Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
7,590,758
316,182
Life Expectancy
81.070 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Jerusalem
Nassau
Largest city
Jerusalem (population: 714,000)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.93
NA
GDP per capita
$31,400 US
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
97.1%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
6
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
14.2%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Sammy Ofer & family ($4.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.600%
14.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished except for special circumstances
NA
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)
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
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Exports
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit and vegetables
External Debt
$102,300,000,000 $
$342,600,000 US
Exchange Rate
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar - 1 (2008 est.), 1 (2007), 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
7.300%
0.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
20,770 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
273 km
3,542 km
Climate
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
