Country information

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THE BAHAMAS TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 13,939 sq km(5,382 sq miles)
Population: 333,800 (2007 Bahamas Handbook)
Capital City: The 2 most populated areas are the capital, Nassau, New Providence and Freeport, on Grand Bahama
People: Nationality - Noun and adjective - Bahamian(s); Ethnic Groups - African 85%, European 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Languages: English; some Creole amongst Haitian groups
Education: Mandatory and free up to age 16. Enrolment for mandatory attendance 99.2%. Literacy rate 96.6%
Religion(s): Christian; Baptist (32%) Anglican (20%), Roman Catholic (19%), Evangelical Protestants (12%), Methodists, Church of God (6%)
Currency: Bahamian Dollar (BSD), $1BSD = $1US (June 2008), $1.95BSD to the British Pound (June 2008)
Major political parties: Free National Movement (FNM), Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), Bahamas Democratic Movement
Government: parliamentary democracy. Independence: 10 July 1973
Head of State: HM The Queen
Prime Minister: The Rt Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister: The Hon Brent Symonette
Governor-General: His Excellency The Hon Arthur D Hanna
Minister of National Security: The Hon Tommy Turnquest

HEALTH

Infant Mortality rate

Total: 23.67 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 28.89 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 18.34 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life Expectancy

Total population: 23.67 years
Male: 62.5 years
Female: 69 years (2008 est)

HIV/AIDS

National adult HIV prevalence in The Bahamas is among the highest in the Caribbean at 3.3%. Improved management and treatment of AIDS appears to have reduced the number of deaths due to AIDS. But AIDS is still a leading cause of death among Bahamian men and women aged 15-44. As of 31 December 2006, The Bahamas had a cumulative total of 10841 reported cases of HIV/AIDS. Of the 10841living individuals, 1693 are living with an AIDS diagnosis, while 5343 have HIV infection that has not yet progressed to AIDS.

The disease occurs primarily among heterosexuals (approximately 87%), although under-reporting by men who have sex with men remains a challenge. Transmission through intravenous drug use is considered to be insignificant.

The decline in new HIV infections can be attributed to the strategies taken by the Government of The Bahamas beginning early in the epidemic, and that continue to form the backbone of the response to HIV and AIDS. A slight increase in the number of newly reported HIV infections was noted in 2005 and 2006 which was attributed to the increased testing during the “Know Your Status” campaign launched by the HIV/AIDS Centre.

Drugs

The Bahamas experiences cocaine traffic largely along the Colombia-Jamaica-Bahamas corridor. International law enforcement efforts in the Jamaican corridor and elsewhere in the Caribbean region have resulted in a marked drop in traffic through The Bahamas in recent years. But with direct commercial airline links to the UK and a modern container facility in Freeport, The Bahamas remains a potential threat for direct trafficking to Europe. The Bahamians have made important cocaine seizures in sea containers in transit destined for Europe from Colombia.

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