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1. CIA World Factbook 2002
Bahamas, The

   Introduction Bahamas, The
   -------------------------
                            Background: 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 its territory is used for
                                        smuggling illegal migrants into the
                                        US.
  
   Geography Bahamas, The
   ----------------------
                              Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the
                                        North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of
                                        Florida
                Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
                        Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
                                  Area: total: 13,940 sq km
                                        water: 3,870 sq km
                                        land: 10,070 sq km
                    Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 3,542 km
                       Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm
                                        waters of Gulf Stream
                               Terrain: long, flat coral formations with
                                        some low rounded hills
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
                                        highest point: Mount Alvernia, on
                                        Cat Island 63 m
                     Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
                              Land use: arable land: 0.6%
                                        permanent crops: 0.4%
                                        other: 99% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: NA sq km
                       Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms
                                        cause extensive flood and wind
                                        damage
          Environment - current issues: coral reef decay; solid waste
                                        disposal
            Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
                            agreements: Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
                                        Protocol, Desertification,
                                        Endangered Species, Hazardous
                                        Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
                                        Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
                                        Pollution, Wetlands
                                        signed, but not ratified: none of
                                        the selected agreements
                      Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to US
                                        and Cuba; extensive island chain of
                                        which 30 are inhabited
  
   People Bahamas, The
   -------------------
                            Population: 300,529
                                        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
                                        and death rates, lower population
                                        and growth rates, and changes in the
                                        distribution of population by age
                                        and sex than would otherwise be
                                        expected (July 2002 est.)
                         Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 43,964; female
                                        43,250)
                                        15-64 years: 64.7% (male 95,508;
                                        female 98,859)
                                        65 years and over: 6.3% (male 7,948;
                                        female 11,000) (2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: 0.86% (2002 est.)
                            Birth rate: 18.69 births/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                            Death rate: 7.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                    Net migration rate: -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population
                                        (2002 est.)
                             Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
                                        under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
                                        15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
                                        65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/
                                        female
                                        total population: 0.96 male(s)/
                                        female (2002 est.)
                 Infant mortality rate: 17.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
                                        est.)
              Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.87 years
                                        female: 73.49 years (2002 est.)
                                        male: 66.32 years
                  Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (2002 est.)
      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 4.13% (1999 est.)
     HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 6,900 (1999 est.)
                                  AIDS:
                     HIV/AIDS - deaths: 500 (1999 est.)
                           Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s)
                                        adjective: Bahamian
                         Ethnic groups: black 85%, white 12%, Asian and
                                        Hispanic 3%
                             Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman
                                        Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church
                                        of God 6%, other Protestant 12%,
                                        none or unknown 3%, other 2%
                             Languages: English, Creole (among Haitian
                                        immigrants)
                              Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
                                        and write
                                        total population: 98.2%
                                        male: 98.5%
                                        female: 98% (1995 est.)
  
   Government Bahamas, The
   -----------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth
                                        of The Bahamas
                                        conventional short form: The Bahamas
                       Government type: constitutional parliamentary
                                        democracy
                               Capital: Nassau
              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 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 Ivy DUMONT
                                        (since NA May 2002)
                                        head of government: Prime Minister
                                        Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002)
                                        and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia
                                        PRATT (since 7 May 2002)
                                        cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
                                        governor general on the prime
                                        minister's recommendation
                                        elections: none; the monarch is
                                        hereditary; governor general
                                        appointed by the monarch; prime
                                        minister and deputy prime minister
                                        appointed by the governor general
                    Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the
                                        Senate (16-member body appointed by
                                        the governor general upon the advice
                                        of the prime minister and the
                                        opposition leader for five-year
                                        terms) and the House of Assembly (40
                                        seats; members elected by direct
                                        popular vote to serve five-year
                                        terms)
                                        elections: last held NA March 2002
                                        (next to be held by March 2007)
                                        election results: percent of vote by
                                        party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%,
                                        independents 5.2%; seats by party -
                                        PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
                       Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal;
                                        magistrates courts
         Political parties and leaders: Free National Movement or FNM
                                        [leader-designate Tommy TURNQUEST];
                                        Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
                                        [Perry CHRISTIE]
          Political pressure groups and NA
                               leaders:
             International organization ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC,
                         participation: FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
                                        ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
                                        Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
                                        OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN,
                                        UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
                                        WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
   Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua
                                        SEARS
                                        consulate(s) general: Miami and New
                                        York
                                        FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
                                        telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
                                        chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue
                                        NW, Washington, DC 20008
     Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador J.
                                    US: Richard BLANKENSHIP
                                        embassy: Queen Street, Nassau
                                        mailing address: local or express
                                        mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,
                                        Nassau; stateside address: American
                                        Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009,
                                        Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address:
                                        Nassau, Department of State,
                                        Washington, DC 20521-3370
                                        telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-
                                        2206
                                        FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
                      Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of
                                        aquamarine (top), gold, and
                                        aquamarine, with a black equilateral
                                        triangle based on the hoist side
  
   Economy Bahamas, The
   --------------------
                    Economy - overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing
                                        nation with an economy heavily
                                        dependent on tourism and offshore
                                        banking. Tourism alone accounts for
                                        more than 60% of GDP and directly or
                                        indirectly employs almost half of
                                        the archipelago's labor force.
                                        Steady growth in tourism receipts
                                        and a boom in construction of new
                                        hotels, resorts, and residences have
                                        led to solid GDP growth in recent
                                        years. Manufacturing and agriculture
                                        together contribute approximately a
                                        tenth of GDP and show little growth,
                                        despite government incentives aimed
                                        at those sectors. Overall growth
                                        prospects in the short run rest
                                        heavily on the fortunes of the
                                        tourism sector, which depends on
                                        growth in the US, the source of the
                                        majority of tourist visitors.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $5 billion
                                        (2001 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (2001)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,800
                                        (2000 est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3%
                                        industry: 7%
                                        services: 90% (1999 est.)
         Population below poverty line: NA%
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2001 est.)
                           Labor force: 156,000 (1999)
           Labor force - by occupation: tourism 40%, other services 50%,
                                        industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995
                                        est.)
                     Unemployment rate: 6.9% (2001 est.)
                                Budget: revenues: $918.5 million
                                        expenditures: $956.5 million,
                                        including capital expenditures of
                                        $106.7 million (FY99/00)
                            Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil
                                        refining and transshipment, salt,
                                        rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals,
                                        spiral-welded steel pipe
     Industrial production growth rate: NA%
              Electricity - production: 1.54 billion kWh (2000)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
                                        hydro: 0%
                                        other: 0% (2000)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 1.432 billion kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
                Agriculture - products: citrus, vegetables; poultry
                               Exports: $535.8 million (2000)
                 Exports - commodities: fish and crawfish; rum, salt,
                                        chemicals; fruit and vegetables
                                        (1999)
                    Exports - partners: US 28.2%, France 16.5%, Germany
                                        14.1%, UK 12.4% (2000)
                               Imports: $1.88 billion (2000)
                 Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
                                        manufactures, chemicals, mineral
                                        fuels; food and live animals (1999)
                    Imports - partners: US 31.6%, South Korea 18.2%, Italy
                                        17.4%, Japan 5.8% (2000)
                       Debt - external: $381.9 million (2000)
              Economic aid - recipient: $9.8 million (1995)
                              Currency: Bahamian dollar (BSD)
                         Currency code: BSD
                        Exchange rates: Bahamian dollars per US dollar -
                                        1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the
                                        dollar)
                           Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
  
   Communications Bahamas, The
   ---------------------------
        Telephones - main lines in use: 96,000 (1997)
          Telephones - mobile cellular: 6,152 (1997)
                      Telephone system: general assessment: modern
                                        facilities
                                        domestic: totally automatic system;
                                        highly developed
                                        international: tropospheric scatter
                                        and submarine cable to Florida; 3
                                        coaxial submarine cables; satellite
                                        earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
                                        Ocean) (1997)
              Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
                                Radios: 215,000 (1997)
         Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
                           Televisions: 67,000 (1997)
                 Internet country code: .bs
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 19 (2000)
                        Internet users: 13,100 (2001)
  
   Transportation Bahamas, The
   ---------------------------
                              Railways: 0 km
                              Highways: total: 2,693 km
                                        paved: 1,546 km
                                        unpaved: 1,147 km (1997)
                             Waterways: none
                     Ports and harbors: Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
                       Merchant marine: total: 1,076 ships (1,000 GRT or
                                        over) totaling 31,309,187 GRT/
                                        45,859,485 DWT
                                        ships by type: bulk 159, cargo 246,
                                        chemical tanker 41, combination bulk
                                        13, combination ore/oil 22,
                                        container 80, liquefied gas 28,
                                        livestock carrier 2, multi-
                                        functional large-load carrier 8,
                                        passenger 88, passenger/cargo 1,
                                        petroleum tanker 178, railcar
                                        carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 120,
                                        roll on/roll off 49, short-sea
                                        passenger 16, specialized tanker 2,
                                        vehicle carrier 22
                                        note: includes some foreign-owned
                                        ships registered here as a flag of
                                        convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1,
                                        Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1,
                                        Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia
                                        2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27,
                                        Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9,
                                        France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173,
                                        Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2,
                                        Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9,
                                        Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3,
                                        Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67,
                                        Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2,
                                        Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3,
                                        Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6,
                                        Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13,
                                        Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7,
                                        Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand
                                        1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2,
                                        Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10,
                                        United Kingdom 107, United States
                                        159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
                              Airports: 67 (2001)
         Airports - with paved runways: total: 32
                                        over 3,047 m: 3
                                        2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
                                        914 to 1,523 m: 10
                                        under 914 m: 3 (2001)
                                        1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
       Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 35
                                        1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
                                        914 to 1,523 m: 9
                                        under 914 m: 23 (2001)
                             Heliports: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Bahamas, The
   ---------------------
                       Military branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast
                                          Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police
                                          Force
   Military expenditures - dollar figure: $20 million (FY95/96)
       Military expenditures - percent of 0.7% (FY99)
                                     GDP:
  
   Transnational Issues Bahamas, The
   ---------------------------------
              Disputes - international: none
                         Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and
                                        marijuana bound for US and Europe;
                                        banking industry vulnerable to money
                                        laundering
  
                                       



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