The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

      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 area: 430 sq km

       land area: 430 sq km

       comparative area: 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

      International disputes: none

      Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)

      Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

      Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas

      Land use:

       arable land: 77%

       permanent crops: 0%

       meadows and pastures: 9%

       forest and woodland: 0%

       other: 14%

      Irrigated land: NA sq km

      Environment:

       current issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by

       ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens

       contamination of aquifers

       natural hazards: hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic

       landslides

       international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Endangered

       Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,

       Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,

       Hazardous Wastes

      Geographic note: easternmost Caribbean island

      People———

      Population: 257,030 (July 1996 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)

       15–64 years: 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)

       65 years and over: 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)

      Population growth rate: 0.26% (1996 est.)

      Birth rate: 15.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Death rate: 8.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Net migration rate: −4.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female

       all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.35 years male: 71.65 years female: 77.25 years (1996 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) adjective: Barbadian

      Ethnic divisions: African 80%, European 4%, other 16%

      Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)

      Languages: English

      Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)

       total population: 97.4%

       male: 98%

       female: 96.8%

      Government—————

      Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados

      Data code: BB

      Type of government: 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) is a

       hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys

       WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen

       head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6

       September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime

       Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)

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

       the prime minister

      Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament

       Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor

       general

       House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be

       held by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats

       - (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1

      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 (DLP), David

       THOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National

       Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES

      Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, Leroy

       TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party

       of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David

       COMMISSIONG

      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,

       LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO,

       WIPO, WMO, WTrO

      Diplomatic representation in US:

       chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN