Barbados

parliamentary democracyIndependence 30 November 1966 (from UK)

Barbados as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 128 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, UTC-4
Position13 10 N, 59 32 W
Area431 sq km
LocationCaribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
2008

Every edition of Barbados

Populationas each edition published it
281,968 people July 2008 est. · 262,688 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.36% 2008 est. · 0.18% in 1993
Median ageyears
35.4 years 2008 est. · 33.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
73.21 years 2008 est. · 73.49 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.65 children per woman 2008 est. · 2.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
11.05 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 16 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$18,900 2007 est. · $7,000 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.3% 2007 est. · -4% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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

Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

20 fields

Land useshare of 431 sq km

arable land 37.21%permanent crops 2.33%other 60.46% (2005)irrigated 50 sq km (2003)
Area
431sq km
land: 431 sq kmwater: 0 sq km2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
97km
land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
336m
Mount Hillabylowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Location

Caribbean, island in 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%)
per capita:
333 cu m/yr (2000)

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:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

easternmost Caribbean island

People

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

9,856
65 and over9%
15,609
99,357
15-6471.7%
102,683
27,270
0-1419.3%
27,193
MaleFemale
Population
281,968
(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 0.36% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth
12.48Death
8.58Net migration
-0.31

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)73.21
71.2 · 75.24Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)11.05
12.4 · 9.69Literacy (2002 est.)99.7%
99.7% · 99.7%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)35.4
34.2 · 36.4School life expectancy years (2001)13
13 · 14
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Ethnic groups

black 90%white 4%Asian and mixed 6%

Religions(2008 est.)

Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%)Roman Catholic 4.2%other Christian 7%other 4.8%none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.63 male(s)/female
total population:
0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages

English

Education expenditures

6.9% of GDP (2005)

Government

Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Prime Minister David THOMPSON (since 16 January 2008)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52.5%
DLP 52.5%BLP 47.3%House of Assembly - last held 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2013)

House of Assembly, 30 seats, elected 15 January 2008one dot, one seat

DLP 20BLP 10

Percent of vote

DLP 52.5%BLP 47.3%

Country name

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Barbados

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name:
Bridgetown
geographic coordinates:
13 06 N, 59 37 W
time difference:
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

Independence

30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution

30 November 1966

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 David THOMPSON (since 16 January 2008)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections:
  • 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

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at his discretion) 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 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2013)
election results:
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services);
  • Caribbean Court of Justice is the highest court of appeal

Political parties and leaders

  • Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY];
  • Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON];
  • People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David COMISSIONG]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST];
  • Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS];
  • Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN];
  • Barbados Workers Union or BWU [Leroy TROTMAN];
  • Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG];
  • National Union of Public Workers [Joseph GODDARD]

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

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, New York
consulate(s):
Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
embassy:
U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006
mailing address:
P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
telephone:
[1] (246) 227-4399
FAX:
[1] (246) 431-0179

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 was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities.

46 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$5.31billion
(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $3.739 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$18,900
(2007 est.)
Real growth rate
4.3%
(2007 est.)industrial production growth: -3.2% (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2000 est.)

agriculture 6%industry 16%services 78% (2000 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

9.3%
US
30.5%
15.5%
Trinidad and Tobago
27.6%
13.5%
Jamaica
9.4%
UK
6.5%
8.3%
Brazil
7.2%
Saint Lucia
4.5%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Exports $385 million (2006)Imports $1.586 billion (2006)(2007)

Budget

Revenues
$847 million (including grants)Expenditures
$886 million (2000 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
1.003 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
939.9 million (2007 est.)

Economy - overview

Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism, with about three-quarters of GDP and 80% of exports being attributed to services. Growth has rebounded since 2003, bolstered by increases in construction projects and tourism revenues - reflecting its success in the higher-end segment.

The country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region and an investment grade rating which benefits from its political stability and stable institutions. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners and thrive from having the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and a relatively highly educated workforce.

The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises.

Labor force

128,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

10.7% (2003 est.)

Central bank discount rate

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.8% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$1.478 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$2.717 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.533 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Industries

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Oil - production

1,111 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,674 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

1,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

10,710 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

2.2 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

141.6 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$254 million (2007 est.)

Exports

$385 million (2006)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$1.586 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$668 million (2003)

Currency (code)

Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Exchange rates

Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
237,100
(2006)
Fixed lines
134,900
(2005) · country code .bb

Telephone system

general assessment:
fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of about 85 per 100 persons
domestic:
island-wide automatic telephone system
international:
  • country code - 1-246;
  • landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad;
  • satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat -Atlantic Ocean);
  • tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 2 cable channels) (2004)

Internet users

160,000 (2005)

Transportation

5 fields

Merchant marine, 85 ships by typeone square, one ship

bulk carrier 15cargo 50chemical tanker 7passenger 1passenger/cargo 1petroleum tanker 3refrigerated cargo 6roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 80 (Canada 9, Greece 12, India 1, Iran 2, Lebanon 1, Norway 38, Sweden 7, Syria 1, UK 9) · registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1

Airports

1 (2007)

Roadways

total:
1,600 km
paved:
1,600 km (2004)

Military

Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2007)

7 fields
Military expenditures
0.5%of GDP
(2006 est.)

Military branches

Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2007)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger requires parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
75,265
females age 16-49:
75,389 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
58,556
females age 16-49:
58,143 (2008 est.)

Military - note

  • 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 (2007)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone;
  • joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs

one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

Central Intelligence Agency. “Barbados.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/barbados/2008.

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