9.2%, Japan 7.9%, Italy 7.8%,
Venezuela 6.6% (2004)
Debt - external:
$308.5 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$9.8 million (1995)
Currency (code):
Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Currency code:
BSD
Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1
(2001), 1 (2000)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications Bahamas, The
Telephones - main lines in use:
131,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
121,800 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed
international: country code - 1–242; tropospheric scatter and
submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:
215,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2004)
Televisions:
67,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bs
Internet hosts:
302 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
19 (2000)
Internet users:
84,000 (2003)
Transportation Bahamas, The
Highways: total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:
Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
Merchant marine:
total: 1,119
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 183, cargo 259, chemical
tanker 54, combination ore/oil 17, container 74, liquefied gas 28,
livestock carrier 2, passenger 116, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum
tanker 168, refrigerated cargo 130, roll on/roll off 20, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 24
foreign-owned: 968 (Angola 4, Australia 4, Belgium 17, Canada 9,
China 3, Croatia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 13, Denmark 18, Estonia 1,
Finland 7, France 28, Germany 15, Greece 194, Hong Kong 11,
Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Italy 7, Japan 49, Jordan 2, Kenya
1, Latvia 1, Malaysia 12, Monaco 15, Netherlands 24, New Zealand 1,
Nigeria 2, Norway 229, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia
12, Serbia & Montenegro 2, Singapore 11, Slovenia 1, South Korea 1,
Spain 6, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Thailand 1, Trinidad & Tobago 2,
Turkey 7, UAE 12, United Kingdom 55, United States 154, Uruguay 2)
registered in other countries: 35 (2005)
Airports:
63 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Bahamas, The
Military branches:
Royal Bahamaian Defense Force (naval forces) (2004)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Transnational Issues Bahamas, The
Disputes - international:
have not been able to agree on the alignment of a maritime boundary
with the US; continues to monitor and interdict Haitian refugees
fleeing economic privation and political instability
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and
Europe; offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
======================================================================
@Bahrain
Introduction Bahrain
Background:
Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf
countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign
affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves,
Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has
transformed itself into an international banking center. The new
amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms
and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In
February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National
Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political
liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al
Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected
members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral
legislature, the National Assembly.
Geography Bahrain
Location:
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: