Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
Population
310,426
Country comparison to the world:177
note:estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2010 est.)
Nationality
Noun:Bahamian(s)
Adjective:Bahamian
Ethnic groups
black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions
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
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Country Name
Conventional long form:Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Conventional short form:The Bahamas
Government Type
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital
Name:Nassau
Geographic coordinates:25 05 N, 77 21 W
Time difference:UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador, and Rum Cay
Independence
10 July 1973 (from the UK)
National Holiday
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution
10 July 1973
Legal system
based on English common law
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since 14 April 2010)
Head of government:Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007)
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
Elections:last held on 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18
Judicial branch
Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political Parties and Leaders
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Friends of the Environment
other: trade unions
International organization participation
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH
Chancery:2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX:[1] (202) 319-2668
Consulate(s) general:Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Nicole A. AVANT
Embassy:42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
Mailing address:local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
Telephone:[1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX:[1] (242) 328-2206
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea
