World Facts Index
 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 of Barbados
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Location:
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Caribbean, island in the
North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela |
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Coordinates:
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13 10 N, 59 32 W |
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Area:
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total: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 431 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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2.5 times the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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97 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; rainy season
(June to October) |
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Terrain:
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relatively flat; rises
gently to central highland region |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, fish, natural
gas |
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Natural hazards:
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infrequent hurricanes;
periodic landslides |
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Environment - current issues:
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pollution of coastal waters
from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal
threatens contamination of aquifers |
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Geography - note:
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easternmost Caribbean
island
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Population of Barbados
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Population:
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281,968 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.3% (male 27,270/female 27,193)
15-64 years: 71.7% (male 99,357/female 102,683)
65 years and over: 9% (male 9,856/female 15,609) |
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Median age:
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35.4 years |
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Infant mortality:
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11.05 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.21 years
male: 71.2 years
female: 75.24 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.65 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan
(colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial) |
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Ethnic groups:
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black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6% |
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Religions:
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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% |
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Languages:
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English |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7%
|
Government
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Country name:
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conventional short form: Barbados |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy; independent
sovereign state within the Commonwealth |
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Capital:
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Bridgetown |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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30 November 1966 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 30 November (1966) |
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Constitution:
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30 November 1966 |
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Legal system:
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English common law; no judicial review of
legislative acts |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member
body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are
appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services) |
Economy
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.
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GDP:
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$5.31 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP - growth rate:
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4.3% |
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GDP per capita:
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$18,900 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% |
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Labor force:
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128,500 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10% |
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Unemployment:
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10.7% |
|
Budget:
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revenues: $847 million (including
grants)
expenditures: $886 million |
|
Industries:
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tourism, sugar, light manufacturing,
component assembly for export |
|
Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% |
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Agriculture:
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sugarcane, vegetables, cotton |
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Exports:
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sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and
beverages, chemicals, electrical components |
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Export partners:
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Trinidad and Tobago 18.4%, UK 11.2%, US 11%,
Saint Lucia 8.6%, Jamaica 8%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.3%, Antigua and
Barbuda 4.3%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 4.1% |
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Imports:
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consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs,
construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components |
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Import partners:
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US 29.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 26.9%, UK 6.4% |
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Currency:
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Barbadian dollar (BBD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |