Barbados

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 (2009)

Internet country code

.bb

Internet users

total: 231,883 | percent of population: 79.5% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Telephone system

general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system | domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density about 115 per 100 persons | 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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 139,948 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 332,208 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Budget

revenues: $1.326 billion (2013 est.) | expenditures: $1.612 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Central bank discount rate

7% (31 December 2010) | 7% (31 December 2009) | country comparison to the world: 51

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.05% (31 December 2016 est.) | 8.06% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Current account balance

$-208 million (2016 est.) | $-288.7 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Debt - external

$4.49 billion (2010 est.) | $668 million (2003 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Economy - overview

Barbados is the wealthiest and one of the most developed countries in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. 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. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, boosted by being in the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and by a relatively highly educated workforce. Following the 2008-09 recession, the economy has grown due to increases in tourist arrivals, construction, financial services and exports. However, Barbados’ high public debt to GDP ratio and falling international reserves remain areas of concern. Growth prospects are limited because of a weak economic outlook.

Exchange rates

Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - | 2 (2016 est.) | 2 (2015 est.) | 2 (2014 est.) | 2 (2013 est.) | 2 (2012 est.) | note: the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar

Exports

$517 million (2016 est.) | $482.9 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 39.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.9%, Guyana 5.2%, China 4.9%, Jamaica 4.8%, St. Lucia 4.3% (2016)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.552 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.793 billion (2016 est.) | $4.658 billion (2015 est.) | $4.567 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 176

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 79.8% | government consumption: 13.6% | investment in fixed capital: 13.8% | investment in inventories: 2.6% | exports of goods and services: 34.6% | imports of goods and services: -44.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.6% | industry: 11.3% | services: 87.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,100 (2016 est.) | $16,800 (2015 est.) | $16,800 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 97

GDP - real growth rate

1.6% (2016 est.) | 0.9% (2015 est.) | 0.1% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Gross national saving

8.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 8.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | 3.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$1.541 billion (2016 est.) | $1.537 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 39%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.4%, China 7.3%, UK 4.8% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Industries

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2016 est.) | -1.1% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Labor force

142,500 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.495 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $4.571 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $4.366 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

107.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 105.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$431.8 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $553.6 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Stock of broad money

$4.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.385 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Stock of domestic credit

$5.798 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.468 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Stock of narrow money

$2.143 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.053 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Taxes and other revenues

28.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Unemployment rate

9.9% (2016 est.) | 11.3% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.3 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 162

Crude oil - exports

764.5 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Crude oil - proved reserves

2.082 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 98

Electricity - consumption

865 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - from other renewable sources

8.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - installed generating capacity

248,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - production

915 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity access

population without electricity: 29,149 | electrification - total population: 91% | electrification - urban areas: 100% | electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

20 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - production

20 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Natural gas - proved reserves

113.3 million cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 107

Refined petroleum products - consumption

12,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - imports

11,490 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Area

total: 430 sq km | land: 430 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 202

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Coastline

97 km

Elevation

mean elevation: NA | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 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

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

Geographic coordinates

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Geography - note

easternmost Caribbean island

Irrigated land

50 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 32.6% | arable land 25.6%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 4.7% | forest: 19.4% | other: 48% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Natural resources

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Population - distribution

most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas

Terrain

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

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

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; amended several times, last in 2007 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Barbados | etymology: the name derives from the Portuguese "as barbadas," which means "the bearded ones" and can refer either to the long, hanging roots of the island's bearded fig trees or to the alleged beards of the native Carib inhabitants

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda S. TAGLIALATELA (since 1 February 2016) note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | embassy: Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados | mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; (Department Name) Unit 3120, DPO AA 34055 | telephone: [1] (246) 227-4000 | FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Selwin Charles HART (since 18 January 2017) | 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

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General (Acting) Sir Philip GREAVES (since 1 July 2017) | head of government: Prime Minister Freundel STUART (since 23 October 2010) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (hoist side), gold, and ultramarine 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 (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; 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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the High Court chief justice and president of the court and 4 justices; note - in 2010, Barbados, a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final court of appeal | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and governor-general appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65 | subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts

Legal system

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description: 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 the discretion of the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: House of Assembly - last held on 21 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018) | election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 51.3%, BLP 48.3%, other 0.4%; seats by party - DLP 16, BLP 14

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"

National holiday

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

National symbol(s)

Neptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados); national colors: blue, yellow, black

Political parties and leaders

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY] | 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 [Pedro SHEPHERD] | Barbados Workers Union or BWU [Linda BROOKS] | Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG] | Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Cedric MURRELL] | National Union of Public Workers or NUPW [Akanni MCDOWALL]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. African 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 - 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

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, or earlier with parental consent; no conscription (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.97% (male 26,256/female 26,266) | 15-24 years: 12.74% (male 18,504/female 18,732) | 25-54 years: 44.06% (male 64,198/female 64,594) | 55-64 years: 13.43% (male 18,497/female 20,770) | 65 years and over: 11.81% (male 13,927/female 20,592) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

11.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.5% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

59.2% (2012)

Death rate

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.4 | youth dependency ratio: 29.1 | elderly dependency ratio: 21.3 | potential support ratio: 4.7 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.7% of population | rural: 99.7% of population | total: 99.7% of population | urban: 0.3% of population | rural: 0.3% of population | total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 54

Ethnic groups

black 92.4%, white 2.7%, mixed 3.1%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,600 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Health expenditures

7.5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 64

Hospital bed density

6.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Languages

English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.5 years | male: 73.2 years | female: 77.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Major infectious diseases

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

BRIDGETOWN (capital) 90,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

27 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Median age

total: 38.6 years | male: 37.5 years | female: 39.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Nationality

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

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 68

Population

292,336 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180

Population distribution

most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas

Population growth rate

0.28% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Religions

Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 96.2% of population | rural: 96.2% of population | total: 96.2% of population | urban: 3.8% of population | rural: 3.8% of population | total: 3.8% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 17 years (2011)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female | total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 32.4% | male: 31.8% | female: 33.3% (2015 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 31.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 236

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

8P (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 109 | by type: 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 | foreign-owned: 83 (Canada 11, Greece 14, Iran 5, Lebanon 2, Norway 38, Sweden 4, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UAE 1, UK 6) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 50

Pipelines

gas 33 km; oil 64 km; refined products 6 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Bridgetown

Roadways

total: 1,700 km | paved: 1,700 km (2015) | country comparison to the world: 177