Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Population
183,176
287,733
Life Expectancy
63.490 years
74.520 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Largest city
Sao Tome (population: 53,300)
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Human Development Index
0.643
0.889
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
Literacy Rate
84.9%
99.7%
Corruption Perception Index
2.7
7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
1.8%
13.7%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
Religions
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
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.)
Languages
Portuguese (official)
English
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
External Debt
$668,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Area
964 km sq
430 km sq
Coastline
209 km
97 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
