Geography
Area: 431 sq. km. (166 sq. mi.); about three times the size of
Washington, DC.
Cities: Capital--Bridgetown.
Terrain: Generally flat, hilly in the interior.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Barbadian(s); also "Bajan(s)."
Population (2003 estimate): 276, 607 (WF). Avg. annual growth
rate (2001): 0.4%.
Ethnic groups: Black 90%, White 4%, Asian or mixed 6% (WF).
Christian singles note-Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%,
Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%,
other 12% (WF).
Language: English.
Education: Attendance--primary school 100%, secondary school
93%. Adult literacy--99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (1998)--7.8/1,000. Life
expectancy--70.9 yrs. (WF) men; 76.12 yrs. women (2002 est.
WF).
Work force (2001, 142,000): Commerce, tourism, government,
manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, fishing.
Unemployment (2001): 9.9%.
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the
Commonwealth.
Independence: November 30, 1966.
Constitution: 1966.
Branches: Executive--governor general (representing Queen
Elizabeth II, head of state), prime minister (head of government),
cabinet. Legislative--bicameral Parliament.
Judicial--magistrate's courts, Supreme Court (High Court and
Court of Appeals), privy council in London.
Subdivisions: Eleven parishes and the city of Bridgetown.
Political parties: Barbados Labor Party (BLP, incumbent), Democratic
Labor Party (DLP), National Democratic Party (NDP).
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (in U.S. $billions): $2.6.
Gross domestic savings ratio (2001): 13.4%.
GDP growth rate (2002): -0.4%.
Per capita GDP (2002): $12,000.
Average inflation rate (2002): 20.17%.
Natural resources: Petroleum, Fishing, natural gas.
Agriculture (4% of GDP): Sugar accounts for 2.4% of GDP and 80% of
arable land.
Industry: Manufacturing and construction (17% of GDP)--food,
beverages, textiles, paper, chemicals, fabricated products.
Services: (76% of GDP) Tourism, banking and other financial services,
Informatics (data processing).
Trade (2001): Exports--$259 million. Major markets--U.S.
17%, CARICOM 45%, U.K. 14%, and Canada 3%. Imports--$1,068
million. Major suppliers--U.S. 42%, U.K. 8%, Canada 4%, CARICOM
15%.
Official exchange rate: Barbados dollars (BDS) 2=U.S.$1.
PEOPLE
About 90% of Barbados' population is of African descent, 4% European
descent, and 6% Asian or mixed.
Christian singles note-About 40% of Barbadians are Anglican, and the
rest mostly Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and Moravian. There
also are small Jewish and Muslim communities. Barbados' population
growth rate has been very low, less than 1% since the1960s, largely
due to family planning efforts and a high emigration rate.
