BARBADOS
Official name: Barbados
Date of Membership: 4 June 1976
Capital: Bridgetown
Government
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.
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
Constitution: 30 November 1966
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Elliot Belgrave (since 1 June 2012)
Head of government: Prime Minister Freundel Suart (since 23 October 2010)
Legislative branch: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms).
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services).
Internet country code: .bb
Official Portal Web: http://www.gov.bb/
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela.
Area: 431 sq km
Coastline: 97 km
Natural resources: Petroleum, fish, natural gas
Environment - international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection.
Economic indicators
| Total at current prices | 4 710 | Millions USD | 2017 |
| Per capita at current prices | 16.486 | USD | 2017 |
| Growth rate per capita at constant prices | -0.5 | % | 2017 |
| Country share in regional GDP | 0.1 | % | 2017 |
| Imports of goods and services (% of GDP at current prices) | -46.2 | % | 2017 |
| Exports of goods and services (% of GDP at current prices) | 36.4 | % | 2016 |
Source: Barbados: National Economic profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC.On line. Inquiry: July 07, 2019.
Socio-demographic indicators
| Total population | 287 | (000) | 2019 |
| Life expectancy | 76 | Years | 2015-2020 |
| Women | 78 | Years | 2015-2020 |
| Men | 74 | Years | 2015-2020 |
| Public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP | 7.5 | % | 2014 |
| Literacy rate for persons between the ages of 15 to 24 | 99.9 | % | 2014 |
| Net rate of enrolment in primary education | 89.2 | % | 2017 |
| Net rate of enrolment in secondary education | 89.1 | % | 2017 |
| Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP | 4.7 | % | 201 |
| Gini Coefficient | NA | NA | NA |
| Unemployment | 10 | % | 2017 |
Source: Barbados: National socio-demographic profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC.On line. Inquiry: July 07, 2019. NA= Not available
Languages: English
