Dialing code ++1-242
ISO 2 code BS
ISO 3 code BHS
Capital Nassau
Main Language English
Currency Dollar (BSD)
GDP $8.8 billion 149th
Population 301,790 180th

Geography

Continent North America
Location Caribbean chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean southeast of Florida northeast of Cuba
Land 13,940 km2 162nd
Terrain Long flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Climate Tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Natural Hazards Long flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Note: Strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited

Neighbouring Countries

History

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.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 65.78 years 150th
Median Age 28.7 years 91st
Birth Rate 16.81 births/1,000 population 117th
Death Rate 9.32 births/1,000 population 74th
Sex Ratio 0.69 male(s)/female 160th
Literacy 95.6% 85th
Population

301790

Transportation

Roadways 2717 km 166th
Railways None km
Airports 62 78th
Waterways None km
Heliports 1 73rd
Airports paved 2 59th

Economy

Currency Dollar (BSD)
GDP $8.8 billion 149th
GDP per capita (PPP) $28600 40th