Background: 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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 97 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Natural resources: crude oil, fishing, natural gas

Land use: arable land: 77%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 0%; other 14%

Geography
Note: easternmost Caribbean island

Population: 254,626 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Nationality: noun--Barbadian(s; adjective--Barbadian

Ethnic groups: African 80%, mixed 16%, European 4%

Languages: English

Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%; none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)

Birth rate: 16 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 6 migrants/1000 population (1991)

Environment
Current issues: subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)

Infant mortality rate: 23 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 76 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: 99% (male 99%, female 99%) age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970)

Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: parliamentary democracy

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 be a new city of Bridgetown

Independence: 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

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), 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: Royal Barbados Defense Force, Coast Guard, Royal Barbados Police Force

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature

International organization participation: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In 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 G. Philip HUGHES; 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) Barbados BarbadosBarbados

Economy overview: A per capita income of $6,500 gives Barbados one of the highest standards 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. An unemployment rate of 18% remains one of the most serious economic problems facing the country.

Agriculture 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: - 1.5% (1989; accounts for 14 % of GDP

Labor force: 112,300; services and government 37%; commerce 22%; manufacturing and construction 22%; transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 9%; agriculture 8%; utilities 2% (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate: 18% (1990)

Budget: revenues $501 million; expenditures $484 million, including capital expenditures of $113 million (FY91)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Exports: $165 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, consumer durables, raw materials, machinery, crude oil, construction materials, chemicals
Commodities partners: CARICOM 30%, US 20%, UK 20%

Imports: $701 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
Partners: US 35%, CARICOM 13%, UK 12%, Japan 6%, Canada 8%, Venezuela 4%

Debt external: $550 million (June 1990 est.)

Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1--2.0113 (fixed rate)

Electricity
Capacity: 132,000 kW capacity; 494 million kWh produced, 1,880 kWh per capita (1990)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: $10 million, 0.7% of GDP (1989)

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 2,440-3,659 m

Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,200 GRT/7,338 DWT