Bahamas Statistics
Bahamas Government At a Glance
Country name |
Commonwealth of The Bahamas (long form) |
Government type |
Constitutional
parliamentary democracy |
Capital |
Nassau |
Administrative divisions |
21 districts as follows: 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, Nicholls town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock
Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay |
Independence |
10 July 1973 (from
the United Kingdon) |
Legal system |
Based on English
common law |
Suffrage |
18 years of age to
vote; Universal |
Executive branch |
Head of government:
Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3
May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)
Nominal chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor
General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
prime minister's recommendation |
Legislative branch |
Bicameral Parliament consists of:
(1) 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)
(2) the House of Assembly (40 seats;
members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) |
| Elections |
Last held 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 |
Free National
Movement or FNM (minority); Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
(majority) |
Geography in the Bahamas By The Numbers
Location: |
Caribbean, chain of islands in
the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida; strategic location adjacent to
US |
Geographic coordinates: |
24 15 N, 76 00 W |
Area: |
total: 13,940 sq km;
water: 3,870 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km |
Area - comparative: |
land area is slightly smaller
than Connecticut
total area is slightly larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. |
Land boundaries: |
0 km |
Coastline: |
3,542 km |
Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Climate: |
semi-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: 1%
permanent crops: <1%
other: 99% |
Natural hazards: |
hurricanes and other tropical
storms cause extensive flood and wind damage |
Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate 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 |
 According to the Bahamas Tourism office the Islands of the Bahamas is
unique with their individual character and charm--and there is some
truth to this.
Visit the main islands like beautiful
Grand Bahama Island (Freeport/Lucaya) and bustling
New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island).
Or, if you really want to get away from the crowds, visit one of the many out islands like
Abaco,
Andros,
Acklins and Crooked Island,
Biminis,
Berry Islands,
Cat Island,
Eleuthera,
Exumas,
Inaguas,
Mayaguana, and
San Salvador.
Whether you need information on
alcohol,
camping, and our wonderful climate, or want to know about our
currency, and
education system, our rich
history and
immigration policies. The Bahamas Guide Facts and Figures section should have what you are looking for.
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