| Location | Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela |
| Geographic coordinates | 13 10º N, 59 32º W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | Total: 431 sq. km Land: 431 sq. km Water: 0 sq. km |
| 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 (2003) |
| Total renewable water resources | 0.1 cu km (2003) |
| Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/ agricultural) | Total: 0.09 cu km/yr. (33%/44%/22%) Per capita: 333 cu 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 |
Source: World Fact Book
| 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.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.366% (2011 est.)country comparison to the world: 162 |
| 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.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.013 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Health Expenditures | 6.8% of GDP (2009)country comparison to the world: 86 |
| 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) |
| 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.) |
| Languages | English |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 99.7%male: 99.7%female: 99.7% (2002 est.) |
| Education expenditures | 6.9% of GDP (2005) |
Source: World Fact Book
| 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: 1096.5% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 5.4% (2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 1534.4% (2009 est.) |
| Central bank discount rate | 7% (31 December 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 467% (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 8.7% (31 December 2010 est.)country comparison to the world: 1179.204% (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Economic aid – recipient | $2.07 million (2005) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $620 million (2007) |
| Debt – external | $668 million (2003) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | $5.513 billion (2005) |
| Currency (code) | Barbadian dollar (BBD) |
Source: World Fact Book
| Country Name | Conventional long form: noneConventional short form: Barbados |
| Government Type | Parliamentary democracy and a commonwealth realm |
| Capital | Name: BridgetownGeographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 WTime 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) |
| 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 | 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 & 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 & 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 |
Barbados is a parliamentary democracy. Executive authority is vested in the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which is collectively responsible to the Parliament. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor General as the member of the House of Assembly best able to command the support of the majority of the members. The Prime Minister usually selects a cabinet from his party members in the legislature.The present constitution provides for the separation of powers under the Governor General, Parliament, the Executive, the Judiciary and the Public Service.
The Governor General
The country is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. Therefore at the helm is the monarchy and acting on its behalf is the Governor General.
Parliament
This consists of Her Majesty, a Senate and a House of Assembly.
The Senate is the Upper nominated House. The Constitution provides for 21 persons. Twelve of these are government senators, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, two are the Opposition’s choice and seven are appointed to represent various interest groups. The House of Assembly is the Lower House. There are now 30 members elected for a maximum of five years.
Any citizen of Barbados who is 21 years of age or older and resident in Barbados is eligible for election to the House of Assembly.
Executive Powers
Under this area the Constitution lists Her Majesty, the Cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition and the Privy Council and a Director of Public Prosecutions.
The Cabinet – this consists of the Prime Minister and not fewer than five other Ministers.
Leader of the Opposition – the Governor General appoints as Leader of the Opposition the person who, in his/her judgement, is best able to command the support of a majority of those members of the House who do not support the Government.
The Privy Council – members of this body are appointed by the Governor General after consultation with the Prime Minister. According to the provision of the Constitution no person can serve on the body for more than 15 years.
The Council advises the Governor General in the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy and in the exercise of disciplinary powers over members of the Public and Police Services, who may appeal to the Council in cases of disciplinary actions against them.
Director of Public Prosecutions – is a public office free of political interference.
The Judiciary
This is a branch of government free from executive interference and comprises the Magistrate Courts, a High Court and a Court of Appeal.
Public Service
The Services Commission is made up of the Judicial, Legal and Public Service Commissions. These Commissions have executive powers to deal with the appointment, dismissal and discipline of members of the services for which they are respectively responsible.
Source: World Fact Book
| Indicator | # of Countries Surveyed | Ranking | Area | Publication | Year Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Availability of Latest Technologies | 142 | 27th | Worldwide | Global Competitiveness Report | 2011/2012 |
| 2nd | Latin America/ Caribbean | ||||
| Economic Freedom 1 | 179 | 42nd | Worldwide | Index of Economic Freedom | 2011 |
| 6th | Americas | ||||
| FDI and Technology Transfer | 142 | 36th | Worldwide | Global Competitiveness Report | 2011/2012 |
| 8th | Latin America/ Caribbean | ||||
| Global Competitiveness | 142 | 42nd | Worldwide | Global Competitiveness Report | 2011/2012 |
| 3rd | Latin America/ Caribbean | ||||
| Human Development Index 2 | 187 | 47th | Worldwide | United Nations Human Development Report | 2011 |
| 5th | Americas | ||||
| 3rd | Latin America/ Caribbean | ||||
| Literacy | 177 | 4th | Worldwide | United Nations Development Programme Report | 2007/2008 |
| Networked Readiness Index | 138 | 38th | Worldwide | World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report | 2010/2011 |
| 1st | Latin America/ Caribbean | ||||
| Regulation of Securities Exchanges | 142 | 22nd | Worldwide | Global Competitiveness Report | 2011/2012 |
| 2nd | Latin America/Caribbean | ||||
| Soundness of Banks | 142 | 11th | Worldwide | Global Competitiveness Report | 2011/2012 |
| 3rd | Latin America/ Caribbean | ||||
| Transparency | 178 | 17th | Worldwide | Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index | 2010 |
| 1st | Latin America/ Caribbean |
1 This demonstrates the relationship between economic freedom and positive social and economic values.
2 The Human Development Index (HDI) combines a number of indexes: life expectancy, literacy, educational attainment, and GDP per capita for countries worldwide. It is a measurement of a country’s development.
Source: Invest Barbados