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Compare Bahamas, The (2001) - Virgin Islands (2003)

Compare Bahamas, The (2001) z Virgin Islands (2003)

 Bahamas, The (2001)Virgin Islands (2003)
 Bahamas, TheVirgin Islands
Administrative divisions 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nicholls Town and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Age structure 0-14 years:
29.43% (male 44,179; female 43,486)

15-64 years:
64.46% (male 94,329; female 97,674)

65 years and over:
6.11% (male 7,618; female 10,566) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 26% (male 16,685; female 15,794)


15-64 years: 64.4% (male 36,241; female 44,157)


65 years and over: 9.5% (male 5,078; female 6,823) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products citrus, vegetables; poultry fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Airports 65 (2000 est.) 2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total:
36

over 3,047 m:
2

2,438 to 3,047 m:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
16

914 to 1,523 m:
13

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
29

914 to 1,523 m:
6

under 914 m:
23 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
13,940 sq km

land:
10,070 sq km

water:
3,870 sq km
total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Connecticut twice the size of Washington, DC
Background Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Birth rate 19.1 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 15.8 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues:
$766 million

expenditures:
$845 million, including capital expenditures of $97 million (FY97/98)
revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Capital Nassau Charlotte Amalie
Climate tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Coastline 3,542 km 188 km
Constitution 10 July 1973 Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Country name conventional long form:
Commonwealth of The Bahamas

conventional short form:
The Bahamas
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
Currency Bahamian dollar (BSD) US dollar (USD)
Death rate 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $385.8 million (2000 est.) $NA
Dependency status - organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate J. Richard BLANKENSHIP

embassy:
Queen Street, Nassau

mailing address:
local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; stateside address: American Embassy Nassau, P. O. Box 599009, Miami, FL 33159-9009; pouch address: Nassau, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-3370

telephone:
[1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206

FAX:
[1] (242) 356-0222
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Joshua SEARS

chancery:
2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 319-2660

FAX:
[1] (202) 319-2668

consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
none (territory of the US)
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient $9.8 million (1995) $NA
Economy - overview The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. Moderate growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences led to an increase of the country's GDP by an estimated 3% in 1998, 6% in 1999, and 4.5% in 2000. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute only 10% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run will depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued sturdy growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist visitors. Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment.
Electricity - consumption 1.362 billion kWh (1999) 957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.465 billion kWh (1999) 1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Environment - current issues coral reef decay; solid waste disposal lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment - international agreements party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
-
Ethnic groups black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3% black 78%, white 10%, other 12%


note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% born elsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%, other 2%
Exchange rates Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate pegged to the dollar) the US dollar is used
Executive branch chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since 2 January 1995)

head of government:
Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since December 1994)

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Vargrave RICHARDS (since NA January 2003)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%
Exports $376.8 million (2000 est.) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined petroleum products refined petroleum products
Exports - partners US 22.3%, Switzerland 15.6%, UK 15%, Denmark 7.4% (1998) US, Puerto Rico
Fiscal year 1 July - 30 June 1 October - 30 September
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
GDP purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3%

industry:
7%

services:
90% (1999 est.)
agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $19,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4.5% (2000 est.) 2% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 15 N, 76 00 W 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Geography - note strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
Heliports 1 (2000 est.) -
Highways total:
2,693 km

paved:
1,546 km

unpaved:
1,147 km (1997)
total: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; banking industry vulnerable to money laundering -
Imports $1.73 billion (2000 est.) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles, electronics crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners US 27.3%, Italy 26.5%, Japan 10%, Denmark 4.2% (1998) US, Puerto Rico
Independence 10 July 1973 (from UK) -
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Infant mortality rate 17.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 9 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.9% (2000 est.) 2% (1992)
International organization participation ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer) ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 19 (2000) 50 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)
Labor force 156,000 (1999) 49,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation tourism 40%, other services 50%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1995 est.) agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
32%

other:
67% (1993 est.)
arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
Languages English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants) English (official), Spanish, Creole
Legal system based on English common law based on US laws
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 14 March 1997 (next to be held by March 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FNM 35, PLP 5
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Life expectancy at birth total population:
70.46 years

male:
67.27 years

female:
73.71 years (2001 est.)
total population: 78.59 years


male: 74.73 years


female: 82.68 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
98.2%

male:
98.5%

female:
98% (1995 est.)
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total:
1,049 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,000,221 GRT/44,601,471 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 185, cargo 214, chemical tanker 36, combination bulk 15, combination ore/oil 22, container 66, liquefied gas 33, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 79, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 182, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 118, roll on/roll off 50, short-sea passenger 15, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 24

note:
includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Algeria 2, Australia 1, Austria 1, Bermuda 6, Belgium 14, Canada 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 2, Denmark 17, Finland 7, France 9, Germany 9, Greece 89, Hong Kong 7, Indonesia 2, India 1, Israel 4, Italy 8, Japan 23, Jamaica 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 2, Luxembourg 2, Monaco 15, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 16, Norway 139, Poland 3, Portugal 2, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia 5, Singapore 12, Spain 7, Sweden 14, Syria 1, Switzerland 7, UAE 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, UK 67, Ukraine 3, US 50, British Virgin Islands 1, British Virgin Islands 1 (2000 est.)
none (2002 est.)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $20 million (FY95/96) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% -
National holiday Independence Day, 10 July (1973) Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Nationality noun:
Bahamian(s)

adjective:
Bahamian
noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
Natural hazards hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Natural resources salt, aragonite, timber, arable land sun, sand, sea, surf
Net migration rate -2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE] Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 297,852

note:
estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
124,778 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.93% (2001 est.) 1.02% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios 215,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2% Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
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 (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system general assessment:
modern facilities

domestic:
totally automatic system; highly developed

international:
tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Telephones - main lines in use 96,000 (1997) 65,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 6,152 (1997) 2,000 (1992)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 2 (2002)
Terrain long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Total fertility rate 2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.22 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 9% (1998 est.) 4.9% (March 1999)
Waterways none none
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