CapitalNassau
Population415,306
Area13,880 km²
GDP per capita$36,200
LanguagesEnglish , Creole
CurrencyBahamian dollars
Life Expectancy76.7 yr
Governmentparliamentary democracy operating under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
land
10,010 sq km
water
3,870 sq km
total
13,880 sq km
Climate
tropical marine; influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream
Terrain
broad, flat coral structures interspersed with some gently rounded hills
Land use
other
47.8% (2023 est.)
forest
50.9% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
a series of islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast of Florida and northeast of Cuba; it is important to note that while The Bahamas does not share a border with the Caribbean Sea, it is frequently classified as a Caribbean nation for geopolitical purposes
Coastline
3,542 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m
Irrigated land
10 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
hurricanes and various tropical storms result in significant wind and flood damage
Geography - note
strategically positioned next to the US and Cuba; comprises an extensive chain of islands, 30 of which are inhabited
Natural resources
salt, aragonite, timber, cultivable land
Area - comparative
slightly smaller in area than Connecticut
Geographic coordinates
24 15 N, 76 00 W
Population distribution
the majority of the population resides in urban settings, with two-thirds of individuals living on New Providence Island, home to Nassau
People & Society
Languages
English (official language), Creole (spoken by 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.)
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
total population
0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.81 male(s)/female
Birth rate
13.1 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
30.6 years
total
31.1 years (2025 est.)
female
30.7 years
Population
male
192,055
total
415,306 (2025 est.)
female
223,251
Nationality
noun
Bahamian(s)
adjective
Bahamian
Tobacco use
male
20.8% (2025 est.)
total
10.8% (2025 est.)
female
1.9% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
83.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
90.6% of the population identifies as of African descent, 4.7% as White, 2.1% as mixed, 1.9% as other, and 0.7% as unspecified (2010 estimate)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
43.2 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
30.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
7.7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
13 (2025 est.)
Physician density
1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
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.)
Net migration rate
3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 98.9% of population
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total
9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.08% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.71 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
a significant portion of the population resides in urban regions, with approximately two-thirds located on New Providence Island, home to Nassau
Life expectancy at birth
male
75.1 years
female
78.4 years
total population
76.7 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
76 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
9.48 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.)
Major urban areas - population
280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
31.6% (2016)
Environment
Climate
tropical oceanic; influenced by the warm currents of the Gulf Stream
Land use
other
47.8% (2023 est.)
forest
50.9% (2023 est.)
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.)
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.)
Environmental issues
coral reef deterioration; disposal of solid waste
Total water withdrawal
municipal
31 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
2.99 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
23,000 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
5.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
Government
Flag
description: three equal horizontal stripes of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, accompanied by a black equilateral triangle positioned along the left edge
meaning: the colors of the stripes symbolize the islands' golden shores embraced by the aquamarine waters; the black represents the strength and unity of the populace, while the triangle signifies the community's ambition and resolve
Capital
name
Nassau
etymology
named in honor of King WILLIAM III of England (1650-1702), a member of the House of Orange-Nassau
time difference
UTC-5 (coinciding with Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commencing on the second Sunday in March and concluding on the first Sunday in November
geographic coordinates
25 05 N, 77 21 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
previously established in 1964 (before independence); most recently adopted on June 20, 1973, with an effective date of July 10, 1973
amendment process
proposed as an "Act" by Parliament; amendments to articles regarding the structure and composition of government branches require the approval of at least two-thirds of both houses of Parliament and majority consent in a referendum; amendments to constitutional articles related to fundamental rights and individual liberties, powers and procedures of government branches, or alterations to the Bahamas Independence Act 1973 necessitate approval by at least three-fourths of both houses and majority consent in a referendum
Country name
etymology
the name may stem from the Spanish baha mar, translating to "low sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks; alternatively, it could be a variation of the local name Guanahani, whose origin and meaning remain uncertain
conventional long form
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form
The Bahamas
Independence
10 July 1973 (from the UK)
Legal system
common-law legal system modeled after the English framework
Government type
parliamentary democracy operating under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (comprises the court president and 6 justices, arranged in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (comprises the chief justice and 19 justices)
subordinate courts
Industrial Tribunal; Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators (who may also function as magistrates)
judge selection and term of office
The Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice are appointed by the governor-general based on the prime minister's counsel following discussions with the opposition party leader; other justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are appointed by the governor-general upon the Judicial and Legal Services Commission's recommendation, a 5-member entity led by the chief justice; justices of the Court of Appeal serve for life with a mandatory retirement age of 68, which can be extended to 70; justices of the Supreme Court are appointed for life with a standard retirement age of 65, extendable to 67
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by governor-general on recommendation of prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since September 8, 2022); represented by Governor-General Cynthia A. PRATT (since September 1, 2023)
head of government
Prime Minister Philip Edward DAVIS (since 17 September 2021)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the governor-general is appointed by the monarch based on the prime minister's advice; after legislative elections, the governor-general designates the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister; the prime minister proposes the deputy prime minister
National holiday
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
National color(s)
aquamarine, yellow, black
Political parties
Coalition of Independents Party or COI
Democratic National Alliance or DNA
Free National Movement or FNM
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
blue marlin, flamingo, yellow elderflower
National coat of arms
the motto on the Bahamas coat of arms reads “Forward, Upward, Onward Together;” the flamingo and marlin supporting the shield represent the national animals signifying land and sea respectively; the pink conch shell symbolizes the islands' marine life, while the green palm fronds denote the local flora; the Santa Maria, the flagship of Christopher Columbus, is also depicted; the sun represents the globally renowned climate and the bright future of the islands
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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
39 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
9/16/2021
expected date of next election
September 2026
percentage of women in chamber
17.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) (32); Free National Movement (FNM) (7)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
16 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/6/2021
expected date of next election
October 2026
percentage of women in chamber
31.3%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 319-2668
chancery
600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20037
telephone
[1] (202) 319-2660
chief of mission
Ambassador Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Miami, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.bahamasembdc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[1] (242) 356-7174
embassy
42 Queen Street, Nassau
telephone
[1] (242) 322-1181
mailing address
3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
chief of mission
Ambassador Herschel WALKER (since 9 December 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://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)
International law organization participation
has not issued a declaration of ICJ jurisdiction; is not a party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$2.855 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$3.389 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$5.425 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$6.011 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$6.771 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$5.843 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$6.273 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$7.069 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
sectors include tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt production, aragonite, and pharmaceuticals
Labor force
237,100 (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
73.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
1 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
1 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
1 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
1 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
1 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
an economy characterized by high-income tourism and financial services; significant income inequality; robust bilateral relations with the US; multiple tax relief initiatives; focused investment in agriculture, energy, light manufacturing, and technology sectors
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
9.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
8.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
8.5% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 36%, Zimbabwe 16%, Cote d'Ivoire 14%, Germany 8%, Guyana 8% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 60%, Germany 13%, China 5%, Japan 3%, Brazil 2% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$34,300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$35,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$36,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
10.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, shellfish, plastics (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, cars, crude petroleum (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$1.233 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$1.069 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$1.053 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
16.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$15.833 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
64.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption
12.9% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
1.1% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
25.7% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
37.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-41.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.4% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
12.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$13.653 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$14.069 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$14.544 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
17.8% (2024 est.)
total
17.8% (2024 est.)
female
17.8% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.433 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.609 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$2.512 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
9.6% (2024 est.)
services
77.2% (2024 est.)
agriculture
0.5% (2024 est.)
Energy
Coal
imports
600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
2.036 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
608,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
104.409 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
95% (2023 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
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
95,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
24 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
1
medium
1
key ports
Matthew Town, Nassau, South Riding Point, Clifton Pier, Cockburn Town, Freeport
very small
4
total ports
6 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
4
Airports
54 (2025)
Heliports
9 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
1,274 (2023)
by type
193 oil tankers, 58 general cargo vessels, 39 container ships, 345 bulk carriers, 639 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
C6
Military & Security
Military - note
Established in 1980, the RBDF is tasked primarily with maritime security and the protection of the Bahamas' territorial integrity. Its roles also encompass providing disaster relief and humanitarian aid, along with supporting internal law enforcement in collaboration with various agencies. The RBDF is classified as a naval force, featuring a limited number of light aircraft, coastal patrol vessels, and patrol boats, alongside a lightly armed marine infantry/commando squadron dedicated to base and internal security. The RBDF has established training partnerships with both the UK and the US (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): comprises land, air, and maritime components; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals aged 18 to 30 can voluntarily serve, with men and women eligible (18-60 for Reserves); there is no conscription (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The majority of the RBDF's significant equipment has been sourced from the Netherlands or the US (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 1,500-1,800 active RBDF (2025)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
30 (2024 est.)
refugees
30 (2024 est.)
