Key Demographic Features of
Barbados *
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
People
Population: 257,030 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)
15-64 years: 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)
65 years and over: 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July
1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.26% (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996
est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.35 years
male: 71.65 years
female: 77.25 years (1996 est.)
Ethnic divisions: African 80%, European 4%, other 16%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%,
Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%,
other 9% (1980)
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995
est.)
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8%
Government
Country Abbreviation: BB
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
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: 18 years of age; universal
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad
Street, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
gold, 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)
Economy
Economic overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy has
been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities,
but in recent years the production has diversified into
manufacturing and tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and
tourism sectors - which declined by 25% and 8% respectively -
tempered economic expansion in 1995; output increased by 2% for
the year, down from nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions
in 1995 are expected to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since
taking office in 1994, Prime Minister ARTHUR has aggressively
moved to promote foreign direct investment as part of a policy
designed to reduce nagging unemployment. The government has also
been active in promoting regional integration initiatives.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $9,800 (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19.9% (September 1995)
Communications
Telephones: 87,343 (1991 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1 pay)
Televisions: 69,350 (1993 est.)
*Source: World Factbook 1996, U.S.
Central Intelligence Agency
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