The Bahamas

File:National anthem of the Bahamas.oga File:U.S. Navy Band - God Save the King.oga

The Bahamas on the globe (Americas centered)

Bahamas, The-CIA WFB Map

Landing of Columbus (2)

Battle of Nassau

The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Forward, Upward, Onward Together"
Anthem: "March On, Bahamaland"
Capital and largest city	Nassau
Official languages	English
Ethnic groups	90.6% Black, 4.7% White, 2.1% Mixed, 1.9% Hispanic, 0.7% Other
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Assembly
Area
• Total	13,940 km2 (5,380 sq mi) (155th)
Population
• 2020 estimate	385,637
• Density	27.7/km2 (71.7/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$12.161 billion
• Per capita	$31,532
Currency	Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+1-242
ISO 3166 code	[[ISO 3166-2:BS |BS ]]
Internet TLD	.bs

The Bahamas, officially known as the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is a country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises 700 islands and cays, with the capital being Nassau on the island of New Providence. The Bahamas is located north of Cuba and Hispaniola (the island containing Haiti and the Dominican Republic), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, southeast of the U.S. state of Florida, and east of the Florida Keys.

History

The Bahamas was inhabited by the Lucayans, a branch of the Arawakan-speaking Taíno people, for many centuries. Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the New World in 1492 on the island of San Salvador, also known as Watling's Island. The Spanish forced much of the native population into slavery, and the islands were largely depopulated by the time the British settled in 1648.

The Bahamas became a British Crown colony in 1718, when the British clamped down on piracy. Following the American War of Independence, thousands of Loyalists and their slaves moved to the Bahamas and established plantations. The Bahamas gained independence from the United Kingdom on July 10, 1973, and is now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Geography

The Bahamas consists of 700 islands and over 2,000 rocks and cays, covering 13,940 square kilometers. The largest island is Andros Island, located about 40 kilometers west of Nassau. Other major islands include Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, and Abaco.

The climate of the Bahamas is tropical, moderated by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The islands are prone to hurricanes, with the hurricane season running from June to November.

Government and Politics

The Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Charles III as the current monarch. The Governor-General represents the monarch in the Bahamas. The Prime Minister is the head of government.

The Parliament of the Bahamas is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Assembly. The legal system is based on English law.

Economy

The Bahamian economy is heavily dependent on tourism and financial services. Tourism alone accounts for over 60% of the GDP and employs about half of the Bahamian workforce. The Bahamas is also a major offshore financial center.

The currency is the Bahamian dollar (BSD), which is pegged to the United States dollar (USD).

Demographics

The population of the Bahamas is approximately 385,637 as of 2020. The majority of the population is of African descent, with smaller communities of European and Asian descent. The official language is English, and the predominant religion is Christianity, with Baptist and Anglican being the largest denominations.

Culture

The culture of the Bahamas is a blend of African, European, and indigenous influences. The most famous cultural event is the annual Junkanoo festival, a street parade with music, dance, and costumes, held on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

Related Pages

• Nassau, Bahamas
• Lucayan Archipelago
• West Indies
• Commonwealth of Nations
• Tourism in the Bahamas
• Junkanoo