THE BAHAMAS BAHAMAS THE REGION CARIBBEAN NATURAL RESOURCES INDUSTRY AGRICULTURE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION GLOBAL RELATIONS DATE OF INDEPENDENCE JULY 10 1973 FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM DATE OF CURRENT CONSTITUTION JULY 10 1973 POPULATION 283705 1999 EST AREA 5382 SQ MI CAPITAL NASSAU FORM OF GOVERNMENT COMMONWEALTH NATURAL RESOURCES SALT TIMBER ARAGONITE MAIN INDUSTRIES TOURISM BANKING CEMENT PETROLEUM PROCESSING SALT MINING PHARMACEUTICALS RUM FISHING AGRICULTURE VEGETABLES CURRENCY DOLLAR GDP 5.63 BILLION 1998 EST GDP PER CAPITA 20100 1998 EST LANGUAGES ENGLISH CREOLE RELIGIONS CHRISTIANITY ROMAN CATHOLICISM PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS LITERACY RATE 98 LIFE EXPECTANCY 71 YEARS MALE 77 YEARS FEMALE BIRTHRATE 21 BIRTHS PER 1000 POPULATION DEATH RATE 5 DEATHS PER 1000 POPULATION
