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  Barbados  
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Barbados
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Barbados Top of Page
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 Top of Page
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% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
50 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
0.1 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%)
Per capita: 333 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
easternmost Caribbean island
   People    Barbados Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
280,946 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 19.7% (male 27,659/female 27,573)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 98,633/female 102,020)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 9,662/female 15,399) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 35 years
male: 33.8 years
female: 36 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.369% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.61 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.003 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.967 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.627 male(s)/female
total population: 0.938 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 11.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 73 years
male: 71.02 years
female: 75.01 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.65 children born/woman (2007 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: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)
   Government    Barbados Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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 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 21 May 2003 (next to be called 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); Caribbean Court of Justice is the highest court of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [David THOMPSON]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David COMISSIONG]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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, which 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:
Definition Field Listing
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, 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, New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
embassy: U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael
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 Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 nearly 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.53 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$3.346 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$19,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 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.)
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
5.5% (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million (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
953 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
886.3 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,002 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,666 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7,071 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.5 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27.97 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27.97 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
135.8 million cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$385 million (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 27.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 15%, UK 10.2%, Saint Lucia 7%, Jamaica 6.5%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.3% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.586 billion (2006)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 37.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 22.6%, UK 5.9% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$2.07 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$620 million (2007)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$668 million (2003)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$5.513 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Barbadian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Barbados Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
134,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
206,200 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density of 75 per 100 persons
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic 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:
Definition Field Listing
AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (plus 2 cable channels) (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bb
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
104 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
160,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Barbados Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,600 km
paved: 1,600 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 71 ships (1000 GRT or over) 539,579 GRT/793,899 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 39, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 67 (Bahamas, The 1, Canada 9, Greece 11, India 1, Lebanon 1, Monaco 1, Norway 35, Sweden 5, UK 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Bridgetown
   Military    Barbados Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 71,524
females age 18-49: 72,302 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 54,510
females age 18-49: 54,889 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.5% (2006 est.)
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 Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
in April 2006, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a decision that delimited a maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago and compelled Barbados to enter a fishing agreement limiting Barbadian fishermen's catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; 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:
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 17 January, 2008


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