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{{Infobox Country
|native_name =
|common_name = Bahamas
|conventional_long_name = Commonwealth of The Bahamas
|image_flag = Flag of the Bahamas.svg
|image_coat =Coat_of_arms_of_the_Bahamas.png
|image_map = LocationBahamas.svg
|national_motto = "Forward, Upward, Onward Together"
|national_anthem = "[[March On, Bahamaland]]"
|royal_anthem = "[[God Save the Queen]]"
|official_languages = [[English language|English]]
|ethnic_groups = 85% [[Black people|Black]] (esp. [[West Africa]]n), 12% [[European ethnic groups|European]], 3% [[Other]]
|demonym = [[Bahamians|Bahamian]]
|latd=25 |latm=4 |latNS=N |longd=77 |longm=20 |longEW=W
|capital = [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary democracy]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]]
|leader_title1 = [[Monarch of the Bahamas|Monarch]]
|leader_title2 = [[List of Governors-General of the Bahamas|Governor-General]]
|leader_title3 = [[List of Prime Ministers of the Bahamas|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]
|leader_name2 = [[Arthur Dion Hanna]]
|leader_name3 = [[Hubert A. Ingraham]]
|area_rank = 160th
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 13878
|area_sq_mi = 5358 <!-- Do not remove [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water = 28%
|population_estimate = 330,549<ref name="pop">Population estimates for the Bahamas take into account the effects of excess mortality due to [[AIDS]]; this can result in lower [[life expectancy]], higher [[infant mortality]] and [[death rate]]s, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected.</ref>
|population_estimate_year = 2007
|population_estimate_rank = 177th
|population_census = 254,685
|population_census_year = 1990
|population_density_km2 = 23.27
|population_density_sq_mi = 60<!-- Do not remove [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 181st
|GDP_PPP_year = 2007
|GDP_PPP = $8.310 billion<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2004&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=313&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=12&pr1.y=3|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 145th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $24,960<ref name="autogenerated1"/> (IMF)
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 38th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2007
|GDP_nominal = $6.571 billion<ref name="autogenerated1" />
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $19,736<ref name="autogenerated1" /> (IMF)
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.845
|HDI_rank = 49th
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
|sovereignty_type = [[Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from the [[United Kingdom]]
|established_event1 = Self-governing
|established_date1 = 1973
|established_event2 = Full independence
|established_date2 = [[July 10]], [[1973]]
|currency = [[Bahamian dollar|Dollar]]
|currency_code = BSD
|country_code =
|time_zone = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]
|utc_offset = −5
|time_zone_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = −4
|drives_on = left
|cctld = [[.bs]]
|calling_code = 1 242
}}

'''The Bahamas''', officially the '''Commonwealth of The Bahamas''', is an independent, sovereign, [[English language|English]]-speaking country consisting of two thousand [[cay]]s and seven hundred [[island]]s that form an [[archipelago]]. It is located in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] southeast of the [[United States]]; northeast to east of [[Cuba]], [[Hispaniola]] ([[Dominican Republic]] & [[Haiti]]) and north to east of the [[Caribbean Sea]]; and west to northwest of the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]]. Its size is almost 14,000&nbsp;km² with an estimated population of 330,000. Its capital is [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]. It remains a [[Commonwealth realm]].

==History==
{{main|History of the Bahamas}}
The seafaring [[Taino]] people moved into the uninhabited southern Bahamas from [[Hispaniola]] and [[Cuba]] around the 7th century AD. These people came to be known as the [[Lucayan]]s. There were an estimated 30,000+ Lucayans at the time of Columbus' arrival in 1492.
[[Christopher Columbus]]'s first landfall in the [[New World]] was on an island named San Salvador (known to the Lucayans [[Guanahani]]) which is generally accepted to be present-day [[San Salvador Island]] (also known as Watling Island) in the southeastern Bahamas. Here, Columbus made first contact with the Lucayans and exchanged goods with them.

The Spaniards followed Columbus and depopulated the islands, carrying most of the indigenous people off into slavery. It is generally assumed that the islands were uninhabited until the mid-17th century. However, recent research suggests that there may have been attempts to settle the islands by groups from Spain, France, and Britain, as well as by other Amerindians. In 1648, the [[Eleutherian Adventurers]] migrated from [[Bermuda]]. The Adventurers (who were English) established the first permanent European settlements on an island which they named [[Eleuthera]] - the name derives from the Greek word for freedom. They later discovered New Providence and named it Sayle's Island. To survive, the settlers [[Wrecking (shipwreck)#Wrecking in the Bahamas|salvaged goods from wrecks]].

In 1670 [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] granted the islands to the [[Lords Proprietors]] of the Carolinas, who rented the islands from the king with rights of trading, tax, appointing [[Governor#British_Empire_and_Commonwealth_of_Nations|governor]]s, and administering the country.

During proprietary rule, the Bahamas became a haven for [[Piracy|pirate]]s, including the infamous [[Blackbeard]]. To restore orderly government, the Bahamas was made a British [[British overseas territories|crown colony]] in 1718 under the royal governorship of [[Woodes Rogers]], who, after a difficult struggle, succeeded in suppressing piracy.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Woodard
| first = Colin
| authorlink = http://www.colinwoodard.com
| coauthors =
| title = The Republic of Pirates
| publisher = Harcourt, Inc
| date = 2007
| location =
| pages = 166-168, 262-314
| url = http://www.republicofpirates.net
| doi =
| id =
| isbn =978-0-15-603462-3
}}</ref>

During the [[American Revolutionary War]], the islands were a target for American naval forces under the command of Commodore [[Esek Hopkins|Ezekial Hopkins]]. The capital of Nassau on island of New Providence was occupied by [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]] for a [[fortnight]].

In 1782, after the British defeat at [[Siege of Yorktown|Yorktown]], a Spanish fleet appeared off the coast of Nassau, which surrendered without fight. But the 1783 [[Peace of Paris (1783)|Treaty of Versailles]] - which ended the global conflict between Britain, France and Spain - returned the Bahamas to British sovereignty.

After the American Revolution, some 7,300 [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|loyalists]] and their slaves moved to the Bahamas from New York, Florida and the Carolinas. These Americans established plantations on several islands and became a political force in the capital. The small population became mostly African from this point on.

The British abolished the [[Atlantic slave trade|slave trade]] in 1807, which led to the forced settlement on Bahamian islands of thousands of Africans liberated from slave ships by the [[Royal Navy]]. Slavery itself was finally abolished in the [[British Empire]] on [[August 1]] [[1834]].

Modern political development began after the Second World War. The first political parties were formed in the 1950s and the British made the islands internally self-governing in 1964, with Roland Symonette of the United Bahamian Party as the first premier.

In 1967, [[Lynden Pindling]] of the Progressive Liberal Party became the first black premier of the colony, and in 1968 the title was changed to prime minister. In 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent, but retained membership in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. Sir Milo Butler was appointed the first black governor-general (the representative of Queen Elizabeth II) shortly after independence.

Based on the twin pillars of tourism and offshore finance, the Bahamian economy has prospered since the 1950s. However, there remain significant challenges in areas such as education, health care, international narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration from Haiti.

The origin of the name "Bahamas" is unclear. It may derive from the Spanish ''baja mar'', meaning "shallow seas";{{Fact|date=December 2007}} or the Lucayan word for Grand Bahama Island, ''ba-ha-ma'' "large upper middle land".{{Fact|date=December 2007}}

==Geography and Climate==
{{main|Geography of the Bahamas}}
[[Image:Bf-map.gif|thumb|250px|left|upright|Map of the Bahamas]]

The closest island to the United States is [[Bimini]], which is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas. The island of [[Abaco Islands|Abaco]] is to the east of [[Grand Bahama]]. The southeasternmost island is [[Great Inagua]]. Other notable islands include the Bahamas' largest island, [[Andros Island]], and [[Eleuthera]], [[Cat Island (Bahamas)|Cat Island]], [[Long Island (Bahamas)|Long Island]], [[San Salvador Island]], [[Acklins]], [[Crooked Island (Bahamas)|Crooked Island]], [[Exuma]] and [[Mayaguana]]. [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], the Bahamas capital city, lies on the island of [[New Providence]].

All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than {{convert|15|to|20|m|ft|abbr=on|lk=off}}. The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia, formerly called Como Hill, which has an altitude of {{convert|63|m|ft}} on Cat Island.
To the southeast, the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]], and three more extensive submarine features called [[Mouchoir Bank]], [[Silver Bank]], and [[Navidad Bank]], are geographically a continuation of the Bahamas, but not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. {{Fact|date=December 2007}}.
{{Wettest tropical cyclones in the Bahamas|align=right}}
The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, and is moderated significantly by the waters of the [[Gulf Stream]], particularly in winter.<ref>[http://www.eoearth.org/article/Bahamian_dry_forests Location and General Description] Bahamian dry forests, The Encyclopedia of Earth</ref> Conversely, this often proves very dangerous in the summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands. [[Hurricane Andrew]] hit the northern islands during the [[1992 Atlantic hurricane season]], and [[Hurricane Floyd]] hit most of the islands during the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. [[Hurricane Frances]] hit in 2004; the Atlantic hurricane season of 2004 was expected to be the worst ever for the islands. Also in 2004, the northern Bahamas were hit by a less potent [[Hurricane Jeanne]]. In 2005 the northern islands were once again struck, this time by [[Hurricane Wilma]]. In Grand Bahama, tidal surges and high winds destroyed homes and schools, floated graves and made roughly 1,000 people homeless, most of whom lived on the west coast of the island.

While there has never been a freeze reported in the Bahamas, the temperature can fall as low as 2-3°C during Arctic outbreaks that affect nearby Florida. Snow has been reported to have mixed with rain in Freeport in January, 1977, the same time that it snowed in the Miami, FL area. The temperature was about 5°C at the time.{{Fact|date=August 2008}}

==Districts==
{{main|Districts of the Bahamas}}
The districts of the Bahamas provide a system of local government everywhere in The Bahamas except [[New Providence]], whose affairs are handled directly by the central government. The districts other than New Providence are:
<div style="font-size:95%;"><!--For sake of smaller windows/screens-->
{{columns |width=19em
|col1 =
<ul>
<ol>
<li>[[Acklins]]</li>
<li>[[Berry Islands]]</li>
<li>[[Bimini]]</li>
<li>[[Black Point (Bahamas)|Black Point]], [[Exuma]]</li>
<li>[[Cat Island, Bahamas|Cat Island]]</li>
<li>[[Central Abaco]]</li>
<li>[[Central Andros]]</li>
<li>[[Central Eleuthera]]</li>
<li>[[Freeport, Bahamas|City of Freeport, Grand Bahama]]<li>
<li>[[Crooked Island, Bahamas|Crooked Island]]</li>
<li>[[East Grand Bahama]]</li>
<li>[[Exuma]]</li>
<li>[[Grand Cay]], [[Abaco Islands|Abaco]]</li>
<li>[[Harbour Island (Bahamas)|Harbour Island]], [[Eleuthera]]</li>
<li>[[Hope Town]], [[Abaco Islands|Abaco]]</li>
<li>[[Inagua]]</li>
<li>[[Long Island, Bahamas|Long Island]]</li>
</ol>
</ul>
|col2 =
<ul>
<ol start=18>
<li>[[Mangrove Cay]], [[Andros, Bahamas|Andros]]</li>
<li>[[Mayaguana]]</li>
<li>[[Moore's Island]], [[Abaco Islands|Abaco]]</li>
<li>[[North Abaco]]</li>
<li>[[North Andros]]</li>
<li>[[North Eleuthera]]</li>
<li>[[Ragged Island]]</li>
<li>[[Rum Cay]]</li>
<li>[[San Salvador Island|San Salvador]]</li>
<li>[[South Abaco]]</li>
<li>[[South Andros]]</li>
<li>[[South Eleuthera]]</li>
<li>[[Spanish Wells]], [[Eleuthera]]</li>
<li>[[West Grand Bahama]]</li>
</ol>
</ul>
|col4 =
[[Image:Districts of the Bahamas.png|thumb|right|260px|Districts of the Bahamas]]
}}
</div><!--(font-size)-->

==Government and politics==
[[Image:BahamianParliamentPanorama.jpg|300px|thumb|[[Parliament of the Bahamas|Bahamian Parliament]], located in downtown [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]]]
{{main|Politics of The Bahamas}}
<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series-->
The Bahamas is a sovereign [[Independence|independent]] nation. Political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom and the [[Westminster system]].

The Bahamas is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], with [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as [[head of state]] (represented by a [[governor-general]]).

[[Legislature|Legislative power]] is vested in a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] [[parliament]], which consists of a 41-member [[House of Assembly]] (the [[lower house]]), with members elected from [[Plurality voting system|single-member districts]], and a 16-member Senate, with members appointed by the governor-general, including nine on the advice of the prime minister, four on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and three on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition. The House of Assembly carries out all major legislative functions. As under the Westminster system, the prime minister may dissolve parliament and call a general election at any time within a five-year term.

The [[List of Prime Ministers of the Bahamas|prime minister]] is the [[head of government]] and is the leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Assembly. [[Executive (government)|Executive power]] is exercised by the cabinet, selected by the prime minister and drawn his supporters in the House of Assembly. The current governor-general is [[Arthur Dion Hanna]] and the current [[prime minister]] is [[Hubert Ingraham]].

The Bahamas has a largely [[two-party system]] dominated by the [[centre-left]] [[Progressive Liberal Party]] and the [[centre-right]] [[Free National Movement]]. A handful of splinter parties have been unable to win election to parliament. These parties have included the [[Bahamas Democratic Movement]], the [[Coalition for Democratic Reform]] and the Bahamian Nationalist Party.

Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. Although the Bahamas is not geographically located in the Caribbean, it is a member of the [[Caribbean Community]]. The [[Judicial independence|judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on [[English law]].

==Demographics==
{{Cleanup-section|date=April 2008}}
{{main|Demographics of the Bahamas}}
[[African diaspora|Blacks]] 85%, [[White people|Whites]] 12%, [[Asian people|Asian]] and [[Spanish people|Hispanic]] 3% according to the last census completed about the races on the island, which was recorded in 1953. There are over 4,100 [[British people|British]] residents in the Bahamas.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/brits_abroad/html/caribbean.stm</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ '''<big>1953 census results by island</big>'''<ref>''Race & Politics in the Bahamas'' (1981), ISBN 978-0312661366</ref>

! Region
! European !! % !! Mixed !! % !! African !! % !! Total
|-
|align="left"| New Providence
| {{commas|6758}} || 14.80% || {{commas|6804}} || 14.90% || {{commas|32108}} || 70.30% || {{commas|45670}}
|-
|align="left"| Andros and Berry Islands
| 97 || 1.30% || 299 || 4.01% || {{commas|7065}} || 94.69% || {{commas|7461}}
|-
|align="left"| Grand Bahama and Bimini
| 450 || 8.30% || 721 || 13.31% || {{commas|4248}} || 78.39% || {{commas|5419}}
|-
|align="left"| Abaco
| {{commas|1146}} || 33.63% || 225 || 6.60% || {{commas|2037}} || 59.77% || {{commas|3408}}
|-
|align="left"| Harbour Island
| 861 || 56.42% || 53 || 3.47% || 612 || 40.10% || {{commas|1526}}
|-
|align="left"| Eleuthera
| 662 || 10.93% || {{commas|1062}} || 17.54% || {{commas|4332}} || 71.53% || {{commas|6056}}
|-
|align="left"| Cat Island
| 12 || 0.37% || 86 || 2.69% || {{commas|3103}} || 96.94% || {{commas|3201}}
|-
|align="left"| Exuma
| 59 || 2.02% || 61 || 2.09% || {{commas|2799}} || 95.89% || {{commas|2919}}
|-
|align="left"| San Salvador and Rum Cay
| 46 || 5.56% || 51 || 6.17% || 730 || 88.27% || 827
|-
|align="left"| Long Island and Ragged Island
| 564 || 13.84% || {{commas|2072}} || 50.83% || {{commas|1440}} || 35.33% || {{commas|4076}}
|-
|align="left"| Crooked Islands, Acklins and Long Cay
| 7 || 0.32% || 513 || 23.44% || {{commas|1669}} || 76.24% || {{commas|2189}}
|-
|align="left"| Mayaguana and Inagua
| 60 || 3.74% || 95 || 5.93% || {{commas|1448}} || 90.33% || {{commas|1603}}
|- style="background:#f2f2f2; font-weight:bold;"
|align="left" style="font-variant:small-caps;"| Bahamas
| {{commas|10722}} || 12.71% || {{commas|12042}} || 14.28% || {{commas|61591}} || 73.01% || {{commas|84355}}
|}

'''Population''': 307,541 (July 2008 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.)

'''Nationality''': noun: Bahamian(s)

'''Adjective''': Bahamian

'''Ethnic groups''': black 85%, white 12%, Asian 3%

'''Religions''': Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%<ref>[http://www.thebahamasguide.com/facts/religion.htm Religion, Faith and God in the Bahamas] - accessed 8 August 2008</ref> The 'other' category includes Jews, Muslims, Baha'is, Hindus, Rastafarians, and practitioners of [[Obeah]].<ref name=Freedom>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51625.htm Bahamas - International Religious Freedom Report 2005] - accessed 8 August 2008</ref>

'''Languages''': English (official), Bahamian Dialect, Haitian Creole (among Haitian immigrants)<ref>[http://bahamas-guide.info/travel.basics/languages/ Bahamas Languages] - accessed August 8, 2008</ref>

'''Literacy (age 15+)''': total population: 98.2%
male: 98.5%
female: 98% (1995 est.)
<ref>The Bahamas guide</ref>

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of the Bahamas|Music of the Bahamas}}

In the less developed outer islands, handicrafts include basketry made from palm fronds. This material, commonly called "straw", is plaited into hats and bags that are popular tourist items.
[[Image:Junkanoo.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Junkanoo]] celebration in [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]]]]
[[Regatta]]s are important social events in many family island settlements. They usually feature one or more days of sailing by old-fashioned [[work boats]], as well as an onshore festival.

Some settlements have festivals associated with the traditional crop or food of that area, such as the "Pineapple Fest" in Gregory Town, [[Eleuthera]] or the "Crab Fest" on Andros. Other significant traditions include [[story telling]].

[[Sailing]] and [[Athletics (track and field)|Track and field athletics]] are popular sports in the country. [[Association football|Football]] and [[Rugby union|rugby]] also have strong followings while American sports such as [[basketball]], [[softball]], [[baseball]] and [[American football]] are gaining in popularity.

==Sports==
The [[Bahamas]] competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. In 1956, [[Sloan Farrington]] & [[Durward Knowles]] won a bronze medal in sailing. The first Olympic gold medal for the Bahamas was won in sailing (Sir Durwood Knowles and Cecile Cooke in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan). After a losing streak of 28 years at the Olympics the Bahamas won bronze the men's triple jump through [[Frank Rutherford]]. As for track & field the Bahamas placed second in the women's 4 x 100m in 1996 with [[Eldece Clark-Lewis]], [[Chandra Sturrup]], [[Sevatheda Fynes]] & [[Pauline Davis-Thompson]].

In the 2000 Sydney Olympics the "Golden Girls" were born, [[Pauline Davis-Thompson]], [[Debbie Ferguson]], [[Sevatheda Fynes]], [[Chandra Sturrup]] & [[Eldece Clark-Lewis]] by winning gold in the women's 4 x 100m relay. [[Pauline Davis-Thompson]] also won silver in the women's 200m in Sydney. In 2004 Athens [[Tonique Williams-Darling]] won gold in the 400m finishing in 49.41(s) & [[Debbie Ferguson]] placed third in women's 200m 22.30(s). At the 2008 Beijing Olympics [[Andretti Bain]], [[Michael Mathieu]], [[Andrae Williams]] and [[Chris Brown (athlete)|Christopher Brown]] won the Silver medal in the 4 x 400m men's relay team. [[Leevan Sands]] aka "Superman" also won an Olympic medal for the Bahamas in the men's triple jump after placing third with 17.59/+0.9 (Distance (m)/Wind (m/s) setting a national record.

They are also very active in the world of karting, the current Bahamian champion is [[Genevieve Siddons]].

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of the Bahamas}}
[[Image:Bahamaslogo.png|thumb|left|Logo of the Bahamas]]
[[Image:Atlantis Paradise Island Hotel edit.jpg|right|thumb|[[Atlantis Paradise Island]]: Tourism plays an important part in the economy of the Bahamas.]]
[[Image:CocoCayBeach.JPG|thumb|[[Coco Cay]], a privately leased island by the [[Cruising (maritime)|cruise]] company [[Royal Caribbean International]]]]
The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar, and US notes and coins are used interchangeably with Bahamian currency for most practical purposes. However, government exchange controls still apply for the purchase of foreign currency.

The Bahamas is classified as an upper middle-income developing country and has the third highest per capita income in the western hemisphere (after the United States and Canada). Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for about two thirds of the [[gross domestic product]] (GDP). Offshore finance is the second largest industry, accounting for about 15 per cent of GDP.

The government continues to promote tourism and financial services while aiming for greater diversification through agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and e-commerce.

In the 1960s, the country enjoyed robust growth averaging 9 per cent annually as direct foreign investment spurred the development of tourism. A global economic downturn after the 1973 oil price shock coincided with Bahamian independence and led to a drop in foreign investment.

Toward the end of that decade economic performance improved, led by growth in tourism. Real GDP growth in the 1980-84 period averaged 3 per cent, but declined in the late 1980s. GDP growth was 0.3 per cent in 1995 and accelerated to 6 per cent in 1999. After 9/11 the economy slumped temporarily due to travel fears, but began growing again in 2002. Bahamas is now more commonly known as a popular destination amongst the rich & powerful business families of the Americas.

Historically, most development has occurred on New Providence and Grand Bahama, causing significant migration from the Family Islands to these two urban centers and straining their infrastructure. The government is also faced with the burden of duplicating facilities and services throughout the archipelago.

There is no income, corporate or capital gains tax.{{Fact|date=May 2008}}
Government revenues are derived from import tariffs, excise taxes, property taxes, business licenses and fees.

{{clear}}

==See also==
{{portal|North America|Flag of the Bahamas.svg}}
{{portal|Commonwealth realms|Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations.svg}}
{{InterWiki|English language|code=w}}
*[[Commonwealth of Nations]]
*[[List of Bahamas-related articles]]
*[[List of Bahamas-related topics]]
*[[List of international rankings]]
*[[Wikipedia:WikiProject Outline of knowledge/Drafts/Outline of the Bahamas|Outline of the Bahamas]]
*[[Outline of geography]]
*[[Outline of North America]]
*[[United Nations]]
{{clear}}
<!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to the Bahamas in the [[List of Bahamas-related topics]] -->

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
===General history===
* Cash Philip ''et al.'' (Don Maples, Alison Packer). ''The Making of the Bahamas: A History for Schools''. London: Collins, 1978.
* Albury, Paul. ''The Story of The Bahamas''. London: MacMillan Caribbean, 1975.
* Miller, Hubert W. ''The Colonization of the Bahamas, 1647–1670,'' ''The William and Mary Quarterly'' 2 no.1 (Jan 1945): 33–46.
* Craton, Michael. ''A History of the Bahamas''. London: Collins, 1962.
* Craton, Michael and Saunders, Gail. ''Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People''. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1992
* McCartney, Donald M., "Bahamian Culture And Factors Which Impact Upon It". Pittsburgh, PA: Dorrance Publishing,:) 2004

===Economic history===
* Johnson, Howard. ''The Bahamas in Slavery and Freedom''. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishing, 1991.
* Johnson, Howard. ''The Bahamas from Slavery to Servitude, 1783–1933''. Gainesville: University of Florida Press, 1996.
* Alan A. Block. ''Masters of Paradise'', New Brunswick and London, Transaction Publishers, 1998.
* Storr, Virgil H. ''Enterprising Slaves and Master Pirates: Understanding Economic Life in the Bahamaz''. New York: Peter Lang, 2004.

===Social history===
* Johnson, Wittington B. ''Race Relations in the Bahamas, 1784–1834: The Nonviolent Transformation from a Slave to a Free Society.'' Fayetteville: University of Arkansas, 2000.
* Shirley, Paul. "Tek Force Wid Force", ''History Today'' 54, no. 41 (April 2004): 30–35.
* Saunders, Gail. ''The Social Life in the Bahamas 1880s–1920s''. Nassau: Media Publishing, 1996.
* Saunders, Gail. ''Bahamas Society After Emancipation''. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishing, 1990.
* Curry, Jimmy. ''Filthy Rich Gangster/First Bahamian Movie''. Movie Mogul Pictures: 1996.

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Bahamas}}
*{{wikiatlas|Bahamas}}
* [http://www.bahamas.com/ The Official Tourism Website of The Islands Of The Bahamas]
* [http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/ Official website for Bahamas government]
* {{wikitravel|Bahamas}}
* [http://www.bfsb-bahamas.com Bahamas Financial Services Board]
* [http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/carusel/mysteriuos-cave-systems-in-bahamas/ Description of Cave systems in Bahamas]
* [http://www.constitution.org/cons/bahamas.htm The Bahamas Constitution]
* {{CIA World Factbook link|bf|Bahamas}}
*[http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/bahamas.htm The Bahamas] at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{dmoz|Regional/Caribbean/Bahamas}}
* [http://www.bahamasissues.com Bahamas Issues Bahamian Web Community - Mainly Political Forum]
{{-}}
{{Bahamas topics|state=uncollapsed}}
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{{English official language clickable map}}

<!--Categories-->
[[Category:Bahamas| ]]
[[Category:Current monarchies|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Island countries|Bahamas]]
[[Category:CARICOM members|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Settlements established in 1647|Bahamas]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories|Bahamas]]
[[Category:Constitutional monarchies|Constitutional monarchies]]
[[Category:Liberal democracies|Bahamas]]

<!--Other languages-->

[[ar:البهاما]]
[[an:Bahamas]]
[[arz:باهاماس]]
[[frp:Bahamas]]
[[ast:Bahames]]
[[az:Baham adaları]]
[[bn:বাহামা দ্বীপপুঞ্জ]]
[[zh-min-nan:Bahamas]]
[[be:Багамы]]
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[[bs:Bahami]]
[[bg:Бахамски острови]]
[[ca:Bahames]]
[[cv:Пахам утравĕсем]]
[[ceb:Bahamas]]
[[cs:Bahamy]]
[[cy:Y Bahamas]]
[[da:Bahamas]]
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[[dv:ބަހާމަސް]]
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[[et:Bahama]]
[[el:Μπαχάμες]]
[[es:Bahamas]]
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[[eu:Bahamak]]
[[ee:Bahamas]]
[[fa:باهاما]]
[[fr:Bahamas]]
[[fy:Bahama's]]
[[ga:Na Bahámaí]]
[[gv:Ny Bahamaghyn]]
[[gd:Na h-Eileanan Bhathama]]
[[gl:Bahamas]]
[[ko:바하마]]
[[hi:बहामास]]
[[hsb:Bahamy]]
[[hr:Bahami]]
[[io:Bahama]]
[[ilo:Bahamas]]
[[bpy:বাহামা]]
[[id:Bahama]]
[[ia:Bahamas]]
[[os:Багамаг сакъадæхтæ]]
[[is:Bahamaeyjar]]
[[it:Bahamas]]
[[he:איי בהאמה]]
[[pam:Bahamas]]
[[kn:ಬಹಾಮಾಸ್]]
[[ka:ბაჰამის კუნძულები]]
[[ks:बहामास]]
[[kk:Бағамалар]]
[[kw:Ynysow Bahama]]
[[sw:Bahamas]]
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[[ku:Bahama]]
[[la:Insulae Bahamenses]]
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[[pl:Bahamy]]
[[pt:Bahamas]]
[[crh:Bahamalar]]
[[ro:Bahamas]]
[[qu:Bahamakuna]]
[[ru:Багамские Острова]]
[[se:Bahamasullot]]
[[sa:बहामास]]
[[stq:Bahamas]]
[[sq:Bahamet]]
[[scn:Bahamas]]
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[[vi:Bahamas]]
[[tr:Bahama Adaları]]
[[tk:Bagama Adalary]]
[[uk:Багамські Острови]]
[[vec:Bahamas]]
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[[wo:Bahamas]]
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[[diq:Bahama]]
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[[zh:巴哈马]]

Revision as of 14:40, 17 March 2009

go die jason!!

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