ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING
consulate(s): Los Angeles
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 332–7467
telephone: [1] (202) 339–9200
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436–4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429–5246, 429–3379
Flag 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)
Economy Barbados
Economy - overview:
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 should be positive in 2004, the
precise level largely dependent on economic conditions in the US and
Europe.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.355 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 16% services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
−0.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 10%, industry 15%, services 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of NA
(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
−3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
780 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
725.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
70.79 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:
$206 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,
electrical components
Exports - partners:
US 18.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.5%, UK 14%, Jamaica 7.8%, Saint
Lucia 6.2%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.7% (2003)
Imports:
$1.039 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,
chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
US 37.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.6%, UK 6.2%, Japan 4.4% (2003)
Debt - external:
$668 million (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$9.1 million (1995)
Currency:
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code:
BBD
Exchange rates:
Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2
(2000), 2 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use:
134,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
140,000 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA