Bahamas The Military - 2024

Military and security forces

Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2024)

note: the RBPF maintains internal security; both the RBDF and the RBPF, as well as the Department of Corrections, report to the Minister of National Security

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2021)
0.9% of GDP (2020)
0.7% of GDP (2019)
0.7% of GDP (2018)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 1,700 active RBDF personnel (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory has been acquired from the Netherlands (2023)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2024)

Military - note

established in 1980; the RBDF's primary responsibilities are disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-narcotics operations; it also provides security at a detention center for migrants and performs some domestic security functions, such as guarding embassies; the RBDF is a naval force, but includes a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security, as well as a few light non-combat aircraft; the maritime element has coastal patrol craft and patrol boats; the RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and the US (2023)