Bahamas, The

ECONOMICS

The Bahamas has the second highest per capita GDP in the English-speaking Caribbean with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and financial services. Tourism accounts for approximately 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than 7% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The new government led by Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS has prioritized addressing fiscal imbalances and rising debt, which stood at 75% of GDP in 2016. Large capital projects like the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel are driving growth. Public debt increased in 2017 in large part due to hurricane reconstruction and relief financing. The primary fiscal balance was a deficit of 0.4% of GDP in 2016. The Bahamas is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a member of the World Trade Organization.

 

1990 2000 2010 2016
GNI, Atlas method (current US$) (billions) 3.04 6.06 7.81 10.9
GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) 11,860 20,330 21,660 27,850
GNI, PPP (current international $) (billions) 4.85 6 7.85 11.34
GNI per capita, PPP (current international $) 18,940 20,130 21,770 28,990
GDP (current US$) (billions) 3.17 8.08 10.1 11.84
GDP growth (annual %) -1.6 4.1 1.5 -1.7
Inflation, GDP deflator (annual %) 5.1 0.9 -0.4 2.1
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (% of GDP) 2 1 1 1
Industry (including construction), value added (% of GDP) 14 12 11 12
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 54 38 35 36
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 56 42 44 38
Gross capital formation (% of GDP) 29 30 28 25
Revenue, excluding grants (% of GDP) 15.8 11.6 12.8 16.3
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP) -2.5 0.2 -2.6 -2.6
States and markets
Time required to start a business (days) .. .. 24 22
Domestic credit provided by financial sector (% of GDP) 58.5 52.7 82.5 76.8
Tax revenue (% of GDP) 13.9 10.7 10.9 14.2
Military expenditure (% of GDP) .. .. .. ..
Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) 0.7 10.6 118.7 92.1
Individuals using the Internet (% of population) 0 8 43 80
High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports) .. 7 0 ..
Statistical Capacity score (Overall average) .. .. .. ..
Global links
Merchandise trade (% of GDP) 88 33 33 26
Net barter terms of trade index (2000 = 100) .. 100 83 80
External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$) (millions) .. .. .. ..
Total debt service (% of exports of goods, services and primary income) .. .. .. ..
Net migration (thousands) 0 15 10 ..
Personal remittances, received (current US$) (millions) .. .. .. ..
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) (millions) -17 250 872 74
Net official development assistance received (current US$) (millions) 3.2 .. .. ..