The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Central America and the Caribbean

Background Barbados, in 26 editions.

The entry for Barbados published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 8 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
8
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2025 edition

Same as 2024

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The same text in 2024 and 2025.

Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Enslaved Africans worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720, Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian 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 independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados became a republic in 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president.

The island Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. African slaves Enslaved Africans worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720, Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian 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. Barbados became a republic on 30 November in 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president. Barbados plans to create a new constitution in 2022.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Barbados: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/barbados/background.

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