About
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.
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Source: The World Factbook
Population: 279,254 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Bridgetown
Languages: English
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Government: parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to
October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Geography: easternmost Caribbean island
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Economy: 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.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,300 (2005
est.)
GDP real growth: 2.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.7% (2003
est.)
Internet country code: .bb
Dial code: +246
Cities
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Find a flight to any city in Barbados
Local currency is the Barbados Dollar
Airlines flying to Barbados
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