The 1999 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Military expenditures—dollar figure: $559 million (FY96/97)

      Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY96/97)

      Transnational Issues

      Disputes—international: a portion of the boundary with India is

       indefinite; dispute with India over South Talpatty/New Moore Island

      Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in

       neighboring countries

      ======================================================================

      @Barbados————

      Geography

      Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the

       North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

      Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W

      Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

      Area:

       total: 430 sq km

       land: 430 sq km

       water: 0 sq km

      Area—comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

      Land boundaries: 0 km

      Coastline: 97 km

      Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

      Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)

      Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

      Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

      Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas

      Land use:

       arable land: 37%

       permanent crops: 0%

       permanent pastures: 5%

       forests and woodland: 12%

       other: 46% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: NA sq km

      Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

      Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

      Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

      Geography—note: easternmost Caribbean island

      People

      Population: 259,191 (July 1999 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 23% (male 30,132; female 29,359)

       15–64 years: 67% (male 85,437; female 88,131)

       65 years and over: 10% (male 9,862; female 16,270) (1999 est.)

      Population growth rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)

      Birth rate: 14.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Death rate: 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Net migration rate: −5.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female

       total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.98 years male: 72.22 years female: 77.81 years (1999 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) adjective: Barbadian

      Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 4%, other 16%

      Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%,

       Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%

      Languages: English

      Literacy:

       definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

       total population: 97.4%

       male: 98%

       female: 96.8% (1995 est.)

      Government

      Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados

      Data code: BB

      Government type: parliamentary democracy

      Capital: 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

      Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)

      National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

      Constitution: 30 November 1966

      Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

      Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch:

       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 6

       September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6

       September 1994)

       cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of

       the prime minister

       elections: none; the monarch is hereditary monarch; governor general

       appointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governor

       general

      Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate

       (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of

       Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to

       serve five-year terms)

       elections: House of Assembly—last held 20 January 1999 (next to be

       held by January 2004)

       election results: House of Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;

       seats by party—BLP 26, DLP 2

      Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are

       appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal

       Service)

      Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party or DLP

      Political pressure groups and leaders: Barbados Workers Union

      International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,

       ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,

       ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,