Chain of Caribbean islands in the North Atlantic Ocean southeast of Florida
Country Fact Sheet
Capital
Nassau
Surface
13,940 sq km
Currency
Bahamian dollar (BSD)
GDP
Purchasing power parity $9,189 billion
GDP/Capita
(PPP)- $ 29,900
Language
English, Creole (Haitian immigrants)
Religion
Christian
Government
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Time Zone
Greenwich Mean Time/UTC -5 hours
Telecom Code
Area code +1 242 and local 7-digit number
Airport
Grand Bahama Airport (FPO/MYGF) - Nassau International Airport (NAS/MYNN) - Rock Sound Airport (RSD/MYER)
Driving
On the left hand side of the road, license required
Electrical
Standard North American l20volt
Political Climate
Stable country
Population
307451 people
History
The Arawak Indians were the first to populate St Lucia, but were decimated by the Caribs. Columbus who succeeded to the British in1647, was the first European to discover the island in 1492. British settlement of the islands began; and The Bahamas became a British colony in 1783.
The Bahamas obtained their independence from the UK in 1973. Since then the country have achieved significant economic growth through tourism and international banking and investment management
