Country Profile: Bahamas, The

The Bahamas, an archipelago of over 700 islands, is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida and northeast of Cuba. The nation's population of approximately 410,862 (2024 est.) predominantly resides in urban areas, particularly on New Providence Island where the capital, Nassau, is situated. The Bahamas boasts a high-income economy primarily driven by tourism and financial services, accounting for about 85% of its GDP. Governed as a parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy, the country has prospered since gaining independence from the UK in 1973.

Geography

The Bahamas consists of a chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, known for its strategic location near the U.S. and Cuba. The total land area is approximately 13,880 sq km, with a coastline spanning 3,542 km. The terrain is mostly flat, featuring coral formations and some low hills. The islands experience a tropical marine climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream.

30 inhabited islands
12 nm territorial sea
200 nm exclusive economic zone
50.9% of the land is forested (2022 est.)
1.3% of land is agricultural (2022 est.)

People and Society

The population of The Bahamas is estimated at 410,862 in 2024, with a majority identifying as of African descent. English is the official language, and the predominant religion is Protestantism. The society is youthful, with a median age of 30.7 years and a growth rate of 1.07% annually. Urbanization is high, as 83.6% of the population lives in urban areas.

69.9% of the population identifies as Protestant (2010 est.)
21.4% of the population is aged 0-14 years
76.7 years life expectancy at birth (2024 est.)
13.1 births per 1,000 population (2024 est.)
8.6% of the population is aged 65 and over (2024 est.)

Economy

The economy of The Bahamas is characterized as a high-income tourism and financial services economy. In 2024, the real GDP is estimated at $14.544 billion, with growth projected at 3.4%. The service sector dominates the economy, comprising 77.2% of GDP, while the national unemployment rate stands at 8.5%.

64.3% of GDP is household consumption (2024 est.)
$2.855 billion in government revenues (2023 est.)
16.2% of GDP from taxes and other revenues (2023 est.)
$6.771 billion in exports (2024 est.)
60% of imports come from the USA (2023)

Government

The Bahamas operates as a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with a capital in Nassau. The executive is headed by Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis, while King Charles III is the chief of state, represented locally by the Governor-General. The legislative branch is bicameral, comprising the House of Assembly and the Senate.

31 administrative districts
Last constitutional amendment adopted in 1973
39 seats in the House of Assembly
17.9% of House members are women (2021)
Independence from the UK was achieved on 10 July 1973

Military and Security

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) serves as the maritime and military security force, consisting of approximately 1,700 active personnel. The country allocates about 0.7% of GDP to military expenditures. The RBDF works closely with the Royal Bahamas Police Force to maintain internal security and safeguard the islands' territorial integrity.

18-30 years is the voluntary service age range (2025)
The RBDF was established in 1980
0.9% of GDP was spent on military in 2021
Major equipment primarily sourced from the Netherlands or U.S.
No conscription is in place (2025)

Energy

The Bahamas achieves 100% electricity access among its population, with an installed capacity of 608,000 kW in 2023. The energy sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, comprising 99.1% of the total capacity, while solar energy represents only 0.9%.

2.036 billion kWh in electricity consumption (2023)
20,000 bbl/day refined petroleum consumption (2023)
104.409 million Btu/person energy consumption per capita (2023)

Environment

The Bahamas faces environmental challenges, including coral reef decay and solid waste disposal. The country is a party to numerous international environmental agreements such as the Climate Change and Biodiversity accords.

264,000 tons of municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.)
700 million cubic meters of total renewable water resources (2022)
24.9% of municipal solid waste recycled (2022 est.)

Transportation

The Bahamas has a well-established transportation network, featuring 54 airports and 9 heliports. The national merchant marine comprises 1,274 vessels, including bulk carriers and oil tankers.

6 total ports, including key locations like Nassau and Freeport
C6 is the civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Major ports include Clifton Pier and Matthew Town

Communications

With a high level of internet connectivity, approximately 95% of the population are internet users. The telecommunications sector is regulated and features various service providers, including several television and radio stations.

400,000 mobile cellular subscriptions (2023)
97,000 fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2023)
95,000 fixed broadband subscriptions (2023)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	410,862	2024 estimate
Area	13,880 sq km	Total land area
Real GDP	$14.544 billion	2024 estimate, purchasing power parity
Unemployment Rate	8.5%	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy at Birth	76.7 years	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	13.1 births/1,000	2024 estimate
Electricity Access	100%	Total population with access (2022 estimate)
Military Expenditures	0.7% of GDP	2024 estimate
Urban Population	83.6%	Percentage of total population (2023)
Telecommunications Penetration	95%	Internet users as a percentage of population (2023)