{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. African slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720 Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados became a republic on 30 November 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president. Barbados plans to create a new constitution in 2022." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "13 10 N, 59 32 W" }, "Map references": { "text": "Central America and the Caribbean" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "430 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "430 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "2.5 times the size of Washington, DC" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "97 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; rainy season (June to October)" }, "Terrain": { "text": "relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Mount Hillaby 336 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, fish, natural gas" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "32.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 25.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 4.7% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "19.4% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "48% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "50 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "easternmost Caribbean island" }, "Map description": { "text": "

Barbados map showing the island situated in the Caribbean Sea.

" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "302,674 (2022 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)" }, "Religions": { "text": "Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "17.49% (male 25,762/female 25,764)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "12.34% (male 18,024/female 18,330)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "42.69% (male 62,655/female 63,093)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "13.91% (male 19,533/female 21,430)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "13.57% (2020 est.) (male 16,398/female 23,571)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "50.3" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "25.2" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "25.1" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "4 (2020 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "39.5 years" }, "male": { "text": "38.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "40.7 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.26% (2022 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "10.83 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "7.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "31.3% of total population (2022)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.01 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "0.98 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "0.98 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "0.92 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.55 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "10 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "11.58 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "8.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "78.55 years" }, "male": { "text": "75.79 years" }, "female": { "text": "81.35 years (2022 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "59.2% (2012)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 98.8% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 2% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "6.3% (2019)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "2.48 physicians/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "6 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "1.1% (2019 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "2,700 (2019 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "(2019 est.) <100" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "23.1% (2016)" }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "3.5% (2012)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "4.3% of GDP (2020)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "99.6%" }, "male": { "text": "99.6%" }, "female": { "text": "99.6% (2014)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "15 years" }, "male": { "text": "14 years" }, "female": { "text": "17 years (2011)" } }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "26%" }, "male": { "text": "30.3%" }, "female": { "text": "21.2% (2019 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "22.24 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "1.28 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "2.35 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; rainy season (June to October)" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "32.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 25.6% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 4.7% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "19.4% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "48% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "31.3% of total population (2022)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "forest revenues": { "text": "0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Revenue from coal": { "coal revenues": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "174,815 tons (2011 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "15,733 tons (2015 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "9% (2015 est.)" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "20 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "6.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "54.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "80 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "none" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Barbados" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name derives from the Portuguese \"as barbadas,\" which means \"the bearded ones\" and can refer either to the long, hanging roots of the island's bearded fig trees or to the alleged beards of the native Carib inhabitants" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Bridgetown" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "13 06 N, 59 37 W" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "named after a bridge constructed over the swampy area (known as the Careenage) around the Constitution River that flows through the center of Bridgetown" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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": { "text": "30 November 1966 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 30 November (1966)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966;  Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses; amended several times, last in 2021" }, "note": "note - following the transition to a republic on 30 November 2021, the Government of Barbados plans a consultation on drafting a new constitution" }, "Legal system": { "text": "English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "yes" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "yes" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the president is elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a four year renewable term; election last held 20 October 2021; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister" }, "election results": { "text": "Sandra MASON elected as first president on 20 October 2021 to take office on 30 November 2021" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (21 seats - 18 for current term; members appointed by the president - 12 on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at the discretion of the president)
House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "
Senate - last appointments on 4 February 2022 (next appointments in February 2027)
House of Assembly - last held on 19 January 2022 (next to be held in January 2027)" }, "election results": { "text": "
Senate - appointed; composition as of March 2022- men 10, women 8, percent of women 44.4%
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - BLP 69%, DLP 26.5%, other 4.5%; seats by party - BLP 30; composition as of March 2022 - men 22, women 8, percent of women 26.7%; note - total Parliament percent of women 33.3%" }, "note": "note: tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but constitutionally it is 5 years from the first seating of Parliament plus a 90-day grace period" }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the High Court chief justice and president of the court and 4 justices; note - in 2005, Barbados acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and presidential appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Magistrates' Courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "Alliance Party for Progress or APP [Joseph ATHERLEY]
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]
Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Steve Blackett]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 939-9200" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 332-7467" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
washington@foreign.gov.bb" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Miami, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Linda S. TAGLIALATELA (since 1 February 2016) note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines" }, "embassy": { "text": "Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I." }, "mailing address": { "text": "3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC  20521-3120" }, "telephone": { "text": "(246) 227-4000" }, "FAX": { "text": "(246) 431-0179" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
BridgetownACS@state.gov

https://bb.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (hoist side), gold, and ultramarine blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "Neptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados); national colors: blue, yellow, black" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "The National Anthem of Barbados" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS" }, "note": "note: adopted 1966; the anthem is also known as \"In Plenty and In Time of Need\"" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "1 (cultural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "Barbados is the wealthiest and one of the most developed countries in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, in recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, boosted by being in the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and by a relatively highly educated workforce. Following the 2008-09 recession, external vulnerabilities such as fluctuations in international oil prices have hurt economic growth, raised Barbados' already high public debt to GDP ratio - which stood at 105% of GDP in 2016 - and cut into its international reserves." }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$3.7 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$4.49 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$4.49 billion (2018 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "-0.2% (2017 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2016": { "text": "2.3% (2016 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2015": { "text": "2.2% (2015 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$12,900 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$15,600 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$15,700 (2018 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$4.99 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "4.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": { "text": "1.5% (2016 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Moody's rating": { "text": "Caa1 (2019)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "B- (2019)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.5% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "9.8% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "88.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "84.2% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "13.4% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "17.6% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.2% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "31.6% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-47% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "sugar cane, poultry, vegetables, milk, eggs, pork, coconuts, pulses, sweet potatoes, tropical fruit" }, "Industries": { "text": "tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "2.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "144,000 (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "10%" }, "industry": { "text": "15%" }, "services": { "text": "75% (1996 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2017": { "text": "10.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2016": { "text": "9.9% (2016 est.)" } }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "26%" }, "male": { "text": "30.3%" }, "female": { "text": "21.2% (2019 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "1.466 billion (2017 est.) (2013 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "1.664 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "157.3% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "149.1% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "29.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "1 April - 31 March" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$189 million (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$206 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2017": { "text": "$485.4 million (2017 est.)" }, "Exports 2016": { "text": "$516.9 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "US 21%, Poland 14%, Jamaica 8%, Guyana 6%,Trinidad and Tobago 6% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "rums and other hard liquor, ships, orthopedic appliances, cement, packaged medicines (2019)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2017": { "text": "$1.52 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Imports 2016": { "text": "$1.541 billion (2016 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "United States 35%, Trinidad and Tobago 14%, China 9%, Netherlands 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, ships, cars, shipping containers, packaged medicines (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$264.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$341.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2010": { "text": "$4.49 billion (2010 est.)" }, "Debt - external 2003": { "text": "$668 million (2003 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "2 (2017 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2016": { "text": "2 (2016 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2015": { "text": "2 (2015 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "2 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "2 (2013 est.)" }, "note": "note: the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar" } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "1.01 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "990 million kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "269,000 kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "93% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "674 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "2.534 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "11,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "10,630 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "14.16 million cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "19.82 million cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "5.653 million cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "141.6 million cu m (1 January 2018 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "128,000 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "45 (2020 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "295,000 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "103 (2020 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "island-wide automatic telephone system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas and contributors to the overall GDP; numerous competitors licensed, but small and localized (2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity of roughly 45 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density about 115 per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 1-246; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable with links to 15 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Puerto Ricco; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial TV station; CBC also operates a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen radio stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network operating alongside privately owned radio stations" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".bb" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "235,357 (2019 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "82% (2019 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "128,000 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "45 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "8P" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "1 (2021)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "1" }, "over 3,047 m": { "text": "1 (2021)" } }, "Pipelines": { "text": "33 km gas, 64 km oil, 6 km refined products (2013)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "1,700 km (2015)" }, "paved": { "text": "1,700 km (2015)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "165" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 46, general cargo 103, other 16 (2021)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Bridgetown" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Barbados Defense Force: The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2022)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "0.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $35 million)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "0.8% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $40 million)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "0.8% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $40 million)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 600 active personnel (2021)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the Netherlands provide the BDF's major equipment inventory (maritime patrol boats) (2021)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "voluntary service only (men and women); 17 years, 9 months to 17 years, 11 months with letter of consent from a parent or guardian, or be in the age range of 18-25 years at the start of recruit training; citizens of Barbados by descent or naturalization (2021)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "

Barbados has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados

(2022)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

Barbados-Venezuela (Maritime Boundary): Barbados joins other Caribbean states and the United Kingdom to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island, a large sandbar with some vegetation, sustains human habitation or economic life, the criteria under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Article 121, which would permit Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea.  The dispute hampers hydrocarbon prospecting and creation of exploration blocks. 

Barbados-Trinidad and Tobago (Maritime Boundary): Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone.

" }, "Trafficking in persons": { "current situation": { "text": "human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Barbados; foreign women are subject to sex trafficking; children are exploited in sex trafficking by parents and caregivers, according to anecdotal reports; documented and undocumented migrants from Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Venezuela are at high risk for trafficking, while migrants from other nearby countries are increasingly vulnerable" }, "tier rating": { "text": "Tier 2 Watch List — Barbados does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government completed an anti-trafficking manual on assisting and interviewing victims, reinstated the anti-trafficking task force, and increased training for law enforcement and child care officials; however, authorities again did not identify any trafficking victims, reported no new prosecutions, and have never convicted anyone of trafficking; the national action plan has yet to be completed (2020)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean

" } } }