Bahamas
No place in North America outperforms Bahamas in internet access. This regional dominance shapes its continental identity. Test your knowledge of North America's top performer.
Bahamas is a country in North America with a population of 415.3K and an area of 13,943 km². Life expectancy is 74.6 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Internet Users (%)
95.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
CO2 Per Capita
7.65How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
GDP Per Capita
$36.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
41.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Human Development Index
0.82The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Life Expectancy
74.6 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
❤️Obesity Rate
47.6%The percentage of adults who are obese (BMI of 30 or higher).
🌱Electricity Access (%)
100.0%The percentage of the population with access to electricity.
🔧Merchant Ships
1.3KMerchant marine fleet size from CIA World Factbook.
🍻Spirits Consumption
2.72How many liters of spirits the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
🌍Coastline Length
3.5KTotal coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #167 in high-tech exports (%)
High-Tech Exports (%): 0.0%
High-tech products (like computers, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace) as a percentage of total manufactured exports.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #241 in highest elevation
Highest Elevation: 1.30
Highest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #10 globally in obesity rate
Obesity Rate: 47.6%
The percentage of adults who are obese (BMI of 30 or higher).
Our World in Data 2023Has one of the highest rates of inflation rate
Inflation Rate: 0.4%
How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #162 in active military personnel
Active Military Personnel: 1.6K
Military and security service personnel strengths from CIA World Factbook.
Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Bahamas Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Bahamas
Lucayan Indians inhabited the Bahama islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas' close proximity to shipping lanes. Since gaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management, which comprise up to 85% of GDP. Because of its proximity to the US -- the nearest Bahamian landmass is only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida -- the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking to the US mainland, as well as to Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas; the Drug Enforcement Administration, US Coast Guard, and US Customs and Border Protection assist Bahamian authorities with maritime security and law enforcement through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or OPBAT.
- Location
- chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba; note - although The Bahamas does not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically it is often designated as a Caribbean nation
- Climate
- tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
- Terrain
- long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
- Natural Resources
- salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
- Natural Hazards
- hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Connecticut
- Languages
- English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
- Religions
- Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Plymouth Brethren 1.6%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
- Major Cities
- 280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Capital
- Nassau
- Capital Coordinates
- 25 05 N, 77 21 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Commonwealth of The Bahamas
- Name Origin
- name may be derived from the Spanish baha mar, meaning "low sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks; alternatively, it may be a form of the local name Guanahani, which is of unknown origin and meaning
- Independence
- 10 July 1973 (from the UK)
- National Symbols
- blue marlin, flamingo, yellow elderflower
- National Anthem
- "God Save the King"
- Overview
- high-income tourism and financial services economy; major income inequality; strong US bilateral relations; several tax relief programs; targeted investment in agriculture, energy, light manufacturing, and technology industries
- Industries
- tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
- Agricultural Products
- sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2023)
- Export Partners
- USA 36%, Zimbabwe 16%, Cote d'Ivoire 14%, Germany 8%, Guyana 8% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, shellfish, plastics (2023)
- Import Partners
- USA 60%, Germany 13%, China 5%, Japan 3%, Brazil 2% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, cars, crude petroleum (2023)
- Military Forces
- Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- 4 major TV providers; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, with 31 privately owned FM radio stations; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio network with national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)
Deep Dive
61 of 72 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Cuba
Turks and Caicos Islands
Cayman Islands
JamaicaCountries with Similar GDP
Panama
Kazakhstan
Bulgaria
Oman
MalaysiaCompare Bahamas with...
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Barbados
Belize
BermudaShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Bahamas!
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bahamas
Bahamas has a population of 415.3K, ranking #174 globally by population.
Bahamas is located in North America. It has an area of 13,943 km².
Life expectancy in Bahamas is 74.6 years, ranking #107 globally.
Bahamas's GDP per capita (PPP) is 41.2K, ranking #63 globally.
Bahamas ranks particularly high in Internet Users (%) (#33), CO2 Per Capita (#37), GDP Per Capita (#61).
Bahamas has an HDI of 0.820, ranking #66 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Bahamas has a population density of 39.9 people per km², ranking #161 globally.
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