| The World Factbook | ||
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Bahamas, The |
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| Introduction | Bahamas, The |
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Background:
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Arawak 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. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. |
| Geography | Bahamas, The |
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Location:
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Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba |
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Geographic coordinates:
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24 15 N, 76 00 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 13,940 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km land: 10,070 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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3,542 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream |
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Terrain:
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long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m |
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Natural resources:
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salt, aragonite, timber, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.6%
permanent crops: 0.4% other: 99% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage |
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Environment - current issues:
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coral reef decay; solid waste disposal |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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 |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited |
| People | Bahamas, The |
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Population:
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297,477
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 and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 28.8% (male 42,799; female 42,730)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 95,718; female 98,875) 65 years and over: 5.8% (male 7,092; female 10,263) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 27 years
male: 26.2 years female: 27.7 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.77% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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18.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 26.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 32.45 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 65.71 years
male: 62.3 years female: 69.18 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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3.5% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,200 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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610 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian |
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Ethnic groups:
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black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3% |
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Religions:
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Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% |
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Languages:
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English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6% male: 94.7% female: 96.5% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Bahamas, The |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas |
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Government type:
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constitutional parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Nassau |
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Administrative divisions:
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21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay |
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Independence:
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10 July 1973 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 10 July (1973) |
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Constitution:
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10 July 1973 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador J. Richard BLANKENSHIP
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side |
| Economy | Bahamas, The |
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Economy - overview:
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The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in these sectors in 2002. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of most of the visitors. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $5.2 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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0.1% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $17,000 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 7% services: 90% (1999 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1.8% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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156,000 (1999) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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tourism 50%, other services 40%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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6.9% (2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $918.5 million
expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY99/00) |
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Industries:
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tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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1.56 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.451 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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citrus, vegetables; poultry |
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Exports:
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$560.7 million (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables |
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Exports - partners:
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US 28.2%, France 16.5%, Germany 14.1%, UK 12.9% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$1.86 billion (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals |
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Imports - partners:
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US 31.6%, South Korea 18.2%, Italy 17.4%, Japan 5.8% (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$371.6 million (2001) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$9.8 million (1995) |
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Currency:
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Bahamian dollar (BSD) |
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Currency code:
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BSD |
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Exchange rates:
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Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | Bahamas, The |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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96,000 (1997) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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6,152 (1997) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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215,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (1997) |
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Televisions:
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67,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.bs |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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19 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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16,900 (2002) |
| Transportation | Bahamas, The |
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: 2,693 km
paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1997) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 1,090 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,065,778 GRT/46,202,085 DWT
ships by type: bulk 150, cargo 223, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 18, container 108, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 102, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, refrigerated cargo 135, roll on/roll off 40, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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64 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 30
over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 22 (2002) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2002) |
| Military | Bahamas, The |
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Military branches:
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Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$20 million (FY95/96) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.7% (FY99) |
| Transnational Issues | Bahamas, The |
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Disputes - international:
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have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary with the US |
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Illicit drugs:
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transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center |
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This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003 |