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