Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Perry Christie
Population
11,689,696
316,182
Life Expectancy
58.440 years
71.440 years
Capital City
Nassau
Largest city
Kigali (population: 745,261)
Nassau (population: 227,940)
Human Development Index
0.435
NA
GDP per capita
$31,400 US
Literacy Rate
70.4%
95.6%
Corruption Perception Index
3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
50.9%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
14.200%
Death Penalty
Abolished
NA
Political System
republic; presidential, multiparty system
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Independence date
10 July 1973 (from UK)
Religions
Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
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
Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers
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
Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Area
26,338 km sq
13,880 km sq
Coastline
0 km
3,542 km
Climate
temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
