Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
4,140,289
316,182
Life Expectancy
75.230 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Nassau
Largest city
Beirut (population: 1,916,100)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.796
NA
GDP per capita
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
87.4%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
4.7%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Najib Mikati ($2.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
14.200%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
republic
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
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
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
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
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
10,400 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
225 km
3,542 km
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
