2012 Edition

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.

Area

430 sq km 430 sq km 0 sq km

total

430 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Coastline

97 km

Elevation extremes

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mount Hillaby 336 m

highest point

Mount Hillaby 336 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%) 333 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

333 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%)

Geographic coordinates

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Geography - note

easternmost Caribbean island

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

37.21% 2.33% 60.46% (2005)

arable land

37.21%

other

60.46% (2005)

permanent crops

2.33%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Terrain

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (2003)

Age structure

18.8% (male 26,989/ female 26,990) 71.2% (male 100,931/ female 104,063) 10% (male 11,286/ female 17,474) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

18.8% (male 26,989/ female 26,990)

15-64 years

71.2% (male 100,931/ female 104,063)

65 years and over

10% (male 11,286/ female 17,474) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

12.23 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

8.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

black 93%, white 3.2%, mixed 2.6%, East Indian 1%, other 0.2% (2000 census)

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,100 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

11.63 deaths/1,000 live births 12.98 deaths/1,000 live births 10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

11.63 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

74.52 years 72.25 years 76.82 years (2012 est.)

female

76.82 years (2012 est.)

total population

74.52 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 99.7% 99.7% 99.7% (2002 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

99.7% (2002 est.)

male

99.7%

total population

99.7%

Major cities - population

BRIDGETOWN (capital) 112,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

51 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

36.9 years 35.8 years 38 years (2012 est.)

female

38 years (2012 est.)

male

35.8 years

total

36.9 years

Nationality

Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial) Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

adjective

Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

noun

Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

1.811 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

287,733 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

0.354% (2012 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

rural

100% of population

total

100% of population

urban

100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 13 years 14 years (2001)

female

14 years (2001)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.01 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.65 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.65 male(s)/female

at birth

1.01 male(s)/female

total population

0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

26.2% 24.1% 28.7% (2003)

female

28.7% (2003)

total

26.2%

Urbanization

44% of total population (2010) 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

44% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Bridgetown 13 06 N, 59 37 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

13 06 N, 59 37 W

name

Bridgetown

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

30 November 1966

Country name

none Barbados

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Barbados

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Christopher SANDROLINI U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006 P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055 [1] (246) 227-4399 [1] (246) 431-0179

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Christopher SANDROLINI

embassy

U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006

FAX

[1] (246) 431-0179

mailing address

P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055

telephone

[1] (246) 227-4399

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador John BEALE 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 939-9200 [1] (202) 332-7467 Miami, New York Los Angeles

chancery

2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador John BEALE

consulate(s)

Los Angeles

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 332-7467

telephone

[1] (202) 939-9200

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Elliot BELGRAVE (since 1 June 2012) Prime Minister Fruendel STUART (since 23 October 2010) Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister the monarchy 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

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Elliot BELGRAVE (since 1 June 2012)

elections

the monarchy 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

head of government

Prime Minister Fruendel STUART (since 23 October 2010)

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 band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

30 November 1966 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature consists of a High Court and a Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services); Caribbean Court of Justice or CCJ is the highest court of appeal; based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Legal system

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

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) House of Assembly - last held on 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2013) House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

election results

House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

elections

House of Assembly - last held on 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2013)

National anthem

"The National Anthem of Barbados" Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS adopted 1966; the anthem is also known as "In Plenty and In Time of Need"

lyrics/music

Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS

name

"The National Anthem of Barbados"

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

National symbol(s)

Neptune's trident

Political parties and leaders

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Freundel STUART]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David COMISSIONG]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Mary REDMAN]; Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Karen BEST]; 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 [Linda BROOKS]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG]; National Union of Public Workers [Walter MALONEY]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Budget

$1.3 billion (2012 est.) $1.5 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$1.5 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$1.3 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2010 est.) 7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.5% (31 December 2012 est.) 8.7% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$344.9 million (2012 est.) -$358.5 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$4.49 billion (2010 est.) $668 million (2003 est.)

Economy - overview

Barbados is the wealthiest and most developed country in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, in recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism with about four-fifths of GDP and of exports being attributed to services. 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. Barbados' tourism, financial services, and construction industries have been hard hit since the onset of the global economic crisis in 2008, which caused the economy to contract 4% in 2009 and grow below 1% annually since 2010. Barbados' public debt-to-GDP ratio rose to from 56% in 2008 to 83% in 2012.

Exchange rates

Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - 2 (2012 est.) 2 (2011 est.) 2 (2010 est.) the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar

Exports

$491.1 million (2012 est.) $476.7 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Trinidad and Tobago 18.9%, France 10.7%, US 9.7%, St. Lucia 8.8%, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 5.4%, Venezuela 4.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.5%, St. Kitts and Nevis 4.2% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

3.1% 13.6% 83.3% (2012 est.)

agriculture

3.1%

industry

13.6%

services

83.3% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,500 (2012 est.) $25,400 (2011 est.) $25,300 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2012 est.) 0.6% (2011 est.) 0.2% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.533 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.091 billion (2012 est.) $7.042 billion (2011 est.) $7.002 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.633 billion (2012 est.) $1.606 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 26.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 24.8%, US 18.6%, China 6.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.1% (2012 est.) 9.4% (2011 est.)

Labor force

145,000 (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

10% 15% 75% (1996 est.)

agriculture

10%

industry

15%

services

75% (1996 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.571 billion (31 December 2011) $4.366 billion (31 December 2010) $4.39 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

83.1% of GDP (2012 est.) 79.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$855.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) $812.6 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.711 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $5.239 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$5.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $5.06 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.987 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.797 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.2% (2011 est.) 10.8% (2010 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.57 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.26 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

955 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

239,100 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

1.037 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

29.17 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

29.17 million cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

113.3 million cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,339 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,686 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial TV station; CBC also operates a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen radio stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network operating alongside privately-owned radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.bb

Internet hosts

1,524 (2012)

Internet users

188,000 (2008)

Telephone system

island-wide automatic telephone system fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons 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 (2009)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons

general assessment

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 (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

140,700 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

347,900 (2011)

Airports

1 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 23, cargo 52, chemical tanker 13, container 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1 83 (Canada 11, Greece 14, Iran 5, Lebanon 2, Norway 38, Sweden 4, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UAE 1, UK 6) (2010)

foreign-owned

83 (Canada 11, Greece 14, Iran 5, Lebanon 2, Norway 38, Sweden 4, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UAE 1, UK 6) (2010)

total

109

Pipelines

gas 33 km; oil 62 km; refined products 4 km

Ports and terminals

Bridgetown

Roadways

1,600 km 1,600 km (2004)

total

1,600 km

Manpower available for military service

73,820 73,835 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

73,835 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

73,820

Manpower fit for military service

58,125 58,016 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

58,016 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

58,125

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

1,842 1,849 (2010 est.)

female

1,849 (2010 est.)

male

1,842

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 island defense against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre deployed throughout the island; the cadre increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline for smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)

Military branches

Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2011)

Royal Barbados Defense Force

Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2011)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service (younger volunteers require parental consent); no conscription (2009)

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, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/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