Chief
of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn
HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 7 September 1994)
Government Type: parliamentary
democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
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Population:
279,912 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: English
Religion: Protestant 67% (Anglican
40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic
4%, none 17%, other 12%
Life Expectancy: 72.79 |
Currency:
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
GDP(per capita): $17,000 (2005
est.)
Overview: 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 was positive in 2005, as economic
conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved.
Exports: sugar and molasses,
rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical
components
Import: consumer goods, machinery,
foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel,
electrical components |
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Location:
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast
of Venezuela
Area: total: 431 sq km
land: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
Background:
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.
Independence Day: 30 November
1966 (from UK)
Capital City: Bridgetown
Administrative divisions: 11
parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George,
Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint
Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note
- the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
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