Читать книгу The 2009 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 165

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea

Economy ::Bahamas, The

Economy - overview:

The Bahamas is one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but tourist arrivals have been on the decline since 2006 and will likely drop even further in 2009. Tourism, in turn, depends on growth in the US, the source of more than 80% of the visitors. To help offset the effect of the global economic downturn, particularly on employment, the INGRAHAM administration plans to engage in infrastructure projects. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 36% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the government enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international businesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.352 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $9.495 billion (2007 est.)

$9.236 billion (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.564 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

−1.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 2.8% (2007 est.)

4.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,700 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44 $31,400 (2007 est.)

$30,900 (2006 est.)

note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3%

industry: 7%

services: 90% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

175,500 (2007) country comparison to the world: 168

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.6% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Population below poverty line:

9.3% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: 27% (2000)

Budget:

revenues: $1.03 billion

expenditures: $1.03 billion (FY04/05)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Central bank discount rate:

5.25% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 81 5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

5.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 138 5.5% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$1.255 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 82 $1.274 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.637 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 71 $4.324 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$7.883 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 77 $7.395 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: