The Human Truth Foundation

Bahamas (Commonwealth of The Bahamas)

http://www.humantruth.info/bahamas.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#bahamas

Bahamas
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index107th best
CapitalNassau
Land Area 10 010km21
LocationNorth America, The Americas, The Caribbean
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.4m2
Life Expectancy71.60yrs (2017)3
GNI$30 486 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesBS, BHS, 445
Internet Domain.bs6
CurrencyDollar (BSD)7
Telephone+8

1. Overview

#UK #USA

Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThe Bahamas are ready-made for exploration. ... From pirates and blockade dodgers to rum smugglers, wily go-getters have converged and caroused on the country´s 700 islands and 2400 cays for centuries. So what´s in it for travelers? There´s sailing around the Abacos´ history-filled Loyalist Cays. Partying til dawn at Paradise Island´s over-the-top Atlantis resort. Diving the spooky blue holes of Andros. Kayaking the 365 Exuma Cays. Lounging on Eleuthera´s pink-sand beaches. Pondering pirates in Nassau. There´s a Bahamian island to match most every water-and-sand-based compulsion, each framed by a backdrop of gorgeous, mesmerizing blue.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Bahamas National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
52Russia0.822
53Romania0.821
54Oman0.816
55Bahamas0.812
56Kazakhstan0.811
57Trinidad & Tobago0.810
58=Uruguay0.809
58=Costa Rica0.809
The Americas Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
44Hungary$32 789
45Turkey$31 033
46Slovakia$30 690
47Bahamas$30 486
48Croatia$30 132
49Romania$30 027
50Greece$29 002
51Russia$27 166
The Americas Avg$16 628
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
104Indonesia90.1
105Paraguay90.2
106Uzbekistan90.4
107Bahamas90.8
108Ghana91.0
109Brunei91.1
110St Kitts & Nevis91.2
111Saudi Arabia91.2
The Americas Avg81.6
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Bahamas's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

The Bahamas's population is predicted to rise to 414 859 by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.88. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
168Maldives0.5m
169Malta0.4m
170Brunei0.4m
171Bahamas0.4m
172Belize0.4m
173Iceland0.3m
174Vanuatu0.3m
175Barbados0.3m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
98Georgia71.7
99St Kitts & Nevis71.7
100Ukraine71.6
101Bahamas71.6
102Tajikistan71.6
103Seychelles71.3
104St Lucia71.1
105Tonga71.0
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
15Ireland2.10
16Iceland2.10
17Denmark1.88
18Bahamas1.88
19Finland1.87
20UK1.87
21New Zealand2.15
22Azerbaijan2.16
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
122Jamaica21.0
123Lebanon21.1
124Trinidad & Tobago21.9
125Bahamas22.4
126Costa Rica22.6
127Israel22.9
128Sri Lanka23.7
129Moldova24.7
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
29Cyprus16.0%
30Belize16.0%
31San Marino15.7%
32Bahamas15.6%
33Maldives15.4%
34USA15.3%
35Norway15.1%
36Germany14.8%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
49Lithuania13.2%
50Romania13.1%
51Iceland13.0%
52Bahamas12.8%
53Estonia12.6%
54Nicaragua12.5%
55Latvia12.3%
56Luxembourg11.8%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Bahamas's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to The Americas (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Canada21.0
2Uruguay26.5
3Costa Rica36.5
...
27Belize93.9
28Cuba97.4
29=Guyana102.7
30Antigua & Barbuda105.0
31=Bahamas105.0
32Dominica105.2
33St Lucia116.0
34=St Kitts & Nevis123.0
35Grenada128.2
The Americas Avg73.9
q=35.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
125=Morocco102.7
125=Guyana102.7
127Rwanda104.1
128=Bahamas105.0
128=Antigua & Barbuda105.0
130Dominica105.2
131Kuwait106.5
132Nigeria106.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark18. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu18.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe18, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia18.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better19
Pos.2009
Treaties19
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
147Lebanon12
148Thailand11
149=Barbados11
149=Bahamas11
149=Cuba11
149=Guyana11
149=Swaziland11
149=Zimbabwe11
The Americas Avg16.5
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better20
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty20
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
165Saudi Arabia13.73
166Timor-Leste (E. Timor)13.73
167Grenada13.86
168Bahamas13.93
169Zimbabwe13.95
170Djibouti13.99
171St Lucia14.11
172Montenegro14.20
The Americas Avg8.45
World Avg10.02
q=195.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better21
Pos.2014
Rank21
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
45=Montenegro44
46Panama46
47Mongolia47
48=Bahamas48
48=Greece48
50Albania50
51Seychelles51
52Israel52
The Americas Avg72.4
World Avg79.7
q=159.

Gender Equality:

The Bahamas has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

Gender Inequality
Lower is better
22
Pos.201522
1Switzerland0.04
2Denmark0.04
3Netherlands0.04
...
75Fiji0.36
76Georgia0.36
77Argentina0.36
78Bahamas0.36
79Thailand0.37
80Myanmar (Burma)0.37
81Belize0.38
82Mauritius0.38
The Americas Avg0.39
World Avg0.36
q=159.
Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
142=Fiji1963
142=Afghanistan1963
142=Equatorial Guinea1963
142=Bahamas1963
146Sudan1964
147=Libya1964
147=Papua New Guinea1964
149Lesotho1965
The Americas Avg1947
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
23
Pos.2017
Score23
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
108=Mali11
108=Tajikistan11
110Gabon10
111=Bahamas10
112Kazakhstan8
113=N. Korea8
114Rwanda7
115=Congo, (Brazzaville)5
The Americas Avg26.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
24
Pos.202124
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
56San Marino2.5
57=Mali2.5
57=Costa Rica2.5
57=Bahamas2.5
57=Liechtenstein2.5
57=Ukraine2.5
62Czechia2.7
63=Honduras2.7
The Americas Avg2.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Bahamas's Health

#alcohol #Bahamas #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to The Americas (2020)25
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank25
1Antigua & Barbuda75.6
2=Brazil82.1
3Cuba82.4
...
11=Ecuador90.5
11=El Salvador90.5
13St Kitts & Nevis91.8
14Bahamas92.3
15=USA92.4
16Costa Rica93.8
17Peru96.5
18St Vincent & Grenadines96.8
19Dominica98.0
The Americas Avg96.2
q=35.
Health (2020)25
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank25
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
90Sudan91.2
91St Kitts & Nevis91.8
92Rwanda91.9
93Bahamas92.3
94=Lithuania92.4
94=USA92.4
96Latvia93.1
97Cambodia93.3
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives26. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau26.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean26, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa26.

For more, see:

Health:

The Bahamas does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. The Bahamas comes in the best 20 for its suicide rate27 (amongst the best in The Americas) and in its fertility rate13. It does better than average when it comes to its immunizations take-up28, its smoking rate29, its alcohol consumption rate30 and in its adolescent birth rate22 (amongst the best in The Americas). But, there's bad news too. The Bahamas does worse than average for its average life expectancy11. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance31 (amongst the worst in The Americas). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in the Bahamas improved by just +1.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, significantly less than almost everywhere else in the world. In the 2010s, it was one of only 12 countries that saw their life expectancy drop.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
98Georgia71.7
99St Kitts & Nevis71.7
100Ukraine71.6
101Bahamas71.6
102Tajikistan71.6
103Seychelles71.3
104St Lucia71.1
105Tonga71.0
The Americas Avg72.58
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
30
Pos.2016
Per Capita30
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
69Honduras4.0
70Jamaica4.2
71Sri Lanka4.3
72=Bahamas4.4
72=Ecuador4.4
74Bolivia4.8
75=Costa Rica4.8
75=Guinea-Bissau4.8
The Americas Avg6.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
15Ireland2.10
16Iceland2.10
17Denmark1.88
18Bahamas1.88
19Finland1.87
20UK1.87
21New Zealand2.15
22Azerbaijan2.16
The Americas Avg2.29
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
29
Pos.201429
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
57Comoros 289
58Congo, (Brazzaville) 294
59Bolivia 299
60Bahamas 301
61Sierra Leone 310
62Sri Lanka 322
63Mexico 329
64Barbados 333
The Americas Avg 457
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate27
Pos.2013
Per 100k27
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
6Azerbaijan1.3
7S. Africa1.8
8Bahamas2.5
9Peru2.9
10Kuwait3.6
11Armenia3.9
12Dominican Rep.4.6
The Americas Avg13.57
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
152Trinidad & Tobago152
153Mozambique153
154Cape Verde154
155Bahamas155
156Libya156
157Papua New Guinea157
158Belize158
159Algeria159
The Americas Avg94.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better32
Pos.2016
%32
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
163Fiji63.8
164Canada64.1
165Israel64.3
166Bahamas64.4
167Australia64.5
168Iraq64.6
169Mexico64.9
170New Zealand65.6
The Americas Avg57.4
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
22
Pos.2015
Per 100022
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
79Kazakhstan27.9
80Burundi28.3
81Mauritius28.5
82Bahamas29.6
83UAE29.7
84Grenada30.5
85Trinidad & Tobago31.5
86Morocco31.7
The Americas Avg56.6
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
28
Pos.2015
Avg %28
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
42Poland96.5
43Libya96.4
44St Kitts & Nevis96.3
45Bahamas96.2
46Maldives96.2
47Tajikistan96.1
48Rwanda96.1
49Sao Tome & Principe96.0
The Americas Avg91.3
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Bahamas's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to The Americas (2023)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Uruguay48.0
2Peru48.2
3Costa Rica49.6
...
24St Kitts & Nevis86.5
25Honduras88.3
26Dominica91.7
27Bahamas93.0
28Barbados97.0
29Jamaica99.7
30=Guyana108.0
31USA111.0
32Grenada111.3
The Americas Avg80.1
q=35.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)33
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank33
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
119Cape Verde92.3
120Pakistan92.4
121Bhutan92.7
122Bahamas93.0
123Angola93.2
124Myanmar (Burma)93.3
125Kazakhstan95.4
126Estonia95.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
The Bahamas ranks 122nd in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. The Bahamas does the best in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. It does better than average in its forested percent change 1990-201534. The Bahamas does worse than average in terms of its environmental performance35. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in annual meat consumption per person36 (one of the highest in The Americas).

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
34
Pos.2015
%34
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
94=Saudi Arabia00.0
94=Grenada00.0
94=Oman00.0
94=Bahamas00.0
94=Barbados00.0
94=St Kitts & Nevis00.0
100Norway-00.2
101Papua New Guinea-00.2
The Americas Avg-00.2
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
35
Pos.201835
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
95Kiribati55.3
96Bahrain55.2
97Nicaragua55.0
98Bahamas55.0
99Kyrgyzstan54.9
100Nigeria54.8
101Kazakhstan54.6
102Samoa54.5
The Americas Avg58.8
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
18=Uganda1993 Dec 29
18=Belarus1993 Dec 29
18=Burkina Faso1993 Dec 29
18=Bahamas1993 Dec 29
18=St Lucia1993 Dec 29
18=Tunisia1993 Dec 29
18=Norway1993 Dec 29
18=Zambia1993 Dec 29
The Americas Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
36
Pos.2021
kg36
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
177Israel107.7
178St Vincent & Grenadines109.5
179Australia110.2
180Bahamas111.9
181Argentina115.5
182Mongolia115.6
183Nauru125.9
184USA126.8
The Americas Avg70.3
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, the Bahamas's meat consumption per person was the 7th-highest in the world, putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment. In that decade, it reduced its consumption significantly.36

7. Bahamas's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to The Americas (2020)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Canada21.6
2USA29.3
3Argentina43.8
...
15=Peru70.1
16Aruba71.5
17Colombia77.1
18Bahamas80.0
19Cuba80.3
20Cayman Islands82.0
21Dominican Rep.83.4
22Dominica83.8
23Ecuador83.9
The Americas Avg81.7
q=41.
Modernity & Learning (2020)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
95Kuwait77.6
96Sri Lanka79.6
97Kenya79.8
98Bahamas80.0
99Cuba80.3
100Fiji80.8
101Jordan81.1
102Seychelles81.3
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
38
Pos.201838
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
44Israel89.1%
45Sweden88.9%
46Mongolia88.8%
47Bahamas88.4%
48Ireland88.3%
49Netherlands88.3%
50Cuba87.4%
51Poland85.3%
The Americas Avg63.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
39
Pos.2021
Years39
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
112Gabon13.0
113Vietnam13.0
114Togo13.0
115Bahamas12.9
116Nepal12.9
117St Lucia12.9
118Libya12.9
119Venezuela12.8
The Americas Avg14.2
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
111Togo111
112Belize112
113Algeria113
114Bahamas114
115Bahrain115
116Kazakhstan116
117Sri Lanka117
118Rwanda118
The Americas Avg99.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
40
Pos.201640
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
27France86%
28S. Korea86%
29Australia85%
30Bahamas85%
31Puerto Rico83%
32=Singapore83%
32=Slovakia83%
34Spain82%
The Americas Avg56.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
41
Pos.2017
Ratio41
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
109=Qatar0.0
109=Kuwait0.0
109=Guernsey0.0
109=Bahamas0.0
109=Antigua & Barbuda0.0
109=Venezuela0.0
109=Kazakhstan0.0
109=New Caledonia0.0
The Americas Avg3.36
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

The Bahamas has a good long-term record on keeping corruption low, but things have been getting worse over the last ten years.

Corruption
Higher is better
42
Pos.2022
Points42
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
27UAE67.0
28=Chile67.0
29Barbados65.0
30Bahamas64.0
31=S. Korea63.0
31=Israel63.0
33Lithuania62.0
34=Portugal62.0
The Americas Avg42.97
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
49Seychelles49
50Grenada50
51Chile51
52Bahamas52
53UAE53
54Thailand54
55Macedonia55
56Mauritania56
The Americas Avg80.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
124Lithuania124
125St Lucia125
126Chad126
127Bahamas127
128Liberia128
129Sierra Leone129
130Kenya130
131Kazakhstan131
The Americas Avg100.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
91Congo, DR91
92Pakistan92
93Estonia93
94Bahamas94
95Mauritania95
96Nicaragua96
97Peru97
98Czechia98
The Americas Avg82.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
145Chad145
146Central African Rep.146
147El Salvador147
148Bahamas148
149Marshall Islands149
150Burundi150
151Zimbabwe151
152Grenada152
The Americas Avg91.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better43
Pos.201943
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
52Romania6.30
53Saudi Arabia6.40
54Oman6.70
55Bahamas6.80
56Sri Lanka7.00
57=Costa Rica7.10
57=Russia7.10
59Albania7.20
The Americas Avg12.03
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below44:

Christian96%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.3%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated3.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 67.6% (Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%), Roman Catholic 13.5%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)45.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)46, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for The Bahamas states:

The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom. The constitution specifically forbids infringement of a person's freedom to choose and change religion and provides for the right to practice the religion or belief of one's choice. However, the constitution also requires the government to respect Christian values. And political and public discourse often invokes the country's strong Christian heritage and Christian values.

The government meets regularly with religious leaders, both publicly and privately, to discuss societal, political, and economic issues. Religion is recognized as an academic subject at government schools and is included in mandatory standardized achievement and certificate tests. The country's Christian heritage has a strong influence on religion classes in government-supported schools, which focus on the study of Christian philosophy, Biblical texts, and, to a lesser extent, comparative and non-Christian religions presented in a Christian context. The constitution allows students, or their guardians in the case of minors, to decline to participate in religious education and observance in schools.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)47

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