Photo: Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bahamas: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Bahamas is placed 99th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 49.1 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 75.95 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
99th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bahamas on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
75.95
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Bahamas: 75.95. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Caribbean
- 11.03 Puerto Rico
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.82
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 66th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Bahamas: 0.82. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Caribbean
- 0.851 Antigua and Barbuda
02Over time
Which way Bahamas is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
BahamasWorld median
Bahamas rose from 51.27 in 2000 to 75.95 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Bahamas World median 2023 76.0 46.7 2022 80.1 53.0 2021 174.3 76.6 2020 84.4 56.0 2019 82.1 48.4 2018 82.2 49.3 2017 79.0 47.2 2016 77.2 50.6 2015 82.8 51.9 2014 77.7 52.8 2013 74.2 53.3 2012 70.8 54.6 2011 74.3 55.0 2010 79.5 56.1 2009 83.8 56.3 2008 80.5 55.8 2007 78.2 56.8 2006 74.1 58.1 2005 69.5 60.1 2004 68.9 63.0 2003 57.3 66.8 2002 46.3 66.0 2001 48.2 68.1 2000 51.3 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
BahamasWorld median
Bahamas rose from 0.787 in 2000 to 0.82 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Bahamas World median 2023 0.820 0.7620 2022 0.818 0.7610 2021 0.794 0.7450 2020 0.797 0.7425 2019 0.800 0.7515 2018 0.812 0.7520 2017 0.810 0.7480 2016 0.808 0.7500 2015 0.807 0.7430 2014 0.807 0.7410 2013 0.805 0.7390 2012 0.805 0.7350 2011 0.802 0.7250 2010 0.801 0.7250 2009 0.800 0.7220 2008 0.801 0.7180 2007 0.801 0.7100 2006 0.800 0.7045 2005 0.798 0.6960 2004 0.795 0.6960 2003 0.794 0.6910 2002 0.793 0.6845 2001 0.790 0.6770 2000 0.787 0.6720
03In context
Bahamas beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Bahamas and Caribbean
Bahamas has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Puerto Rico | 63rd | 58.9 | 11.03 | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | 66th | 65.4 | 34.57 | 0.851 |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 67th | 90.2 | 73.52 | 0.84 |
 Barbados | 79th | 56.7 | 34.88 | 0.811 |
 Cuba | 83rd | 63.9 | 34.79 | 0.762 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | =85th | 57.2 | 54.08 | 0.807 |
 Grenada | 92nd | 54.3 | 48.25 | 0.791 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 95th | 52 | 55.84 | 0.798 |
 Dominica | 96th | 53.2 | 35.55 | 0.761 |
| Bahamas | 99th | 49.1 | 75.95 | 0.82 |
 Dominican Republic | =106th | 61 | 124.47 | 0.776 |
 Saint Lucia | =110th | 40.1 | 43.96 | 0.748 |
 Jamaica | 132nd | 32.6 | 130.14 | 0.72 |
 Haiti | 177th | 6.6 | 327.56 | 0.554 |
 Anguilla | not placed | 68.9 | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | 94.3 | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | 78.3 | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | 94.2 | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | 47.9 | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | 81.2 | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | 52.1 | — | — |
 United States Virgin Islands | not placed | 66.7 | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
- Puerto Rico63rd
- Antigua and Barbuda66th
- Saint Kitts and Nevis67th
- Barbados79th
- Cuba83rd
- Trinidad and Tobago=85th
- Grenada92nd
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines95th
- Dominica96th
- Bahamas99th
- Dominican Republic=106th
- Saint Lucia=110th
- Jamaica132nd
- Haiti177th
- Anguillanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
- United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Bahamas in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bahamas is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median15
Statistics on which Bahamas does better than the middle country measured.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0727,5983,072No real change since 2013
Bahamas: 7,598 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 12th of 179 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93312.819.933No real change since 2013
Bahamas: 12.81 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 193 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 026.90No earlier reading
Bahamas: 26.9 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9711.0150.971▼ Worsened since 2013
Bahamas: 1.015 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 54th of 184 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.967.445.9No earlier reading
Bahamas: 67.4 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.7120.678▼ Worsened since 2013
Bahamas: 0.712 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 57th of 156 · derived.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.670.609No real change since 2013
Bahamas: 0.67 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 67th of 169 · derived.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5412.3614.54▼ Worsened since 2014
Bahamas: 12.36 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 113th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.3262.858▲ Improved since 2014
Bahamas: 2.326 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 112th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6748.446.67▼ Worsened since 2012
Bahamas: 48.4 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 89th of 195 · derived.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2611.0912.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Bahamas: 11.09 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 109th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.95143.9No earlier reading
Bahamas: 51 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.3250.351No real change since 2013
Bahamas: 0.325 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 81st of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909190▼ Worsened since 2015
Bahamas: 91 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0516.817.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Bahamas: 16.8 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 88th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Bahamas does worse than the middle country measured.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6374.5574.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Bahamas: 74.55 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 113th of 222 · derived.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.874.880.8No earlier reading
Bahamas: 74.8 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1348.9928.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Bahamas: 8.992 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 90th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16310.368.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Bahamas: 10.36 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 69th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918591▼ Worsened since 2015
Bahamas: 85 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3411.8913.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Bahamas: 11.89 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 138th of 195 · derived.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2115.410.21▼ Worsened since 2010
Bahamas: 15.4 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 30th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.351.2669.3▲ Improved since 2016
Bahamas: 51.26 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 159th of 188 · derived.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.751.323.75No earlier reading
Bahamas: 1.3 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Bahamas: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Bahamas: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
No current reading for Bahamas
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Child Marriage, Children with Functional Difficulties, Completeness of Birth Registration, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Foundational ID Ownership, GDP per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Net Official Development Assistance Received (last 1995), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, Violent Discipline of Children and Wasting Prevalence in Children Under Five. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Bahamas’s 12 topics
Development & Human Capital is Bahamas’s 6th best-placed topic of 12. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture13th of 1843/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties59th of 1983/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions69th of 1943/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience74th of 1933/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing96th of 2002/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital99th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade97th of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour108th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 150th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability162nd of 1862/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 176th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy156th of 1652/3 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Gender & Equality, Peace & Security, Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Bahamas can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada=27th3/3 keysHighest in Caribbean
Puerto Rico63rd2/3 keysThis page
Bahamas99th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Bahamas and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Bahamas on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bahamas rank on development & human capital?
Bahamas is placed 99th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Bahamas?
49.1 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Bahamas?
75.95 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Bahamas’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio rose from 51.27 in 2000 to 75.95 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.787 in 2000 to 0.82 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Bahamas?
No current reading is published for Bahamas on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Child Marriage, Children with Functional Difficulties, Completeness of Birth Registration, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Foundational ID Ownership, GDP per Capita (PPP), Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Net Official Development Assistance Received, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, Violent Discipline of Children and Wasting Prevalence in Children Under Five. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bahamas’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bahamas (banner) — Bryce Edwards from San Jose, CA, USA derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 2.0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bahamas: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bahamas/development