Bahamas

Commonwealth of the Bahamas

LOCATION

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
Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 13,880 sq km
land: 10,010 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
Area - 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: 1.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 50.9% (2023 est.)
other: 47.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
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: total: 415,306 (2025 est.)
male: 192,055
female: 223,251
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.)
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: 43.2 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 30.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 13 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.7 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 31.1 years (2025 est.)
male: 30.6 years
female: 30.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.1 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 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)
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: 76 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 75.1 years
female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 98.9% of population
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 31.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 10.8% (2025 est.)
male: 20.8% (2025 est.)
female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Environmental issues: coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
International environmental 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Land use: agricultural land: 1.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 50.9% (2023 est.)
other: 47.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 83.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 2.99 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 23,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 264,000 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
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 King WILLIAM III of England (1650-1702), who was a member of the House of Orange-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
Legal system: common-law system based on the English model
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
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
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: House of Assembly
number of seats: 39 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/16/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) (32); Free National Movement (FNM) (7)
percentage of women in chamber: 17.9%
expected date of next election: September 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: Senate
number of seats: 16 (all appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 10/6/2021
percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
expected date of next election: October 2026
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)
Political parties: Coalition of Independents Party or COIDemocratic National Alliance or DNAFree National Movement or FNMProgressive Liberal Party or PLP
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022)
chancery: 600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
email address and website: embassy@bahamasembdc.orghttps://www.bahamasembdc.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Herschel WALKER (since 9 December 2025)
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181
FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174
email address and website: acsnassau@state.govhttps://bs.usembassy.gov/
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)
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the left sidemeaning: the band colors represent the islands' golden beaches surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black stands for the vigor and force of a united people, and the triangle for the people's enterprise and determination
National symbol(s): blue marlin, flamingo, yellow elderflower
National color(s): aquamarine, yellow, black
National coat of arms: the motto on the Bahamas coat of arms is “Forward, Upward, Onward Together;” the flamingo and marlin supporting the shield are national animals that represent respectively the land and sea; the pink conch shell symbolizes the marine life of the islands, and the green palm fronds represent the natural vegetation; the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus’s flagship, also appears; the sun signifies the world-famous climate and the bright future of the islands
National anthem(s): title: "God Save the King"
lyrics/music: unknown
history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $14.544 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $14.069 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $13.653 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $36,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $35,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $34,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $15.833 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 9.6% (2024 est.)
services: 77.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 12.9% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 37.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -41.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 12.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 237,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 9.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 17.8% (2024 est.)
male: 17.8% (2024 est.)
female: 17.8% (2024 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.855 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $3.389 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2023: 73.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$1.053 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$1.069 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$1.233 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $6.771 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $6.011 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $5.425 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 36%, Zimbabwe 16%, Cote d'Ivoire 14%, Germany 8%, Guyana 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, shellfish, plastics (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $7.069 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $6.273 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $5.843 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 60%, Germany 13%, China 5%, Japan 3%, Brazil 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, cars, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.512 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.609 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.433 billion (2021 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 1 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 1 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 608,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.036 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: imports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas: consumption: 14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 104.409 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 93,100 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 388,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 4 major TV providers; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, with 31 privately owned FM radio stations; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio network with national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)
Internet country code: .bs
Internet users: percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 95,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C6
Airports: 54 (2025)
Heliports: 9 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 1,274 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 345, container ship 39, general cargo 58, oil tanker 193, other 639
Ports: total ports: 6 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 1
very small: 4
ports with oil terminals: 4
key ports: Clifton Pier, Cockburn Town, Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau, South Riding Point

Military and security forces: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 1,500-1,800 active RBDF (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory has been acquired from the Netherlands or the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2025)
Military - note: 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 other 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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 30 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 30 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs: USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)