Barbados

Barbados

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 430 sq km
country comparison to the world: 201 land:430 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

97 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

Climate

tropical

rainy season (June to October)

Terrain

relatively flat

rises gently to central highland region

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use

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

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

infrequent hurricanes

periodic landslides

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

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

easternmost Caribbean island

People and Society

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

English

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.)

Population

286,705 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 27,127/female 27,127)
15-64 years:71.3% (male 100,594/female 103,751)
65 years and over:9.8% (male 10,982/female 17,124) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 36.5 years
male:35.4 years
female:37.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.366% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Birth rate

12.35 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Death rate

8.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

BRIDGETOWN (capital) 112,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.013 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.64 male(s)/female
total population:0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

64 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 89

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.86 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 136 male:13.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female:10.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.34 years
country comparison to the world: 101 male:72.07 years
female:76.64 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Health expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 86

Physicians density

1.811 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 73

Hospital bed density

7.6 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 10

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

2,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Education expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 19

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 26.2%
country comparison to the world: 23 male:24.1%
female:28.7% (2003)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Barbados

Government type

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital

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

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

30 November 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution

30 November 1966

Legal system

English common law

no judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

represented by acting Governor General Elliot BELGRAVE (since 1 November 2011)
head of government:Prime Minister Fruendel STUART (since 23 October 2010)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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

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)
elections:House of Assembly – last held on 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2012)
election results:House of Assembly – percent of vote by party – DLP 52.5%, BLP 47.3%

seats by party – DLP 20, BLP 10

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

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 [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]

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John BEALE
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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’ Affaires D. Brent HARDT
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

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)

National symbol(s)

Neptune’s trident

National anthem

name: “The National Anthem of Barbados”
lyrics/music:Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
note:adopted 1966

the anthem is also known as “In Plenty and In Time of Need”

Economy

Economy – overview

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 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, but the sector faced declining revenues in 2009 with the global economic downturn. The country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. 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. The public debt-to-GDP ratio rose to over 100% in 2009, largely because a sharp slowdown in tourism and financial services led to a wide budget deficit.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.227 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155 $6.258 billion (2009 est.)
$6.568 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.963 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193 -4.7% (2009 est.)
-0.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$21,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60 $22,000 (2009 est.)
$23,200 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 3.4%
industry:14%
services:82.6% (2010 est.)

Labor force

175,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

10.7% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

27.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Budget

revenues: $1.18 billion (including grants)
expenditures:$1.502 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

29.8% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-8.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188

Public debt

102.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10 96.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153 4.4% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 7% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.7% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117 9.204% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.785 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 123 $1.68 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money

$5.501 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 $5.474 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.975 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 $4.656 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.366 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 85 $4.39 billion (31 December 2009)
$4.964 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Industries

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Industrial production growth rate

-3.2% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity – production

1.011 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity – consumption

945 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

739 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Oil – consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Oil – imports

8,684 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Oil – proved reserves

1.79 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas – proved reserves

113.3 million cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Current account balance

-$364.6 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100 -$244.3 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$424.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172 $343.8 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Brazil 16.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 16.8%, US 8.8%, St. Lucia 7.8%, Venezuela 5.4%, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 4.8% (2010)

Imports

$1.39 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165 $1.294 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Trinidad and Tobago 32.5%, US 24.7%, Colombia 5.8%, China 4.4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$620 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 147

Debt – external

$668 million (2003)
country comparison to the world: 158

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:236

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
over 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 33 km

oil 62 km

refined products 4 km

Roadways

total: 1,600 km
country comparison to the world: 176 paved:1,600 km (2004)

Merchant marine

total: 95
country comparison to the world: 52 by type:bulk carrier 19, cargo 55, chemical tanker 9, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:89 (Canada 13, Greece 14, Iran 4, Lebanon 2, Norway 41, Sweden 6, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UK 7)
registered in other countries:1 (unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bridgetown

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger volunteers require parental consent)

no conscription (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 73,820
females age 16-49:73,835 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 58,125
females age 16-49:58,016 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 1,842
female:1,849 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 144

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 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)

Transnational Issues

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 (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Barbados is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the Government of Barbados does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

the main obstacles to anti-trafficking progress in Barbados were the new legislation’s failure to criminalize all forms of trafficking in persons, the government’s absence of formal procedures to guide officials in victim identification and assistance, and the absence of a formal mechanism to coordinate government and NGO actions on trafficking issues (2011)

Illicit drugs

one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US

offshore financial center