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

{
  "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"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "303,431 (2023 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": "16.78% (male 25,456/female 25,465)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "67.56% (male 100,884/female 104,114)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "15.66% (2023 est.) (male 19,967/female 27,545)"
      }
    },
    "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": "39.5 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "38.4 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "40.7 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.24% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "10.73 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "8.03 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 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": "0.72 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.93 male(s)/female (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "39 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.79 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11.33 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "8.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "78.79 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "76.04 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "81.57 years (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.7 children born/woman (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.85 (2023 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)"
    },
    "Physicians 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.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "3.5% (2012)"
    },
    "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)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "30.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "34.8%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "25.6% (2021 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"
      }
    },
    "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": "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.)"
      }
    },
    "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 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": "<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"
    },
    "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": "president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; election last held on 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"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "bicameral Parliament consists of:<br>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) <br>House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "<br>Senate - last appointments on 4 February 2022 (next appointments in February 2027)<br>House of Assembly - last held on 19 January 2022 (next to be held in January 2027)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br>Senate - appointed; composition as of March 2022- men 10, women 8, percent of women 44.4% <br>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": "<strong>note:</strong> 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 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 and leaders": {
      "text": "Alliance Party for Progress or APP [Joseph ATHERLEY]<br>Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]<br>Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Ronnie YEARWOOD]"
    },
    "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&nbsp;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": "<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 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&nbsp; 20521-3120"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "(246) 227-4000"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "(246) 431-0179"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>BridgetownACS@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": "largest Eastern Caribbean economy; dependent on US imports and currency strength; high Human Development Index; key tourism and financial sectors; declining but still very high public debt; cost-of-living and cost competitiveness vulnerabilities"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$3.868 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$3.875 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$4.47 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "-0.19% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-13.31% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "-0.13% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$13,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$13,800 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$16,000 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$4.99 billion (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "4.1% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "3.67% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "4.66% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "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": "1.5% (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": "-0.6% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "139,100 (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "10%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "15%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "75% (1996 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "10.41% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2020": {
        "text": "10.38% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "8.41% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "30.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "34.8%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "25.6% (2021 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": "$1.271 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.483 billion (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "149.1% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "27.48% (of GDP) (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "1 April - 31 March"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$296.396 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "-$452.39 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$357 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2017": {
        "text": "$550 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2016": {
        "text": "$516.9 million (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports."
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "United States 20%, Jamaica 12%, Guyana 8%, Trinidad and Tobago 7%, Italy 6% (2021)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "rums and liquors, ships, packaged medicines, cement, paper labels (2021)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$2.12 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2017": {
        "text": "$2.213 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2016": {
        "text": "$1.541 billion (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "United States 33%, Guyana 13%, China 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, United Kingdom 4% (2021)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, crude petroleum, shipping containers, cars, ships, packaged medicines (2021)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": {
        "text": "$1.673 billion (31 December 2021 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": {
        "text": "$1.358 billion (31 December 2020 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": {
        "text": "$772.119 million (31 December 2019 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 2021": {
        "text": "2 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "2 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "2 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "2 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "311,000 kW (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "1 billion kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "20 million kWh (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "fossil fuels": {
        "text": "95.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "nuclear": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "solar": {
        "text": "4.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "wind": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "tide and wave": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      },
      "biomass and waste": {
        "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "total petroleum production": {
        "text": "1,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)"
      },
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "10,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate exports": {
        "text": "700 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil and lease condensate imports": {
        "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
      },
      "crude oil estimated reserves": {
        "text": "2 million barrels (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 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": "14.923 million cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "20.954 million cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "6.031 million cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "proven reserves": {
        "text": "113 million cubic meters (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "1.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "1.662 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "from consumed natural gas": {
        "text": "41,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": {
        "text": "83.723 million Btu/person (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "120,980 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "43 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "316,633 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "113 (2021 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": {
      "total": {
        "text": "240,800 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "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": "1 (2021)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "text": "1",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)"
    },
    "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": "195"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "bulk carrier 61, general cargo 114, other 20 (2022)"
      }
    },
    "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 (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</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"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "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.) (approximately $35 million)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "0.8% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $40 million)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "approximately 600 active personnel (2022)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Netherlands provide the BDF's major equipment inventory (maritime patrol boats) (2023)"
    },
    "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 (2022)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "formed in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force is responsible for protecting national security, but it may also be called up to maintain public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs, such as special joint patrols with the police; the Barbados Regiment traces its roots back to 1640 when the first units of the Barbados Militia were raised for defense purposes<br><br>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 (2023)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p><em>Barbados-Venezuela (Maritime Boundary):</em> 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. <br><br><em>Barbados-Trinidad and Tobago (Maritime Boundary):</em> 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.</p>"
    },
    "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>"
    }
  }
}