Bahamas

People

Eighty-five percent of the population of the Bahamas is of African heritage. About two-thirds of the population resides on New Providence Island (the location of Nassau). Many ancestors arrived at the Bahama Islands when they served as a staging area for the slave trade in the early 1800's. Others accompanied thousands of British loyalists who fled the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. In July 2001, the estimated population was 297,852. However, due to the high death rates, this estimate may not be acurate. There are currently about 7,000 people living with HIV or AIDS

 

 

1990 2000 2010 2016
Population, total (millions) 0.26 0.3 0.36 0.39
Population growth (annual %) 1.8 1.5 1.7 1.1
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) 13.9 13.9 13.9 13.9
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) 25.6 29.8 36 39.1
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) 71 72 75 76
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) 2.6 2.1 1.9 1.8
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) 70 51 35 28
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) 62 45 .. ..
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) 99 99 99 98
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) 24 16 14 11
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) .. .. .. ..
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) 86 93 94 89
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) .. 82 93 99
School enrollment, primary (% gross) 98.3 96.9 107.9 95.3
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) 86 78 93 90
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) 1 1 1 1
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) 1 2.9 3 3.3
Environment
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) 0.2 0.3 .. 1.2
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) .. .. .. ..
Urban population growth (annual %) 2.5 1.7 1.7 1.2
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) 2,517 .. 2,071 ..
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) 7.61 5.6 4.58 6.32
Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) .. .. .. ..