World Atlas: Bahamas. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Bahamas.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Bahamas. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Bahamas. But let's start with the flag of Bahamas here:
Bahamas - Overview:
What you should know about Bahamas? Let's start with this: 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. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas close proximity to shipping lanes. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management. Because of its location, 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.
Geography of Bahamas
Where on the globe is Bahamas? The location of this country is chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba. Total area of Bahamas is 13,880 sq km, of which 10,010 sq km is land. So this is quite a small country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills. The lowest point of Bahamas is Atlantic Ocean 0 m, the highest point Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 64 m. And the climate is tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream.
Inhabitants of Bahamas
Let's take a look how many people live in Bahamas. The number is: 329,988. So not so many people live here. Who lives here? black 90.6%, white 4.7%, black and white 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.). What are the languages in Bahamas? English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants). And the 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%, Brethren 1.6%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.). How old are the people in average? 32 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 72.6 years. Where the people live in Bahamas? Here: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located. The major urban areas of Bahamas are: Nassau (capital) 267,000 (2014).
Government and Economy of Bahamas
The capital of Bahamas is Nassau and the government type parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm. Let's take a look at the administrative divisions - 31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama. Regarding the economy of Bahamas, important industrial products are tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals. Important agricultural products are citrus, vegetables; poultry. The most important export commodities are Rock lobster, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products and the most important export partners are US 53.4%, Namibia 31.4% (2016). The most important import commodities are machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals and the most important import partners are US 81.8% (2016). How rich is Bahamas and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $25,100 (2017 est.). This means the living standards are good here. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 9.3% (2010 est.).