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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bb

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

104 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

160,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

134,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

237,100 (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 2 cable channels) (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Budget [time series]

revenues: $847 million (including grants) expenditures: $886 million (2000 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

12% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

10.8% (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Current account balance [time series]

-$254 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$668 million (2003)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

939.9 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.003 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$385 million (2006)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago 15.5%, Jamaica 13.5%, UK 9.4%, US 9.3%, Brazil 8.3%, Saint Lucia 7.2%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.5% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$3.739 billion (2007 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$5.31 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$18,900 (2007 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.3% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.586 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 30.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 27.6%, UK 6.5% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-3.2% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

128,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$5.513 billion (2005)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

29.17 million cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

141.6 million cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

8,674 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

1,750 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

10,710 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

1,111 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

2.2 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$620 million (2007)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$3.533 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$1.478 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$2.717 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.7% (2003 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 431 sq km land: 431 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Coastline [time series]

97 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Geography - note [time series]

easternmost Caribbean island

Irrigated land [time series]

50 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 37.21% permanent crops: 2.33% other: 60.46% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.1 cu km (2003)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

30 November 1966

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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)

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

30 November 1966 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

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

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 2,157 female: 2,155 (2008 est.)

Military - note [time series]

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)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures [time series]

0.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.48 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.9% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

2,500 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.21 years male: 71.2 years female: 75.24 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 99.7% male: 99.7% female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 35.4 years male: 34.2 years female: 36.4 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

281,968 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.36% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2001)

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 85 by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 50, chemical tanker 7, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-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)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bridgetown

Roadways [time series]

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