General Overview
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The 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.
Demographics
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela - 13 10 N, 59 32 W. Barbados is the most eastern island in the Caribbean and technically is in the Atlantic Ocean. It's a tiny dot on most world maps with an area of 430 square kilometres.
Barbados has a population of about 250,000 - which is high considering its size. With 97 kilometres of coastline, Barbados offers its visitors excellent water sports and beach activities. English is the official language in the island.
• Country name: Barbados
• Capital Name: Bridgetown
• Location: Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
• Population: 281,968 (July 2008 est.)
• Nationality: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
• Languages: English
• Ethnic Groups: Black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Economy
Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainly due to a decline in tourism. Growth should be positive in 2004, the precise level largely dependent on economic conditions in the US and Europe.
• GDP (purchasing power parity): $5.317 billion (2007 est.)
• GDP - real growth rate: 4.2% (2007 est.)
• GDP - per capita (PPP): $19,300 (2007 est.)
• Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (2007 est.)
• Exports: $385 million (2006)
• Imports: $1.586 billion (2006)
Government
Parliamentary democracy. Barbados has a representative Democratic Government. The island is divided into twenty-eight constituencies. At a General Election, the representatives from each constituency are voted for by their constituents. The party winning the most seats in the House of Assembly will then become the leading party. If the leader of the winning party also wins his seat, he becomes the Prime Minister, if he loses his seat the party must elect another to take his place as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then appoints his Government ministers.
• Administrative divisions: 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
• Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
• Constitution: 30 November 1966
• Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
References
The Government of Barbados - Official Website
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - The World Factbook
Nation Master - World Data Center
Wikipedia - The Free Encyclopedia
Lonely Planet - Travel Guidebook
