factbook.json/central-america-n-caribbean/bb.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Enslaved Africans 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 independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados became a republic in 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president."
    }
  },
  "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"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "304,139"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "146,587"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "157,552 (2024 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": "16.6% (male 25,273/female 25,284)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "67% (male 100,328/female 103,536)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "16.3% (2024 est.) (male 20,986/female 28,732)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "49"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "25.6"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "23.4"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.3 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "41.4 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "40.3 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "42.5 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.23% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "31.4% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "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"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "0.97 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.73 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "39 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11.1 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "8.1 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "79 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "76.3 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "81.8 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.7 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.85 (2024 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": "7.2% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "2.49 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.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "23.1% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "8.5% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "15% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "1.9% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "57.1% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "6.5% of GDP (2021 est.)"
    },
    "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)"
      }
    }
  },
  "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"
      }
    },
    "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": "31.4% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "9.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.28 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "2.35 megatons (2020 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 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "5 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "80 million cubic meters (2020 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 indigenous 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)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts"
    },
    "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": "<strong>note: </strong>following the transition to a republic in November 2021, the Government of Barbados in February 2022 began the process of establishing a constitution commission to review a new draft constitution"
    },
    "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": "president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; election last held on 20 October 2021 (next to be held by January 2027); 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"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Parlement de Barbade (Parliament of Barbados)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "bicameral"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> tradition dictates that the next 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"
    },
    "Legislative branch - lower chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "House of Assembly"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "30 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "plurality/majority"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "1/19/2022"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Barbados Labour Party (BLP) (30)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "26.7%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "January 2027"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - upper chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "Senate"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "21 (all appointed)"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "2/4/2022"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "38.1%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "February 2027"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "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": {
      "text": "Alliance Party for Progress or APP<br>Barbados Labor Party or BLP<br>Democratic Labor Party or DLP"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "ACP, ACS, 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 Victor Anthony FERNANDES (since 18 September 2024)"
      },
      "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": "<br>washington@foreign.gov.bb<br><br>https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Miami, New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Karin B. SULLIVAN (since January 2025) 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&nbsp; 20521-3120"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "(246) 227-4000"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "(246) 431-0179"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>bridgetownpublicaffairs@state.gov<br><br>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": "<strong>note:</strong> 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": "<p>high-income Eastern Caribbean economy; high standard of living among regional peers; key tourism, construction, and financial sectors driving recent GDP growth; declining but still very high public debt leading to IMF support programs; susceptible to natural disasters and reliance on import partners</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$5.428 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$5.214 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$4.425 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "4.09% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "17.83% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "-1.18% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$19,200 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$18,500 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$15,700 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$6.721 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "9.79% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "4.1% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "3.67% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "Caa1 (2019)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "B- (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "1.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "13.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "75.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "75.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "11.8% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "16.5% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "34.3% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-42.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, cantaloupes/melons, tropical fruits (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-1.34% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "145,000 (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "7.95% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "8.49% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "9.42% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "28.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "20.3% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "1.27% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "1.36% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "1.61% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$1.269 billion (2015 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.664 billion (2015 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "133.2% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "24.91% (of GDP) (2016 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$296.396 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$452.39 million (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2015": {
        "text": "-$98.732 million (2015 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2017": {
        "text": "$2.228 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2016": {
        "text": "$2.41 billion (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2015": {
        "text": "$2.358 billion (2015 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "US 23%, Jamaica 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Guyana 8%, Poland 6% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "liquor, packaged medicine, ships, paper labels, baked goods (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$2.12 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2017": {
        "text": "$2.213 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2016": {
        "text": "$2.238 billion (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "US 43%, China 8%, Trinidad and Tobago 7%, UK 5%, Netherlands 3% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$1.606 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$1.52 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$1.673 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "2 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "2 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "2 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "340,000 kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "1.02 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "65.871 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "92.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "7.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "imports": {
        "text": "100 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "9,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "1.978 million barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Natural gas": {
      "production": {
        "text": "9.759 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "15.813 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "6.054 million cubic meters (2022 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "113.267 million cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "1.347 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "1.316 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "31,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "68.271 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "121,000 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "43 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "323,000 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "115 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line teledensity of roughly 43 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density about 113 per 100 persons (2021)"
      },
      "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 (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".bb"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "86% (2021 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": {
      "text": "2 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "1 (2024)"
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "33 km gas, 64 km oil, 6 km refined products (2013)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,700 km"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "1,700 km (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "272 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, other 28"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "1 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Bridgetown"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Barbados Defense Force (BDF): The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note 1: </strong>the BDF also has a Youth Development Wing, which is comprised of the Barbados Cadet Corps and the Barbados Defense Force Sports Program; the Barbados Cadet Corps is a national youth organization based in the country's school system and open to all school children 11-18 years of age <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> authority over the BDF is shared between the president and prime minister, with the president overseeing strategic direction and the prime minister responsible for operational leadership<br><br><strong>note 3: </strong>the Barbados Police Service (TBPS) is the national police force; it is modeled after London's Metropolitan Police Service and divided into three territorial divisions"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2023": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2022": {
        "text": "0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "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.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 600 active personnel (2023)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the BDF's major equipment inventory is comprised mostly of donated items from China, the Netherlands, and the US&nbsp; (2024)"
    },
    "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 (18-30 for the Reserves) at the start of recruit training; citizens of Barbados by descent or naturalization (2024)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "formed in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for protecting national security, but it may also be called up to maintain internal public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs, such as special joint patrols with the police; it also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations both domestically and regionally under the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); other duties include assisting with national development, such as through the training of the country's youth with the units of the Barbados Cadet Corps <br><br>Barbados has been a member of the RSS since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, 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 (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>a transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean; some local demand for cocaine and some use of synthetic drugs</p>"
    }
  }
}