Statistical information Barbados 1989

Barbados in the World
top of pageBackground: The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar rum and molasses production through most of the 20th century. Tourism and manufacturing are gaining in economic importance.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claimsExtended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
ElevationNatural resources: crude oil, fishing, natural gas
Land use: 77% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 9% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 14% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: easternmost Caribbean island
top of pagePopulation: 258,122 (July 1989), growth rate 0.5% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Barbadian(s; adjective - Barbadian
Ethnic groups: 80% African, 16% mixed, 4% European
Languages: English
Religions: 70% Anglican, 9% Methodist, 4% Roman Catholic, 17% other, including Moravian
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 18 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: - 5 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 77 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 99%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: none
Government type: independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth recognizing Elizabeth II as Chief of State
Capital: Bridgetown
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - there may a new city of Bridgetown
Dependent areasIndependence: 30 November 1966 (from 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal over age 18
Executive branch: Chief of State - Queen ELIZABETH II, represented by Governor General Sir Hugh SPRINGER (since 24 February 1984; Head of Government - Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since 2 June 1987)
Legislative branch: Barbados Defense Force, Royal Barbados Police Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, IWC - International Wheat Council, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Sir William DOUGLAS; Chancery at 2,144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 939-9,200 through 9,202; there is a Barbadian Consulate General in New York and a Consulate in Los Angeles; US - Ambassador (vacant; Embassy at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown (mailing address is P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown or FPO Miami 34,054; telephone (809) 436-4,950 through 4,957
Flag description
: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, 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)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: A per capita income of $5,405 gives Barbados the highest standard of living of all the small island states of the Eastern Caribbean. Historically, the economy was based on the cultivation of sugarcane and related activities. In recent years, however, the economy has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. The tourist industry is now a major employer of the labor force and a primary source of foreign exchange. A high unemployment rate of about 17% in 1988 remains one of the most serious economic problems facing the country.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 10% of GDP; major cash crop is sugarcane; other crops - vegetables and cotton; not self-sufficient in food
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: - 5.4% (1987 est.)
Labor force:
112,300; 37%
services and government; 22% commerce, 22% manufacturing and construction; 9% transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions; 8% agriculture; 2% utilities (1985 est.)
Unemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $476 million; expenditures $543 million, including capital expenditures of $94 million (FY86)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $156 million (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials, crude oil
Commodities partners: US 30%, CARICOM, UK, Puerto Rico, Canada
Imports: $515 million (c.i.f., 1987)
Partners: US 34%, CARICOM, Japan, UK, Canada
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $410 million (December 1987)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 132,000 kW capacity; 452 million kWh produced, 1,760 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $10.1 million, 3% of central government budget (FY86)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,200 GRT/7,338 DWT
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs