<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: The Bahamas<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation whose economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides about 40% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, per capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—purchasing power equivalent—$4.4 billion (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> 2% (1991)
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $16,500 (1993 est.)
<item><hi format=bold>Industrial production:</hi> growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP
<item><hi format=bold>Electricity:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>capacity:</hi> 424,000 kW
<item>• <hi format=ital>production:</hi> 929 million kWh
<item>• <hi format=ital>consumption per capita:</hi> 3,599 kWh (1992)
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<item><hi format=bold>Industries:</hi> tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe
<item><hi format=bold>Agriculture:</hi> accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scale producers; principal products—citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry; large net importer of food
<item><hi format=bold>Illicit drugs:</hi> transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; also money-laundering center
<item><hi format=bold>Economic aid:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>recipient:</hi> US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $345 million
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<item><hi format=bold>Currency:</hi> 1 Bahamian dollar (B$)=100 cents
<item><hi format=bold>Exchange rates:</hi> Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1—1.00 (fixed rate)
<item><hi format=bold>Fiscal year:</hi> calendar year