 1 (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Industrial production growth rate
12.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.4% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Public debt
73.7% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Remittances
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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
Taxes and other revenues
16.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Grid Infrastructure
Generation Mix
Fossil Fuels Production
Intensity & Nuclear
Digital Access
Active internet users as a percentage of the total population.
Fixed Broadband
Mobile Cellular
Broadcast Media
Aviation
Ports & Harbors
Merchant Marine
Military Expenditures
Active Duty Strengths
approximately 1,500-1,800 active RBDF (2025)
Service & Defense Details
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2025) 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
most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory has been acquired from the Netherlands or the US (2025)
the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are maritime security and safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Bahamas, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal law and order in cooperation with law enforcement agencies; the RBDF is a naval force with a few light aircraft, coastal patrol craft, and patrol boats, as well as a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security; the RBDF has training relationships with the UK and the US (2025)
18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2025)