Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Head of state: Grand Duke Henri Prime minister: Jean-Claude Juncker
Population
287,733
509,074
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
79.750 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Luxembourg
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Luxembourg (population: 76,684)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.956
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$81,100 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
100%
Corruption Perception Index
7
8.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
23.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
5.900%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
1839 (from the Netherlands)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13% (2000)
Languages
English
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass
External Debt
$668,000,000 $
$2,146,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Area
430 km sq
2,586 km sq
Coastline
97 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
