Bahamas - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

The Bahamas has the second highest per capital GDP in the English-speaking Caribbean with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and international banking. Tourism accounts for approximately 75-80% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than 7% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The new government led by Prime...

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GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Private Consumption 2022 8,798,753,359 8,033,213,858 BSD Annual
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 12,897,421,925 11,527,573,280 BSD Annual
Investment 2022 2,628,879,925 2,642,462,107 BSD Annual
Real Government Consumption 2017 1,496,440,000 1,365,820,000 NCU Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 2,995,460,000 2,678,110,000 NCU Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 3,196,000,000 2,839,000,000 NCU Annual
Real Investment 2017 3,097,630,000 2,774,980,000 NCU Annual
Government Consumption 2015 1,414 1,320 Mil. BSD Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2015 101.47 103.18 Index 2005=100 Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Nov 2023 131.41 131.63 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Agriculture Employment 2017 9,565 9,236 # Annual
Labor Force 2016 235,445 232,361 # Annual
Unemployment 2012 26.95 30.26 Ths. Annual
Labor Force Employment 2012 165.26 160.18 Ths. Annual
Unemployment Rate 2012 14 15.9 % Annual
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Current Account Balance 2023 Q2 -194,595,818 -223,348,582 USD, NSA Quarterly
Imports of Goods 2023 Q2 998,735,767 1,016,444,209 USD, NSA Quarterly
Balance of Goods 2023 Q2 -693,952,763 -841,118,405 USD, NSA Quarterly
Exports of Goods 2023 Q2 304,783,003 175,325,803 USD, NSA Quarterly
Exports of Goods and Services 2022 4,840,253,642 3,318,206,427 BSD Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2022 5,503,022,190 4,492,742,955 BSD Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2017 3,931,120,000 4,177,430,000 NCU Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2017 5,473,860,000 4,997,000,000 NCU Annual
Government Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Gross External Debt 2023 Q3 0 0 USD, NSA Quarterly
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Treasury Bills (over 31 days) Dec 2023 2.91 2.91 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Lending Rate Jun 2017 4 4 % Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Real Change in Inventories 2017 102,170,000 96,870,000 NCU Annual
Change in Inventories 2017 90,600,000 84,600,000 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 393,248 389,486 # Annual
Net Migration 2017 5,000 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 14.27 14.42 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 6.35 6.26 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

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. Because of its location, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS (2017- ) is only the fourth Prime Minister in Bahamian history following its independence from the UK; he is also the first Prime Minister in 25 years besides Perry CHRISTIE and Hubert INGRAHAM, who repeatedly traded the premiership from 1992 to 2017.

Geography

Location:
chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
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
country comparison to the world: 161
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
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:
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 64 m
Natural resources:
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use:
agricultural land: 1.4%
arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 0.4%; permanent pasture 0.2%
forest: 51.4%
other: 47.2% (2014 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
Environment - current issues:
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited

People & Society

Population:
329,988
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:
black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 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%, Brethren 1.6%), 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: 22.55% (male 37,760/female 36,667)
15-24 years: 16.4% (male 27,415/female 26,703)
25-54 years: 44.14% (male 73,016/female 72,626)
55-64 years: 9.16% (male 13,647/female 16,567)
65 years and over: 7.75% (male 9,843/female 15,744) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 40.8
youth dependency ratio: 29.1
elderly dependency ratio: 11.7
potential support ratio: 8.5 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 32 years
male: 30.9 years
female: 33.2 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Population growth rate:
0.81% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Birth rate:
15.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Death rate:
7.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
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% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 1.21% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
NASSAU (capital) 267,000 (2014)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
80 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.6 years
male: 70.2 years
female: 75.1 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Total fertility rate:
1.94 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Health expenditures:
7.7% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 61
Physicians density:
2.26 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
Hospital bed density:
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 98.4% of population
rural: 98.4% of population
total: 98.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.6% of population
rural: 1.6% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 92% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved:
urban: 8% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 8% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,200 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
31.6% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 21
Education expenditures:
NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 30.8%
male: 29.6%
female: 32.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Government

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 (Parliament) 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
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:
previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973; amended many times, last in 2016 (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: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Marguerite PINDLING (since 8 July 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS (since 11 May 2017)
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
note: Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS (2017- ) is only the fourth Prime Minister in Bahamian history following its independence from the UK; he is also the first Prime Minister in 25 years besides Perry CHRISTIE and Hubert INGRAHAM, who repeatedly traded the premiership from 1992 to 2017.
Legislative branch:
description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve 5-year terms) and the House of Assembly (39 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held on 10 May 2017 (next to be held by May 2022)
election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 57%, PLP 36.9%, other 6.1%; seats by party - FNM 35, PLP 4
Judicial branch:
highest resident court(s): 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)
note: as of 2008, the Bahamas was not a party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest appellate court for the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas
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
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Christopher MORTIMER]
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert MINNIS]
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Philip "Brave" DAVIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Friends of the Environment [Wynsome FERGUSON]
National Trade Union Congress [Bernard EVANS]
Trade Union Congress [Obie FERGUSON]
other: Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation [Edison SUMNER]
Grand Bahama Human Rights Association [Joseph DARVILLE]
Organization for Reponsible Government [Matt ALBURY]
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 Sidney Stanley COLLIE (since 20 November 2017)
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Stephanie BOWERS (since 1 March 2018)
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174
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 symbol(s):
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 Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy - overview:
The Bahamas has the second highest per capital GDP in the English-speaking Caribbean with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and international banking. Tourism accounts for approximately 75-80% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than 7% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The new government led by Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS has prioritized addressing fiscal imbalances and rising debt, which stood at 75% in 2016. Large capital projects like the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel are driving growth. Public debt increased in 2017 in large part due to hurricane reconstruction and relief financing. The primary fiscal balance was a deficit of 0.4% in 2016. The Bahamas is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a member of the World Trade Organization.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$9.339 billion (2017 est.)
$9.174 billion (2016 est.)
$9.197 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 162
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.127 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2017 est.)
-0.3% (2016 est.)
-1.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,100 (2017 est.)
$24,900 (2016 est.)
$25,300 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 79
Gross national saving:
8.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
13.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
13.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 66.4%
government consumption: 16.9%
investment in fixed capital: 28.3%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 38.3%
imports of goods and services: -50.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 7.7%
services: 90% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables; poultry
Industries:
tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force:
196,900 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 11%
tourism: 49%
other services: 37% (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (2017 est.)
12.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
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: $2.1 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
23% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-5.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Public debt:
66.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
64.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2017 est.)
0.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Central bank discount rate:
4.5% (1 January 2014 est.)
4.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
4.3% (31 December 2017 est.)
4.8% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Stock of narrow money:
$2.576 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.461 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Stock of broad money:
$7.033 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.622 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$9.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$2.78 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Current account balance:
$-1.626 billion (2017 est.)
$-1.126 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Exports:
$934.7 million (2017 est.)
$444.3 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Exports - commodities:
Rock lobster, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products
Exports - partners:
US 53.4%, Namibia 31.4% (2016)
Imports:
$3.105 billion (2017 est.)
$2.594 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners:
US 81.8% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$922.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.002 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Debt - external:
$17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
1 (2017 est.)
1 (2016 est.)
1 (2015 est.)
1 (2014 est.)
1 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production:
1.807 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - consumption:
1.681 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
577,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
99.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Refined petroleum products - exports:
922.7 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Refined petroleum products - imports:
26,330 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
4.1 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 121,088
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 360,200
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) privatized in 2011, but the government reacquired 51% share in 2014; in October 2016, Be Aliv Limited, a subsidiary of Cable Bahamas, was licensed as the second provider of cellular mobile services in The Bahamas
international: country code - 1-242; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and two additional fiber-optic submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 (2017)
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 3 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 31 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 28 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 (2017)
Internet country code:
.bs
Internet users:
total: 261,853
percent of population: 80.0% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 4
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 16
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 587,516
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 172,730 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
C6 (2016)
Airports:
61 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 80
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 17 (2013)
Heliports:
1 (2013)
Roadways:
total: 2,700 km
paved: 1,620 km
unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 170
Merchant marine:
total: 1,440
by type: bulk carrier 335, container ship 53, general cargo 98, oil tanker 284, other 670 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 19
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,116,272)(2011)
cruise port(s): Nassau

Military & Security

Military branches:
Royal Bahamas Defense Force: Land Force, Navy, Air Wing (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2012)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 11 (2016)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center

Economic Indicators for Bahamas including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Bahamas economy.