Barbados
parliamentary democracyIndependence 30 November 1966 (from UK)
Barbados as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 88 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the | North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
15 fieldsLand useshare of 430 sq km
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Terrain
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
- lowest point:
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- Mount Hillaby 336 m
Environment
- current issues:
- pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
- soil erosion;
- illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
- natural hazards:
- hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic landslides
- international agreements:
- party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
- signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Hazardous Wastes
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Religions(1980)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)
- 15-64 years:
- 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)
- 65 years and over:
- 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.96 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.63 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen; Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994) was appointed by the governor general
23 fieldsLegislature, 28 seatsone dot, one seat
Administrative divisions
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
House of Assembly
- election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be held by January 1999);
- results - percentage vote by party NA;
- seats - (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Labor Party (DLP), David THOMPSON;
- Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR;
- National Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES
Other political or pressure groups
- Barbados Workers Union, Leroy TROTMAN;
- People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY;
- Workers' Party of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE;
- Clement Payne Labor Union, David COMMISSIONG
International organization participation
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
- chancery:
- 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
- embassy:
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
- telephone:
- [1] (809) 436-4950
Flag
- 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
Historically, the Barbadian economy has been | dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in | recent years the production has diversified into manufacturing and | tourism.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1994)
Installed generating capacity, 152,100 kW
Economic overview
Historically, the Barbadian economy has been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in recent years the production has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and tourism sectors - which declined by 25% and 8% respectively - tempered economic expansion in 1995;
output increased by 2% for the year, down from nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions in 1995 are expected to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since taking office in 1994, Prime Minister ARTHUR has aggressively moved to promote foreign direct investment as part of a policy designed to reduce nagging unemployment. The government has also been active in promoting regional integration initiatives.
Labor force
126,000 (1993); by occupation: services and government 41%, commerce 15%, manufacturing and construction 18%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%, utilities 2% (1992 est.)
Exports
$158.6 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing
- partners:
- US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%
Imports
$693 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
- partners:
- US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%
Transportation
5 fieldsNetworkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,937 GRT/271,707 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 6, cargo 21, combination bulk 3, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and | Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
9 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- island wide automatic telephone system
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Branches
Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Barbados.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/barbados/1996.