The Bahamas is a 5,358 square-mile archipelagic nation comprising more than 700 islands and 2,400 cays, located just 50 miles (80 km) off the coast of the south-eastern United States and north of Cuba. It extends over 100,000 square miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The inhabited islands of The Bahamas include Abaco, Acklins, Andros, Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, New Providence (where the capital, Nassau, is located), Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, and Spanish Wells. The attractive, descriptive, and colourful names are, in part, a reflection of the country’s history. Freeport, located on the island of Grand Bahama, is the country’s second-largest city after the capital, Nassau. The other archipelago islands are collectively called the “Family Islands”.

The official country name is the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The capital is the city of Nassau on New Providence Island. The citizens of The Bahamas are called Bahamians. In the most recent census exercise in June 2021, The Bahamas population was approximately 400,000. The demographics are Afro-Bahamians, 85%; European, 12%; and Asian and Hispanic/Latin Americans, 3% (inclusive of a small population of Chinese nationals). Approximately 70% of the population live in the capital, Nassau.

The Bahamas, formerly a British Colony, has British English as the official language. Most Bahamians speak in a dialect influenced by the English, Spanish, French, and African languages and dialects brought to The Bahamas by groups when they arrived at the islands. Additionally, some words in the Bahamian dialect are from the Yoruba, Fulani, and Gulla languages.

The Bahamas Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and conscience, and the preamble refers to “an abiding respect for Christian values”. There is a strong tradition of religion in the country, and most Bahamians follow the Christian faith and uphold the supremacy of God. Early settlers from America and Europe including the Eleutheran Adventurers, who came to The Bahamas brought Puritan beliefs and practices, strongly influencing the country.

The Bahamas has a semi-tropical or subtropical marine climate, a mild, comfortable weather throughout the year. Average temperatures range from low 70s in winter and low 80s in the summer. Flat coral islands, lagoons, white and pink powdery beaches, and emerald and aquamarine ocean waters characterize the terrain.