People & economy

The Bahamas: Population, Economy & Travel Facts

The numbers behind a trip to The Bahamas: who lives there, how the economy and prices compare, how many tourists visit, and what healthcare and internet access are like.

Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA derivative work: Jjtkk CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Population & Geography

Population
385,640
#171 of 197 countries
Area
13,940 km²
#163 of 248 countries
Density
27.7 / km²
#189 of 245 countries

The Bahamas has a population of 385,640 spread across 13,940 km², giving it an average density of 27.7 people per km².

Demographics

Life Expectancy
74.55 yrs

Population Trends

How a country's age structure is shifting tells you a lot about what to expect on the ground. A growing elderly population often means better healthcare and higher costs, while a young population signals energy and growth but potentially less developed infrastructure.

Age Structure Over Time
Population Growth Rate (%)
Urban vs Rural (%)
Birth & Death Rates (per 1,000)

Economy & Cost of Living

Understanding the local economy helps travellers budget effectively and set expectations. The Bahamas is classified as a high income country by the World Bank. Prices are roughly 98% of US levels, meaning costs are comparable to the United States.

Income Level
High income
GDP per Capita
$38,232
Cost of Living
98% of US
Inflation
3.1%
GDP per Capita (USD)
GDP Growth (%)
Inflation Rate (%)

Tourism

Tourism data reveals how popular a destination is and how much infrastructure exists to support visitors. Tourism accounts for 59.6% of The Bahamas's total exports, making it a major pillar of the economy, so expect well-developed tourist infrastructure, but also crowded hotspots.

Tourism Revenue
$1,007,000,000
Tourism % of Exports
59.6%
Air Passengers
1,465,432
International Tourist Arrivals
Tourism Receipts (USD)
Air Passengers Carried
Tourism as % of Exports

Health & Safety Infrastructure

Healthcare quality matters when you're far from home. These indicators help gauge what level of medical care is available In The Bahamas there are 1.9 doctors per 1,000 people, near the global average. Standard travel insurance should suffice.

Physicians
1.9/1k
Hospital Beds
2.17/1k
Health Spend
$2262/person
Infant Mortality
11.4/1k
Immunization
86%
Safe Drinking Water
99.0%
Basic Sanitation
93.7%
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD)
Hospital Beds per 1,000

Connectivity & Digital Infrastructure

Staying connected while travelling is essential for navigation, communication, and remote work. In The Bahamas, 95% of the population uses the internet, so expect WiFi in most hotels, cafes and public spaces. There are 100 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, and local SIM cards are easy to find.

Internet Users
94.8%
Mobile Subs
100/100
Broadband
23.8/100
Internet Users (%)
Urbanization (%)

Source: World Bank Open Data