General background: The island was uninhabited
when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy
remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses
production through most of the 20th century. In the
1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar
industry in economic importance.
Area comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate:
Tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: Relatively flat; rises gently to central
highland region
Population: 276,607 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Black 90%, white 4%, Asian
and mixed 6%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal
8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none
17%, other 12%
Language: English
Government type: Parliamentary democracy;
independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
Capital: Bridgetown
Legal system: English common law; no judicial
review of legislative
Economic overview: Historically, the Barbadian
economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation
and related activities, but production in recent years
has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Offshore
finance and information services are important foreign
exchange earners, and there is also a light manufacturing
sector. The government continues its efforts to reduce
unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment,
and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The
economy contracted in 2001 due to slowdowns in tourism
and consumer spending. Growth will remain anemic in
2002 with a recovery likely near the end of the year.
Communication/Telephone system: Island-wide
automatic telephone system, satellite earth stations
- 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter
to Trinidad and Saint Lucia.
Places of interest:
Travel Tips: If you're looking for a Caribbean
island with plenty of amenities, water sports and
nightlife, Barbados fits the bill.
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