Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
1,628,603
316,182
Life Expectancy
49.110 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Nassau
Largest city
Bissau (population: 388,028)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.383
NA
GDP per capita
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
42.4%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
1.9
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
14%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
14.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished
NA
Political System
republic
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$342,600,000 US
Exchange Rate
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
36,125 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
350 km
3,542 km
Climate
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
