4 GeoFroggy

Economy Overview

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.

Agriculture Products

citrus, vegetables; poultry; seafood

Industries

tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals

Industrial Production Growth Rate

5.8% (2017 est.)

Labor Force

196,900 (2013 est.)

Labor Force by Occupation

Agriculture: 3%

Industry: 11%

Services: 49%

Tourism: 37% (2011 est.)

Unemployment Rate

12.2% (2016 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

9.3% (2010 est.)

Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share

Lowest 10%: 1%

Highest 10%: 22% (2007 est.)

Budget

Revenues: 2.139 billion (2017 est.)

Expenditures: 2.46 billion (2017 est.)

Public Debt

50.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

Stock of Narrow Money

Stock of Broad Money

Stock of Domestic Credit

Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

$1.002 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt External

$16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

Exchange Rates

1 (2013 est.)
Year

GDP Official Exchange Rate

  • $12.16 billion 2017 est.

Taxes and Other Revenues

  • 17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fiscal Year

  • 1 July - 30 June

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

GDP Real Growth Rate

    1% (2015 est.)

GDP Per Capital

    $33,200 (2015 est.)

Credit Ratings

  • Moody s rating
    Ba2 (2020)
  • Standard & Poors rating
    BB- (2020)

Gross National Saving

    12.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

GDP Composition by end Use

  • Household consumption
    68%
  • Government consumption
    13%
  • Investment in fixed capital
    26.3%
  • Investment in inventories
    0.7%
  • Exports of goods and services
    33.7%
  • Imports of goods and services
    -41.8%

GDP Composition by Sector of Origin

  • Agriculture
    2.3%
  • Industry
    7.7%
  • Services
    90%

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

    -0.3% (2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

    -$868 million (2016 est.)

Exports

    $444.3 million (2016 est.)

Exports Partners

  • US
    63.9%
  • Namibia
    19.3%

Exports Commodities

    Rock lobster, aragonite, crude salt, polystyrene products

Imports

    $2.594 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Partners

    US 83.2% (2017)

Imports Commodities

    Machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals