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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
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 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


Map of Barbados



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Barbados
Background:
Definition Field Listing
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
   Geography    Barbados
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 431 sq km
land: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
97 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 37.21%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 60.46% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
easternmost Caribbean island
   People    Barbados
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
279,254 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 20.6% (male 28,813/female 28,634)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 96,590/female 100,622)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,432/female 15,163) (2005 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 34.15 years
male: 32.99 years
female: 35.28 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.33% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 71.41 years
male: 69.46 years
female: 73.39 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2,500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
   Government    Barbados
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Bridgetown
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
30 November 1966
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 7 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Clyde Mascoll]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
   Economy    Barbados
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainly due to a decline in tourism. Growth probably was positive in 2004, as economic conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $4.569 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $16,400 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-0.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 10%, industry 15%, services 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
800 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
744 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
70.79 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$206 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Trinidad and Tobago 14.2%, US 13.9%, UK 13%, Jamaica 7.7%, Saint Lucia 5.8%, Spain 5.8%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.6% (2004)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.039 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 31.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 21.6%, UK 7.9%, Japan 5.3% (2004)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$668 million (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$9.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
BBD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
134,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
140,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: NA
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-246; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (plus two cable channels) (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bb
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
204 (2003)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
100,000 (2003)
   Transportation    Barbados
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,600 km
paved: 1,578 km
unpaved: 22 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port Charles Marina)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 427,465 GRT/668,195 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 31, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 53 (Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Canada 12, Greece 11, Lebanon 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 17, UAE 1, United Kingdom 7)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
   Military    Barbados
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command and Coast Guard (2005)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 71,330 (2005 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 51,298 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2005)
   Transnational Issues    Barbados
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration that will result in a binding award challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters and the southern limit of Barbadian traditional fishing; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
Definition Field Listing
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 28 July, 2005


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