Demographics of the Bahamas
This article is about the demographic features of the population of The Bahamas, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Ninety percent of the Bahamian population identifies as being primarily of African ancestry. About two-thirds of the population lives on New Providence Island, and about half of the remaining one-third lives on Grand Bahama.
The islands were sparsely settled and a haven for pirates until the late 18th century, when thousands of British Loyalists were given compensatory land grants following the American Revolution. Many new settlers were from the Southern United States and brought slaves with them to cultivate plantations. At the turn of the 20th century, the total population was 53,000.
School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16. There are 158 public schools and 52 private schools in the Bahamas catering to more than 66,000 students. The College of the Bahamas, established in Nassau in 1974, provides programmes leading to associate's degrees and bachelor's degrees; the college is now converting from a two-year to a four-year institution.
, year 2005; number of inhabitants in thousands
Vital statistics
| Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate | Crude death rate | Natural change | Total fertility rate | Infant mortality rate | |
| 1935 | 64 000 | 2 000 | 1 121 | 879 | 31.3 | 17.5 | 13.7 | ||
| 1936 | 66 000 | 1 902 | 1 056 | 846 | 28.8 | 16.0 | 12.8 | ||
| 1937 | 67 000 | 2 084 | 914 | 1 170 | 31.1 | 13.6 | 17.5 | ||
| 1938 | 67 000 | 2 020 | 1 096 | 924 | 30.1 | 16.4 | 13.8 | ||
| 1939 | 68 000 | 2 040 | 1 066 | 974 | 30.0 | 15.7 | 14.3 | ||
| 1940 | 70 000 | 2 185 | 1 052 | 1 133 | 31.2 | 15.0 | 16.2 | ||
| 1941 | 71 000 | 2 312 | 920 | 1 392 | 32.6 | 13.0 | 19.6 | ||
| 1942 | 72 000 | 2 409 | 1 011 | 1 398 | 33.5 | 14.0 | 19.4 | ||
| 1943 | 70 000 | 2 502 | 1 043 | 1 459 | 35.7 | 14.9 | 20.8 | ||
| 1944 | 69 000 | 2 485 | 1 103 | 1 382 | 36.0 | 16.0 | 20.0 | ||
| 1945 | 71 000 | 2 174 | 1 326 | 848 | 30.6 | 18.7 | 11.9 | ||
| 1946 | 73 000 | 2 208 | 1 002 | 1 206 | 30.2 | 13.7 | 16.5 | ||
| 1947 | 74 000 | 2 415 | 987 | 1 428 | 32.6 | 13.3 | 19.3 | ||
| 1948 | 76 000 | 2 539 | 1 029 | 1 510 | 33.4 | 13.5 | 19.9 | ||
| 1949 | 77 000 | 2 646 | 1 052 | 1 594 | 34.4 | 13.7 | 20.7 | ||
| 1950 | 79 000 | 2 532 | 1 143 | 1 389 | 32.1 | 14.5 | 17.6 | ||
| 1951 | 80 000 | 2 739 | 963 | 1 776 | 34.2 | 12.0 | 22.2 | ||
| 1952 | 81 000 | 2 714 | 959 | 1 755 | 33.5 | 11.8 | 21.7 | ||
| 1953 | 83 000 | 3 056 | 903 | 2 153 | 36.8 | 10.9 | 25.9 | ||
| 1954 | 86 000 | 3 410 | 844 | 2 566 | 39.7 | 9.8 | 29.8 | ||
| 1955 | 89 000 | 2 844 | 857 | 1 987 | 32.0 | 9.6 | 22.3 | ||
| 1956 | 92 000 | 3 290 | 849 | 2 441 | 35.8 | 9.2 | 26.5 | ||
| 1957 | 96 000 | 3 126 | 764 | 2 362 | 32.6 | 8.0 | 24.6 | ||
| 1958 | 100 000 | 3 029 | 1 095 | 1 934 | 30.3 | 11.0 | 19.3 | ||
| 1959 | 104 000 | 3 154 | 1 000 | 2 154 | 30.3 | 9.6 | 20.7 | ||
| 1960 | 110 000 | 3 359 | 805 | 2 554 | 30.5 | 7.3 | 23.2 | ||
| 1961 | 115 000 | 3 734 | 1 024 | 2 710 | 32.5 | 8.9 | 23.6 | ||
| 1962 | 121 000 | 3 468 | 821 | 2 647 | 28.7 | 6.8 | 21.9 | ||
| 1963 | 127 000 | 4 584 | 1 030 | 3 554 | 35.8 | 8.0 | 27.8 | ||
| 1964 | 134 000 | 4 805 | 987 | 3 818 | 35.9 | 7.4 | 28.5 | ||
| 1965 | 140 000 | 4 439 | 1 098 | 3 341 | 31.7 | 7.8 | 23.9 | ||
| 1966 | 146 000 | 4 573 | 1 067 | 3 506 | 31.1 | 7.3 | 23.9 | ||
| 1967 | 153 000 | 4 275 | 1 212 | 3 063 | 27.9 | 7.9 | 20.0 | ||
| 1968 | 159 000 | 4 220 | 1 023 | 3 197 | 26.5 | 6.4 | 20.1 | ||
| 1969 | 164 000 | 4 306 | 1 097 | 3 209 | 26.1 | 6.6 | 19.4 | ||
| 1970 | 169 000 | 4 262 | 1 054 | 3 208 | 25.1 | 6.2 | 18.9 | ||
| 1971 | 174 000 | 5 334 | 948 | 4 386 | 30.7 | 5.4 | 25.2 | ||
| 1972 | 178 000 | 4 745 | 1 115 | 3 630 | 26.7 | 6.3 | 20.4 | ||
| 1973 | 181 000 | 4 419 | 1 109 | 3 310 | 24.3 | 6.1 | 18.2 | ||
| 1974 | 185 000 | 4 382 | 1 032 | 3 350 | 23.7 | 5.6 | 18.1 | ||
| 1975 | 189 000 | 4 033 | 1 106 | 2 927 | 21.3 | 5.9 | 15.5 | ||
| 1976 | 193 000 | 5 295 | 976 | 4 319 | 27.4 | 5.1 | 22.4 | ||
| 1977 | 197 000 | 4 871 | 1 067 | 3 804 | 24.7 | 5.4 | 19.3 | ||
| 1978 | 202 000 | 4 362 | 1 077 | 3 285 | 21.7 | 5.4 | 16.3 | ||
| 1979 | 206 000 | 4 809 | 1 211 | 3 598 | 23.3 | 5.9 | 17.5 | ||
| 1980 | 211 000 | 5 035 | 1 338 | 3 697 | 24.0 | 6.4 | 17.6 | ||
| 1981 | 215 000 | 5 251 | 1 127 | 4 124 | 24.4 | 5.2 | 19.2 | ||
| 1982 | 220 000 | 5 293 | 1 185 | 4 108 | 24.2 | 5.4 | 18.8 | ||
| 1983 | 225 000 | 5 280 | 1 104 | 4 176 | 23.6 | 4.9 | 18.6 | ||
| 1984 | 230 000 | 5 177 | 1 150 | 4 027 | 22.6 | 5.0 | 17.6 | ||
| 1985 | 235 000 | 5 584 | 1 341 | 4 243 | 24.0 | 5.8 | 18.2 | ||
| 1986 | 239 000 | 4 770 | 1 407 | 3 363 | 20.0 | 5.9 | 14.1 | ||
| 1987 | 243 000 | 4 331 | 1 376 | 2 955 | 17.9 | 5.7 | 12.2 | ||
| 1988 | 248 000 | 4 943 | 1 319 | 3 624 | 20.1 | 5.4 | 14.7 | ||
| 1989 | 252 000 | 4 971 | 1 459 | 3 512 | 19.9 | 5.8 | 14.0 | ||
| 1990 | 256 000 | 6 117 | 1 343 | 4 774 | 23.9 | 5.2 | 18.6 | ||
| 1991 | 261 000 | 6 192 | 1 335 | 4 857 | 23.7 | 5.1 | 18.6 | ||
| 1992 | 266 000 | 6 759 | 1 462 | 5 297 | 25.4 | 5.5 | 19.9 | ||
| 1993 | 271 000 | 6 674 | 1 493 | 5 181 | 24.6 | 5.5 | 19.1 | ||
| 1994 | 276 000 | 6 104 | 1 538 | 4 566 | 22.1 | 5.6 | 16.6 | ||
| 1995 | 280 000 | 6 253 | 1 638 | 4 615 | 22.3 | 5.8 | 16.5 | ||
| 1996 | 284 000 | 5 913 | 1 537 | 4 376 | 20.8 | 5.4 | 15.4 | ||
| 1997 | 287 000 | 6 022 | 1 670 | 4 352 | 21.0 | 5.8 | 15.2 | ||
| 1998 | 290 000 | 5 880 | 1 800 | 4 080 | 20.3 | 6.2 | 14.1 | ||
| 1999 | 293 000 | 5 367 | 1 644 | 3 723 | 18.3 | 5.6 | 12.7 | ||
| 2000 | 298 000 | 5 287 | 1 825 | 3 462 | 17.8 | 6.1 | 11.6 | ||
| 2001 | 303 000 | 5 353 | 1 609 | 3 744 | 17.7 | 5.3 | 12.4 | ||
| 2002 | 309 000 | 5 216 | 1 827 | 3 389 | 16.9 | 5.9 | 11.0 | ||
| 2003 | 316 000 | 5 054 | 1 730 | 3 324 | 16.0 | 5.5 | 10.5 | ||
| 2004 | 322 000 | 5 154 | 1 655 | 3 499 | 16.1 | 5.1 | 11.0 | ||
| 2005 | 328.320 | 5 548 | 1 824 | 3 724 | 17.1 | 5.6 | 11.5 | 2.05 | 19.6 |
| 2006 | 333.060 | 5 296 | 1 730 | 3 566 | 16.0 | 5.2 | 10.8 | 1.93 | 18.1 |
| 2007 | 337.920 | 5 854 | 1 798 | 4 056 | 17.5 | 5.4 | 12.1 | 2.14 | 17.6 |
| 2008 | 342.830 | 5 480 | 1 863 | 3 617 | 16.2 | 5.5 | 10.7 | 2.00 | 17.9 |
| 2009 | 347.780 | 5 348 | 1 981 | 3 367 | 15.6 | 5.7 | 9.9 | 2.03 | 21.1 |
| 2010 | 351.461 | 5 049 | 2 023 | 3 026 | 14.4 | 5.8 | 8.6 | 1.94 | 19.8 |
| 2011 | 357.750 | 5 000 | 2 127 | 2 873 | 14.0 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 1.69 | 16.2 |
| 2012 | 362.590 | 4 345 | 1 937 | 2 408 | 12.0 | 5.3 | 6.7 | 1.76 | |
| 2013 | 367.430 | 3 935 | 2 062 | 1 873 | 10.7 | 5.6 | 5.1 | 1.73 | |
| 2014 | 372.380 | 4 155 | 2 132 | 2 023 | 11.3 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 1.69 | |
| 2015 | 4 253 | 2 243 | 2 010 | 11.5 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 1.57 | ||
| 2016 | 4 093 | 2 288 | 1 805 | 11.0 | 6.1 | 4.9 | 1.50 | ||
| 2017 | 4 017 | 2 372 | 1 645 | 10.7 | 6.3 | 4.4 | 1.42 |
Structure of the population
Structure of the population :| Age group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 179 850 | 188 540 | 368 390 | 100 |
| 0-4 | 16 670 | 15 660 | 32 330 | 8,78 |
| 5-9 | 16 400 | 15 090 | 31 490 | 8,55 |
| 10-14 | 14 990 | 14 730 | 29 720 | 8,07 |
| 15-19 | 15 170 | 15 320 | 30 490 | 8,28 |
| 20-24 | 14 780 | 15 250 | 30 030 | 8,15 |
| 25-29 | 13 090 | 13 780 | 26 870 | 7,29 |
| 30-34 | 12 780 | 13 000 | 25 780 | 7,00 |
| 35-39 | 13 100 | 13 720 | 26 820 | 7,28 |
| 40-44 | 13 480 | 14 480 | 27 960 | 7,59 |
| 45-49 | 12 890 | 13 860 | 26 750 | 7,26 |
| 50-54 | 11 760 | 12 570 | 24 330 | 6,60 |
| 55-59 | 8 670 | 9 570 | 18 240 | 4,95 |
| 60-64 | 6 030 | 6 830 | 12 860 | 3,49 |
| 65-69 | 4 260 | 5 080 | 9 340 | 2,54 |
| 70-74 | 3 030 | 3 860 | 6 890 | 1,87 |
| 75-79 | 1 800 | 2 480 | 4 280 | 1,16 |
| 80-84 | 586 | 1 747 | 2 333 | 0,63 |
| 85-89 | 243 | 873 | 1 116 | 0,30 |
| 90+ | 121 | 640 | 761 | 0,21 |
Other demographic statistics
Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.- One birth every 96 minutes
- One death every 206 minutes
- One net migrant every 480 minutes
- Net gain of one person every 131 minutes
;Population:
;Ethnic groups:
;Age structure:
;Median age:
;Birth rate:
;Death rate:
;Total fertility rate:
;Net migration rate:
;Population growth rate:
;Languages:
;Religions:
Protestant 69.9%, Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13%, other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6%
;Urbanization:
;Dependency ratios:
;Health:
According to The World Factbook, the Bahamas has an HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 1.9%
;Life expectancy at birth:
| Period | Life expectancy in Years | Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 60.0 | 1985–1990 | 70.2 |
| 1955–1960 | 62.0 | 1990–1995 | 71.1 |
| 1960–1965 | 63.7 | 1995–2000 | 71.7 |
| 1965–1970 | 65.2 | 2000–2005 | 73.2 |
| 1970–1975 | 66.6 | 2005–2010 | 74.3 |
| 1975–1980 | 67.9 | 2010–2015 | 75.1 |
| 1980–1985 | 69.1 |
Source: UN World Population Prospects
;Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
;Unemployment, youth ages 15–24: