Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/21.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 10KB | 299 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Barba.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Barbados"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Barbados, click {z,"-75.132956,4.379157,-53.752689,20.739678",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast
of Venezuela

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 430 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 430 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

{2}Land boundaries:{4} 0 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 97 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} 200 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} tropical; rainy season (June to October)

{2}Terrain:{4} relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
{3}lowest point:{4} Atlantic Ocean 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount Hillaby 336 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} petroleum, fish, natural gas

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 77%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 9%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 0%
{3}other:{4} 14%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} NA sq km

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid
waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

{2}natural hazards:{4} hurricanes (especially June to October); periodic landslides

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Hazardous Wastes

{2}Geographic note:{4} easternmost Caribbean island


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 257,030 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 24% (male 31,263; female 29,822)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 66% (male 83,565; female 86,697)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 10% (male 9,929; female 15,754) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 0.26% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 15.29 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 8.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -4.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.08 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.96 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.63 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 74.35 years
{3}male:{4} 71.65 years
{3}female:{4} 77.25 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Barbadian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Barbadian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} African 80%, European 4%, other 16%

{2}Religions:{4} Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman
Catholic 4%, none 17%, unknown 3%, other 9% (1980)

{2}Languages:{4} English

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 97.4%
{3}male:{4} 98%
{3}female:{4} 96.8%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} none
{3}conventional short form:{4} Barbados

{2}Type of government:{4} parliamentary democracy

{2}Capital:{4} Bridgetown

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James,
Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
{3}note:{4} the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status

{2}Independence:{4} 30 November 1966 (from UK)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

{2}Constitution:{4} 30 November 1966

{2}Legal system:{4} English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented
by Acting Governor General Denys WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by
the queen
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6 September 1994) was
appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September
1994)
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general
House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be held by January 1999);
results - percentage vote by party NA; seats - (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed by the Service Commissions
for the Judicial and Legal Service

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Democratic Labor Party (DLP), David THOMPSON; Barbados Labor
Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Barbados Workers Union, Leroy TROTMAN; People's
Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement
Payne Labor Union, David COMMISSIONG

{2}International organization participation:{4} ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
{3}chancery:{4} 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone], 9219
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
{3}embassy:{4} Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
{3}mailing address:{4} P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]

{2}Flag:{4} 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)


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Historically, the Barbadian economy has been dependent on sugarcane
cultivation and related activities, but in recent years the production has diversified into
manufacturing and tourism. Sluggish performances in the sugar and tourism sectors - which
declined by 25% and 8% respectively - tempered economic expansion in 1995; output increased
by 2% for the year, down from nearly 4% in 1994. Improved weather conditions in 1995 are
expected to boost agriculture output in 1996. Since taking office in 1994, Prime Minister ARTHUR
has aggressively moved to promote foreign direct investment as part of a policy designed to
reduce nagging unemployment. The government has also been active in promoting regional
integration initiatives.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $9,800 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 6.4%
{3}industry:{4} 39.3%
{3}services:{4} 54.3% (1994)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 1.7% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 126,000 (1993)
{3}by occupation:{4} services and government 41%, commerce 15%, manufacturing and construction
18%, transportation, storage, communications, and financial institutions 8%, agriculture 6%,
utilities 2% (1992 est.)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 19.9% (September 1995)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $550 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $710 million, including capital expenditures of $86 million (FY95/96 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 5% (1995 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 152,100 kW
{3}production:{4} 510 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 1,841 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for the US and
Europe

{2}Exports:{4} $158.6 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical
components, clothing
{3}partners:{4} US 13%, UK 10%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Windward Islands 8%

{2}Imports:{4} $693 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel,
electrical components
{3}partners:{4} US 36%, UK 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%

{2}External debt:{4} $408 million (1995 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4} $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Barbadian dollar (Bds$) = 100 cents

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Barbadian dollars (Bds$) per US$1 - 2.0113 (fixed rate)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 April - 31 March


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,550 km
{3}paved:{4} 1,550 km

{2}Ports:{4} Bridgetown

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 183,937 GRT/271,707 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 6, cargo 21, combination bulk 3, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 87,343 (1991 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} island wide automatic telephone system
{3}international:{4} satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad
and Saint Lucia

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} NA

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 2 (1 pay)

{2}Televisions:{4} 69,350 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Royal Barbados Defense Force (includes Ground Forces and Coast Guard), Royal
Barbados Police Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 71,667
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 49,726 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP