Barbados

parliamentary democracyIndependence 30 November 1966 (from UK)

Barbados as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBridgetown

Position13 10 N, 59 32 W

Area430 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Populationas each edition published it

274,540 people July 2000 est. · 262,688 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.55% 2000 est. · 0.18% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73 years 2000 est. · 73.49 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.7 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12.37 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 16 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$11,200 1998 est. · $7,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.4% 1998 est. · -4% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.

Geography

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

18 fields

Land useshare of 430 sq km

arable land 37%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 5%forests and woodland 12%other 46% (1993 est.)

Area

430sq km

land: 430 sq kmwater: 0 sq km2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

97km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

336m

Mount Hillabylowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Climate

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Environment - current issues

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
soil erosion;
illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:: Biodiversity

Geography - note

easternmost Caribbean island

People

15 fields

Population

274,540

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.55% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

14.45Death

8.68Net migration

-0.32

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)73

70.43 · 75.6

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)97.4%

98% · 96.8%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Ethnic groups

black 80%white 4%other 16%

Religions

Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%)Roman Catholic 4%none 17%other 12%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22% (male 30,687; female 30,172)
15-64 years:: 69% (male 92,241; female 96,866)
65 years and over:: 9% (male 9,506; female 15,068) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

12.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.7 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective:: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

Languages

English

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996); Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994)

19 fields

House of Assembly, 28 seats, elected 20 January 1999one dot, one seat

BLP 26DLP 2

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Barbados

Data code

Government type

parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth

Capital

Bridgetown

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

Independence

30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution

30 November 1966

Legal system

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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 6 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
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;
prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: House of Assembly - last held 20 January 1999 (next to be held by January 2004)
election results:: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service)

Political parties and leaders

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR];
Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON];
National Democratic Party or NDP [Richard HAYNES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

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, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
chancery:: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 939-9200
consulate(s) general:: Miami and New York
consulate(s):: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affairs Roland BULLEN
embassy:: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
mailing address:: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone:: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX:: [1] (246) 429-5246

Flag description

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 had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism.

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Real growth rate

4.4%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 0.8% (1996)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.7%

(1998)

Unemployment rate

12%

(1998 est.)

Labor force

136,000

(1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1997)

agriculture 4.9%industry 15.6%services 79.5% (1997)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

11.6%

30.7%

14.8%

7.7%

7.6%

Trinidad and Tobago

10.2%

Japan

8.3%

6.1%

Venezuela

5.8%

Jamaica

Canada

2.2%

Exports $211.2 million (1998)Imports $1.01 billion (1998)(1998)

Budget

Revenues

$725.5 millionExpenditures

$750.6 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $126.3 million (FY97/98 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

672 million (1998)Electricity consumption

625 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The start of the Port Charles Marina project in Speightstown helped the tourism industry continue to expand in 1996-99.

Offshore finance and informatics are important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce the unacceptably high unemployment rate, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,200 (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% (1996 est.)

Industries

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Exports

$211.2 million (1998)

Exports - commodities

sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components, clothing

Imports

$1.01 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Debt - external

$550 million (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$9.1 million (1995)

Currency

1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

4,614

(1995)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

90,000

(1995)

Telephone system

domestic:: island-wide automatic telephone system
international:: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

237,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)

Televisions

76,000 (1997)

Transportation

6 fields

Merchant marine, 47 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1999 est.)

bulk 10cargo 29combination bulk 1container 1petroleum tanker 4refrigerated cargo 2note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries: Canada owns 2 ships, Hong Kong 1 (1998 est.)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

Networkskm

Highways

1,600Railways

Highways: paved: 1,578 km · unpaved: 22 km (1998 est.)