| Bahamas, officially titled the "Commonwealth of the | | | | in 1973. The government is a constitutional |
| Bahamas", is an archipelago lying off the south-east | | | | parliamentary democracy based on the lines of the |
| coast of Florida, USA and north of Cuba. The | | | | Westminster model of the United Kingdom. The |
| Bahamas consists of more than 700 islands and over | | | | nominal head of state is Queen Elizabeth and the |
| 1000 cays and rocks covering an area of more than | | | | crown's acting head is a Governor General. The head |
| 5,000 sq. mi (nearly 14,000 sq. km.) and a population | | | | of the government is the Prime Minister. The |
| of over 300,000. Only about 30 islands are inhabited. | | | | Bahamas has been a peaceful nation and has not |
| The largest island is Andros but New Providence is | | | | witnessed any violent coups or unrest. |
| the most populous. The capital Nassau is situated on | | | | Economy |
| this island. Eighty-five percent of the population is | | | | Economically, tourism is the biggest money spinner |
| made up of Afro-Bahamians, the rest are Europeans | | | | for this island nation with nearly half of the GDP |
| with a slender minority being Asians. The main | | | | coming from this industry alone and employing most |
| languages are English, Creole Spanish and Portuguese. | | | | of the people in the islands. The sun kissed beaches |
| The nation is predominantly Christian in religion with | | | | of the islands and the friendly party atmosphere of |
| the largest denominations being the Baptist, Anglican | | | | the locals all tend to play a large part in the islands' |
| and Roman Catholics. The literacy rate is one of the | | | | attraction. Further, the islands being close to the |
| highest in the world at 95.6% while the life | | | | United States of America, have a large share of |
| expectancy is put at 63. | | | | visitors from there who prefer the Bahamas as a |
| History and Governance | | | | destination for its "tropical paradise" allure. Many |
| The country's history can be traced back to the first | | | | packages and tours exist for the Bahamas and the |
| landing of Christopher Columbus, who is said to have | | | | cost being relatively cheaper than mainland USA has |
| landed on San Salvador, an island in the south of | | | | boosted its appeal to everyone in North America. |
| Bahamas. Many of the locals were enslaved and | | | | The economy of the country also relies on fishing, |
| deported to Spain and the area was largely deserted | | | | which is the main occupation next only to tourism. |
| until the arrival of the British who set up settlements | | | | Vegetables and fruits are also grown in abundance. |
| in the region. The islands then came under the British | | | | With a global free trade, the Bahamas has benefited |
| Empire. Following the American Revolutionary War, | | | | the most with many banking and investment |
| the African slaves in the USA who had fought on the | | | | companies setting up shop in the islands. The country |
| British side, in the conflict were expelled and were | | | | has a per capita income of more than $20,000 |
| resettled here by the British. The country became | | | | putting it in the top 50 list. Bahamas' currency is the |
| internally self-governing in 1964 and fully independent | | | | Bahamas Dollar. |