SOME FACTS ABOUT BARBADOS

Land Area:

430 sq. km (166 sq. miles)

Climate:

Sub-tropical (16-31 Celsius)

Religion:

Christian with minority Hindu, Muslim, Jewish

Language:

English, local ‘Bajan’ dialect

Population:

266.8 thousand (1998)

Education:

Primary, secondary and tertiary, free and available to all

Health:

Free health care on demand; 500 people per doctor; 80 beds per 10 000 population

Birth rate:

14.1 per 1 000 (2000)

Average life expectancy:

76 years. Currently about 50 centenarians

Social Welfare:

Unemployment, industrial injury, sickness, maternity, retirement and death benefits

Communications & Utilities:


All communications, utilities and information services are available throughout Barbados, especially piped water, electricity, natural gas, radio, telephones and television
Roads:

Comprehensive national road network, driving on left hand side

Ports:

International Airport, including scheduled Concorde flights, with convenient access to all countries in the world Deep Water Harbour, regular shipping facilities

Currency:

BDS$ 2 = US$ 1
GDP per Capita Income:


US$ 8 050 (2000) Highest current "quality of life" rating of any developing country. Economy principally tourism, light industry, sugar, rum distillation and offshore financial services
Income Tax:

Value Added Tax: Graduated up to 40% from above GDP 15% generally and 7½ % for hotel accommodation

Investment:

Excellent investment opportunities and incentives are available

Aid:

Barbados receives aid only as specialised technical assistance

Regional & other affiliations:


Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); Organisation of American States (OAS); the African, Caribbean and Pacific States/European Economic Community (ACP/EEC); Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO); United Nations (UN)
Parliamentary affiliations:

 Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)