al bands of aquamarine (top),
gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side

Geography
---------

Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean,
southeast of Florida

Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W

Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total area: 13,940 sq km
land area: 10,070 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3,542 km

Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm

International disputes: none

Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia 63 m

Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber

Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 32%
other: 67%

Irrigated land: NA sq km

Environment:
current issues: coral reef decay
natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause
extensive flood and wind damage
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test
Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

Geographic note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba;
extensive island chain

People
------

Population: 259,367 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 36,331; female 35,771)
15-64 years: 67% (male 84,107; female 89,193)
65 years and over: 5% (male 5,449; female 8,516) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.05% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 18.73 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 5.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 23.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.53 years
male: 67.98 years
female: 77.16 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(