Country Profile
Key Facts
Comptroller
Name: The name Bahamas is derived from either the Taino ba ha ma (“big upper middle land”), which was a term for the region used by the indigenous Amerindians, or from the Spanish baja mar (“shallow water or sea” or “low tide”) reflecting the shallow waters of the area. Alternatively, it may originate from Guanahani, a local name of unclear meaning. In English, The Bahamas is one of only two countries whose self-standing short name begins with the word “the”, along with The Gambia.
Date of Membership in CCLEC: (1989 – Miami)
Motto: “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together”
Status: Independent – 10th July 1973
Area: 13,878 km2 (5,358 miles2)
GDP: 2016 estimate – $9.066 billion
Population: 2016 est. : 392,718
Capital City: Nassau
Official Language: English
Currency: Bahamian Dollar (BSD)
