Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/17.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 10KB | 301 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Baham.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"The Bahamas"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of The Bahamas, click {z,"-83.160427,13.621933,-64.834191,27.640190",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 13,940 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 10,070 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than Connecticut

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 3,542 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 3 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

{2}Terrain:{4} long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
{3}lowest point:{4} Atlantic Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount Alvernia 63 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} salt, aragonite, timber

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 1%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 32%
{3}other:{4} 67%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} coral reef decay

{2}natural hazards:{4} hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Whaling

{2}Geographic note:{4} strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 259,367 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 28% (male 36,331; female 35,771)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 67% (male 84,107; female 89,193)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 5% (male 5,449; female 8,516) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 1.05% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 18.73 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 5.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.02 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.02 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.94 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.64 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 23.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 72.53 years
{3}male:{4} 67.98 years
{3}female:{4} 77.16 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 1.97 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Bahamian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Bahamian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} black 85%, white 15%

{2}Religions:{4} Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%,
other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%

{2}Languages:{4} English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write but definition of literacy not available (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 98.2%
{3}male:{4} 98.5%
{3}female:{4} 98%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Commonwealth of The Bahamas
{3}conventional short form:{4} The Bahamas

{2}Type of government:{4} commonwealth

{2}Capital:{4} Nassau

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 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, Nicholls Town and Berry
Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

{2}Independence:{4} 10 July 1973 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} National Day, 10 July (1973)

{2}Constitution:{4} 10 July 1973

{2}Legal system:{4} based on English common law

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented
by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995) who was appointed by the
queen
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992) and
Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since NA) were appointed by the governor general
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Parliament
Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general
House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Sir Lynden O. PINDLING; Free
National Movement (FNM), Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON
{3}chancery:{4} 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Miami and New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS
{3}embassy:{4} Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; P.O. Box 9009, Miami, FL 33159; Nassau,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 (pouch)
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 328-2206
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}Flag:{4} three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black
equilateral triangle based on the hoist side


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily
dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 50% of GDP
and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. A slowdown in the
expansion of the tourism sector - especially stopover travel from Europe - led to a reduction in the
country's GDP growth rate in 1995, down to an estimated 2% from 3.5% in 1994. The
construction sector benefited from hotel rehabilitation and the government's ongoing housing
development program. Earnings from exports of vegetable and citrus production have been
decreasing since 1993 but are expected to increase in 1996 due to storm damage to crops in
Florida. The overall growth prospects through 1996 will depend heavily on the fortunes of the
tourism sector and continued income growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist
visits.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $4.8 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $18,700 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 3%
{3}industry:{4} 35%
{3}services:{4} 62% (1994)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 1.5% (1994)

{2}Labor force:{4} 136,900 (1993)
{3}by occupation:{4} government 30%, tourism 40%, business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1995
est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 15% (1995 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $665 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $725 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (FY95/96 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum,
aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 424,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 929 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 3,200 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} citrus, vegetables; poultry

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; also a
money-laundering center

{2}Exports:{4} $224.257 million (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined petroleum products
{3}partners:{4} US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%

{2}Imports:{4} $1.08 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles, electronics
{3}partners:{4} US 55%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%

{2}External debt:{4} $407.8 million (December 1994)

{2}Economic aid:{4} $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 July - 30 June


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,386 km
{3}paved:{4} 1,342 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 1,044 km (1986 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 956 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,592,285 GRT/35,765,965 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 176, cargo 182, chemical tanker 43, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil
19, container 53, liquefied gas tanker 20, oil tanker 180, passenger 53, refrigerated cargo 147, roll-
on/roll-off cargo 47, short-sea passenger 13, vehicle carrier 14
{3}note:{4} a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48 countries among which are Norway
155, Greece 124, US 84, Denmark 63, Netherlands 44, Sweden 36, Finland 34, France 29, Japan
29, and Belgium 24 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 55
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 16
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 11
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 17
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 8 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 119,000 (1987 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} totally automatic system; highly developed
{3}international:{4} tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 200,000 (1993 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1 (1986 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 60,000 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} NA
{3}males fit for military service:{4} NA

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $20 million, 3.8% of GDP (FY95/96)