AfricanTrade.com

Geography
Area: 431 sq. km. (166 sq. mi.); about three times the size of Washington, DC.
Cities: Capital--Bridgetown.
Terrain: Generally flat, hilly in the interior.
Climate: Tropical.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Barbadian(s); informally "Bajan(s)."
Population (2004 estimate): 272,700.
Avg. annual growth rate (2004): 0.2%.
Ethnic groups: Black 90%, White 4%, Asian or mixed 6%.
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%.
Work force (2004, 146,300): tourism, government, manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, fishing .
Language: English.

Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy.

Economy
GDP (2004): $2.8 billion.
GDP growth rate (2004): 3.4%.
Per capita GDP (2004 est.): $12,000.
Average inflation rate (first half of 2005): 2.4%.

Natural resources: Petroleum, Fishing, quarrying, natural gas.
Agriculture (4% of GDP): Sugar accounts for less than 1% of GDP and 80% of arable land.
Industry: Manufacturing and construction (12% of GDP)--food, beverages, electronic components, textiles, paper, chemicals.
Services: (83% of GDP) Tourism, banking and other financial services, data processing.

Trade (2004): Exports--$278 million. Major markets--U.S. 15%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, U.K. 10%, and Jamaica 4%. Imports--$1,413 million. Major suppliers--U.S. 36%, Trinidad and Tobago 21%, U.K. 6%, Japan 5%.
Official exchange rate: Barbados dollars (BDS) 2=U.S.$1.

The U.S. Embassy in Barbados is located in the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown (tel: 246-436-4950; fax: 246-429-5246).

Caribbean/Latin American Action
1818 N Street, NW
Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-466-7464
Fax: 202-822-0075