Page last updated on December 17, 2013

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. African 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 430 sq km
country comparison to the world: 202
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
97 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 27.91%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 69.77% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
54.35 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.08 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.1 cu km/yr (20%/26%/54%)
per capita: 371.3 cu m/yr (2009)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
easternmost Caribbean island
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
black 93%, white 3.2%, mixed 2.6%, East Indian 1%, other 0.2% (2000 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
288,725 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 26,849/female 26,853)
15-24 years: 13.8% (male 19,937/female 19,852)
25-54 years: 45.4% (male 65,153/female 65,902)
55-64 years: 12% (male 16,102/female 18,550)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 11,642/female 17,885) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 42.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 26.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 15.5 %
potential support ratio: 6.5 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 37.3 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 38.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.34% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.1 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 44% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
BRIDGETOWN (capital) 122,000 (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
51 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 107
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11.13 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 135
male: 12.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 74.75 years
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 72.47 years
female: 77.05 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.68 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.7% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 68
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.81 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 14
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17 years
male: 15 years
female: 18 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 26.2%
country comparison to the world: 35
male: 24.1%
female: 28.7% (2003)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Bridgetown
geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30 November 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; amended several times, last in 2003 (2011)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Elliot BELGRAVE (since 1 June 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Freundel STUART (since 23 October 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at his discretion) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 21 February 2013 (next to be called in 2018)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 51.3%, BLP 48.3%, other .4%; seats by party - DLP 16, BLP 14
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the chief Justice and president of the court and 4 justices
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and governor-general appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Mary REDMAN]
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador John E. BEALE (since 29 January 2009)
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry L. PALMER (since 9 May 2012); note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
embassy: U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; (Department Name) Unit 3120, DPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 227-4000
FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Neptune's trident
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "The National Anthem of Barbados"
lyrics/music: Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
note: adopted 1966; the anthem is also known as "In Plenty and In Time of Need"
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Barbados is the wealthiest and most developed country in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, in recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism with about four-fifths of GDP and of exports being attributed to services. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners and thrive from having the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and a relatively highly educated workforce. Barbados' tourism, financial services, and construction industries have been hard hit since the onset of the global economic crisis in 2008, which caused the economy to contract 4% in 2009 and grow below 1% annually since 2010. Barbados' public debt-to-GDP ratio rose from 56% in 2008 to 83% in 2012.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.961 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.168 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$25,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 80.2%
government consumption: 16.1%
investment in fixed capital: 14%
investment in inventories: 1.4%
exports of goods and services: 42.5%
imports of goods and services: -54.3%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 13.9%
services: 83% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-1.4%
country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
142,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 10%
industry: 15%
services: 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $1.17 billion (2012 est.)
expenditures: $1.508 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-8.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
85.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.7% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.711 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.711 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.874 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.571 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 85
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-204.4 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.039 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Trinidad and Tobago 20.8%, US 11.9%, St. Lucia 9.7%, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 6%, Jamaica 5.6%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.9%, St. Kitts and Nevis 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.584 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Trinidad and Tobago 35.9%, US 26.9%, China 5.6% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$839.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$4.49 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -
note: the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.002 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
986 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
239,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,001 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
764.5 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.26 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 96
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,339 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,736 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
113.3 million cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 106
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.442 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
144,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 137
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
347,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 172
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2009)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial TV station; CBC also operates a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen radio stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network operating alongside privately owned radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.bb
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,524 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 167
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
188,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 236
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 33 km; oil 64 km; refined products 6 km (2013)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,600 km
country comparison to the world: 176
paved: 1,600 km (2011)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 109
country comparison to the world: 49
by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 52, chemical tanker 13, container 6, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 83 (Canada 11, Greece 14, Iran 5, Lebanon 2, Norway 38, Sweden 4, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UAE 1, UK 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Bridgetown
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for voluntary military service, or earlier with parental consent; no conscription (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 73,820
females age 16-49: 73,835 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 58,125
females age 16-49: 58,016 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 1,842
female: 1,849 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 150
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is island defense against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre deployed throughout the island; the cadre increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline for smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
current situation: Barbados is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; legal and illegal female migrants from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Guyana seem most vulnerable to forced prostitution; Barbadian and immigrant children are prostituted in exchange for material goods; in the past, foreigners are reported to have been forced to work in the domestic service, agriculture, and construction industries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Barbados does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the country was granted a waiver of an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because the government adopted a national action plan on human trafficking that specifies implementing agencies and addresses prosecution, protection, and prevention measures; the government conducted at least two sex trafficking investigations in 2012, as opposed to none in the previous year but did not report any prosecutions or convictions of trafficking offenses; Barbadian law does not appear to prohibit all forms of human trafficking and does not prescribe sufficiently stringent penalties; government efforts to prevent human trafficking included broadcasting short public awareness messages, holding town hall meetings, and funding a hotline (2013)