Barbados - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

Barbados is the wealthiest and one of the most developed countries in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. 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. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, boosted by being in the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and by a relatively highly educated workforce. Following the 2008-09 recession, external...

Continue reading View Factbook for Barbados

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Private Consumption 2022 8,718,854,880 7,724,451,812 BBD Annual
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 11,399,927,658 9,846,181,364 BBD Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 1,689,292,528 1,531,600,000 NCU Annual
Investment 2017 1,708,292,528 1,550,600,000 NCU Annual
Government Consumption 2015 1,282 1,266 Mil. BBD Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2012 100.77 100.76 Index 2005=100 Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Oct 2023 173.1 172.64 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Labor Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Agriculture Employment 2017 4,426 4,361 # Annual
Labor Force 2016 152,667 150,499 # Annual
Unemployment 2015 Q2 17.1 17.2 Ths. Quarterly
Labor Force Employment 2015 Q2 126.2 127.9 Ths. Quarterly
Unemployment Rate 2015 Q2 11.9 11.8 % Quarterly
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Imports of Goods and Services 2022 4,926,975,741 3,920,714,173 BBD Annual
Exports of Goods and Services 2022 4,004,599,657 2,989,696,136 BBD Annual
Exports of Goods 2017 705,063,590 976,754,709 USD Annual
Balance of Goods 2017 -820,850,907 -569,487,304 USD Annual
Current Account Balance 2017 -296,395,806 -452,390,305 USD Annual
Imports of Goods 2017 1,525,914,497 1,546,242,013 USD Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2015 627,475,400 592,957,100 NCU Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2015 682,605,700 587,570,200 NCU Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Treasury Bills (over 31 days) Feb 2023 0.5 0.5 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Lending Rate Jan 2013 7 7 % - End of period Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Industrial Production Oct 2014 97.48 93.74 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Change in Inventories 2013 19,000,000 19,500,000 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 287,371 287,021 # Annual
Net Migration 2017 2,072 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 11.9 12 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 10.74 10.66 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

Background:
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:
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 202
Area - comparative:
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
97 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain:
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use:
agricultural land: 32.6%
arable land 25.6%; permanent crops 2.3%; permanent pasture 4.7%
forest: 19.4%
other: 48% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
50 sq km (2012)
Population - distribution:
most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas
Natural hazards:
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Environment - international agreements:
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:
easternmost Caribbean island

People & Society

Population:
292,336 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Nationality:
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups:
black 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, white 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
Languages:
English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
Religions:
Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.97% (male 26,256/female 26,266)
15-24 years: 12.74% (male 18,504/female 18,732)
25-54 years: 44.06% (male 64,198/female 64,594)
55-64 years: 13.43% (male 18,497/female 20,770)
65 years and over: 11.81% (male 13,927/female 20,592) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 50.4
youth dependency ratio: 29.1
elderly dependency ratio: 21.3
potential support ratio: 4.7 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 38.6 years
male: 37.5 years
female: 39.8 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Population growth rate:
0.28% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Birth rate:
11.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Death rate:
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Net migration rate:
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Population distribution:
most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas
Urbanization:
urban population: 31.4% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
BRIDGETOWN (capital) 90,000 (2014)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
27 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.5 years
male: 73.2 years
female: 77.9 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Total fertility rate:
1.68 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
59.2% (2012)
Health expenditures:
7.5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 64
Hospital bed density:
5.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 99.7% of population
total: 99.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 0.3% of population
total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 96.2% of population
rural: 96.2% of population
total: 96.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.8% of population
rural: 3.8% of population
total: 3.8% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,600 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<100 (2016 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
23.1% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 68
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
3.5% (2012)
Education expenditures:
5.1% of GDP (2016)
country comparison to the world: 54
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 32.4%
male: 31.8%
female: 33.3% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
etymology: the name derives from the Portuguese "as barbadas," which means "the bearded ones" and can refer either to the long, hanging roots of the island's bearded fig trees or to the alleged beards of the native Carib inhabitants
Government type:
parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
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:
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:
30 November 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution:
adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; amended several times, last in 2007 (2016)
Legal system:
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sandra MASON (since 8 January 2018)
head of government: Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
description: 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 the discretion of the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 24 May 2018 (next to be held in 2023); note - tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but constitutionally it is 5 years from the first seating of parliament plus a 90-day grace period
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - BLP - 74.58%, DLP - 22.64%; seats by party - BLP 30
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the High Court chief justice and president of the court and 4 justices; note - in 2010, Barbados, a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as the final court of appeal
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:
Bajan Free Party [Alex MITCHELL]
Barbados Integrity Movement [Neil HOLDER]
Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]
Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Freundel STUART]
People’s Democratic Congress [Mark ADAMSON]
People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David COMISSIONG]
Solutions Barbados [Grenville PHILLIPS II]
United Progressive Party or UPP [Lynette EASTMOND]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Mary REDMAN]
Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Pedro SHEPHERD]
Barbados Workers Union or BWU [Linda BROOKS]
Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG]
Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Cedric MURRELL]
National Union of Public Workers or NUPW [Akanni MCDOWALL]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Selwin Charles HART (since 18 January 2017)
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda S. TAGLIALATELA (since 1 February 2016) note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
embassy: Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados
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:
three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (hoist side), gold, and ultramarine 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):
Neptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados); national colors: blue, yellow, black
National anthem:
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:
Barbados is the wealthiest and one of the most developed countries in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. 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. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, boosted by being in the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and by a relatively highly educated workforce. Following the 2008-09 recession, external vulnerabilities such as fluctuations in international oil prices have hurt economic growth, raised Barbados’ already high public debt to GDP ratio - which stood at 105% of GDP in 2016 - and cut into its international reserves.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.919 billion (2017 est.)
$4.876 billion (2016 est.)
$4.799 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 177
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.821 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2017 est.)
1.6% (2016 est.)
0.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,500 (2017 est.)
$17,400 (2016 est.)
$17,100 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 98
Gross national saving:
10.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
8.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
8.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 82.1%
government consumption: 13.6%
investment in fixed capital: 14.5%
investment in inventories: 0.8%
exports of goods and services: 35.3%
imports of goods and services: -46.3% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 11.2%
services: 87.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Industries:
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate:
1.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Labor force:
142,900 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 15%
services: 75% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2017 est.)
9.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.35 billion (2013 est.)
expenditures: $1.65 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
28% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Public debt:
108.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
107.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2017 est.)
1.3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Central bank discount rate:
7% (31 December 2010 est.)
7% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.1% (31 December 2017 est.)
8.05% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Stock of narrow money:
$2.17 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.143 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Stock of broad money:
$4.581 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.963 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.798 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.495 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$4.571 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$4.366 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Current account balance:
$-160 million (2017 est.)
$-208 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Exports:
$531.4 million (2017 est.)
$517 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Exports - commodities:
manufactures, sugar, molasses, rum, other foodstuffs and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
Exports - partners:
US 39.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.9%, Guyana 5.2%, China 4.9%, Jamaica 4.8%, St. Lucia 4.3% (2016)
Imports:
$1.618 billion (2017 est.)
$1.541 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
Imports - partners:
US 39%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.4%, China 7.3%, UK 4.8% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$407.6 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$431.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Debt - external:
$4.49 billion (2010 est.)
$668 million (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Exchange rates:
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -
2 (2017 est.)
2 (2016 est.)
2 (2015 est.)
2 (2014 est.)
2 (2013 est.)
note: the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 29,149
electrification - total population: 91%
electrification - urban areas: 100%
electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)
Electricity - production:
915 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - consumption:
865 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
248,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
96.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
8.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Crude oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Crude oil - exports:
764.5 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Crude oil - proved reserves:
2.082 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Refined petroleum products - imports:
11,490 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Natural gas - production:
20 million cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - consumption:
20 million cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - proved reserves:
113.3 million cu m (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
1.3 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 139,715
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 332,208
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Telephone system:
general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 48.4 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density about 115 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 (2016)
Broadcast media:
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 (2009)
Internet country code:
.bb
Internet users:
total: 231,883
percent of population: 79.5% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
8P (2016)
Airports:
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 236
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
Pipelines:
gas 33 km; oil 64 km; refined products 6 km (2013)
Roadways:
total: 1,700 km
paved: 1,700 km (2015)
country comparison to the world: 177
Merchant marine:
total: 112
by type: bulk carrier 18, general cargo 71, oil tanker 2, other 21 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 80
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Bridgetown

Military & Security

Military branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service, or earlier with parental consent; no conscription (2013)
Military - note:
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

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
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
Illicit drugs:
one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

Economic Indicators for Barbados including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Barbados economy.