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Central America :: Barbados Print
Page last updated on December 17, 2020
  • Introduction :: Barbados
  • Background field listing
    The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. African slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720 Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian 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. Barbados plans to remove the British monarch as its head of state by November 2021 and transition to a republic.
  • Geography :: Barbados
  • Location field listing
    Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
    Geographic coordinates field listing
    13 10 N, 59 32 W
    Map references field listing
    Central America and the Caribbean
    Area field listing
    total: 430 sq km
    land: 430 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 201
    Area - comparative field listing
    2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
    Land boundaries field listing
    0 km
    Coastline field listing
    97 km
    Maritime claims field listing
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
    Climate field listing
    tropical; rainy season (June to October)
    Terrain field listing
    relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
    Elevation field listing
    lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
    highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
    Natural resources field listing
    petroleum, fish, natural gas
    Land use field listing
    agricultural land: 32.6% (2016 est.)
    arable land: 25.6% (2016 est.) / permanent crops: 2.3% (2016 est.) / permanent pasture: 4.7% (2016 est.)
    forest: 19.4% (2016 est.)
    other: 48% (2016 est.)
    Irrigated land field listing
    50 sq km (2012)
    Population distribution field listing
    most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas
    Natural hazards field listing
    infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
    Environment - current issues field listing
    pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
    Environment - international agreements field listing
    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 listing
    easternmost Caribbean island
  • People and Society :: Barbados
  • Population field listing
    294,560 (July 2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 181
    Nationality field listing
    noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
    adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
    Ethnic groups field listing
    African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
    Languages field listing
    English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
    Religions field listing
    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 field listing
    0-14 years: 17.49% (male 25,762/female 25,764)
    15-24 years: 12.34% (male 18,024/female 18,330)
    25-54 years: 42.69% (male 62,655/female 63,093)
    55-64 years: 13.91% (male 19,533/female 21,430)
    65 years and over: 13.57% (male 16,398/female 23,571) (2020 est.)
    population pyramid: population pyramid
    Dependency ratios field listing
    total dependency ratio: 50.3
    youth dependency ratio: 25.2
    elderly dependency ratio: 25.1
    potential support ratio: 4 (2020 est.)
    Median age field listing
    total: 39.5 years
    male: 38.4 years
    female: 40.7 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 55
    Population growth rate field listing
    0.23% (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    Birth rate field listing
    11.3 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 172
    Death rate field listing
    8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 65
    Net migration rate field listing
    -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    Population distribution field listing
    most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas
    Urbanization field listing
    urban population: 31.2% of total population (2020)
    rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF
    Major urban areas - population field listing
    89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)
    Sex ratio field listing
    at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
    0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
    15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
    25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
    55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
    Maternal mortality rate field listing
    27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 115
    Infant mortality rate field listing
    total: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
    Life expectancy at birth field listing
    total population: 76 years
    male: 73.6 years
    female: 78.4 years (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    Total fertility rate field listing
    1.68 children born/woman (2020 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 177
    Contraceptive prevalence rate field listing
    59.2% (2012)
    Drinking water source field listing
    improved: total: 98.5% of population
    unimproved: total: 1.5% of population (2017 est.)
    Current Health Expenditure field listing
    6.8% (2017)
    Physicians density field listing
    2.48 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
    Hospital bed density field listing
    6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
    Sanitation facility access field listing
    improved: total: 99.2% of population
    unimproved: total: 0.8% of population (2017 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate field listing
    1.1% (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 42
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS field listing
    2,700 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    HIV/AIDS - deaths field listing
    <100 (2019 est.)
    Obesity - adult prevalence rate field listing
    23.1% (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 67
    Children under the age of 5 years underweight field listing
    3.5% (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    Education expenditures field listing
    4.4% of GDP (2017)
    country comparison to the world: 80
    Literacy field listing
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 99.6%
    male: 99.6%
    female: 99.6% (2014)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) field listing
    total: 15 years
    male: 14 years
    female: 17 years (2011)
    Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 field listing
    total: 29.6%
    male: 27.9%
    female: 31.5% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 31
  • Government :: Barbados
  • Country name field listing
    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 field listing
    parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
    Capital field listing
    name: Bridgetown
    geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
    time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
    etymology: named after a bridge constructed over the swampy area (known as the Careenage) around the Constitution River that flows through the center of Bridgetown
    Administrative divisions field listing
    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 listing
    30 November 1966 (from the UK)
    National holiday field listing
    Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
    Constitution field listing
    history: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966
    amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses; amended several times, last in 2010
    International law organization participation field listing
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
    Citizenship field listing
    citizenship by birth: yes
    citizenship by descent only: yes
    dual citizenship recognized: yes
    residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
    Suffrage field listing
    18 years of age; universal
    Executive branch field listing
    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 field listing
    description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
    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)
    House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
    elections:
    Senate - last appointments on 5 June 2018 (next appointments NA)
    House of Assembly - last held on 24 May 2018 (next to be held in 2023)
    election results:
    Senate - appointed; composition - men 16, women 5, percent of women 23.8%
    House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - BLP 74.6%, DLP 22.6%, other 2.8%; seats by party - BLP 30; composition - men 24, women 6, percent of women 20%; note - total Parliament percent of women 21.6%
    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
    Judicial branch field listing
    highest courts: 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 2005, Barbados acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
    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 listing
    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]
    International organization participation field listing
    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 field listing
    chief of mission: Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019)
    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 field listing
    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
    telephone: [1] (246) 227-4000
    embassy: Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006, W.I.
    mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; (Department Name) Unit 3120, DPO AA 34055
    FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179
    Flag description field listing
    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) field listing
    Neptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados); national colors: blue, yellow, black
    National anthem field listing
    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 :: Barbados
  • Economic overview field listing
    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 real growth rate field listing
    -0.2% (2017 est.)
    2.3% (2016 est.)
    2.2% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 196
    Inflation rate (consumer prices) field listing
    4.4% (2017 est.)
    1.5% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    Credit ratings field listing
    Moody's rating: Caa1 (2019)
    Standard & Poors rating: B- (2019)
    GDP (purchasing power parity) - real field listing
    $5.218 billion (2017 est.)
    $5.227 billion (2016 est.)
    $5.111 billion (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    GDP (official exchange rate) field listing
    $4.99 billion (2017 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP) field listing
    $18,600 (2017 est.)
    $18,700 (2016 est.)
    $18,300 (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 78
    Gross national saving field listing
    7.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
    11.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
    10.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 171
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin field listing
    agriculture: 1.5% (2017 est.)
    industry: 9.8% (2017 est.)
    services: 88.7% (2017 est.)
    GDP - composition, by end use field listing
    household consumption: 84.2% (2017 est.)
    government consumption: 13.4% (2017 est.)
    investment in fixed capital: 17.6% (2017 est.)
    investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.)
    exports of goods and services: 31.6% (2017 est.)
    imports of goods and services: -47% (2017 est.)
    Ease of Doing Business Index scores field listing
    57.9 (2020)
    Agriculture - products field listing
    sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
    Industries field listing
    tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
    Industrial production growth rate field listing
    2.4% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 119
    Labor force field listing
    144,000 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    Labor force - by occupation field listing
    agriculture: 10%
    industry: 15%
    services: 75% (1996 est.)
    Unemployment rate field listing
    10.1% (2017 est.)
    9.9% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 149
    Population below poverty line field listing
    NA
    Household income or consumption by percentage share field listing
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Budget field listing
    revenues: 1.466 billion (2013 est.) (2017 est.)
    expenditures: 1.664 billion (2017 est.)
    Taxes and other revenues field listing
    29.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) field listing
    -4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 155
    Public debt field listing
    157.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
    149.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 3
    Fiscal year field listing
    1 April - 31 March
    Current account balance field listing
    -$189 million (2017 est.)
    -$206 million (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 97
    Exports field listing
    $485.4 million (2017 est.)
    $516.9 million (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 175
    Exports - partners field listing
    US 38%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.2%, Guyana 5.5%, Jamaica 5%, China 4.8%, St. Lucia 4.6% (2017)
    Exports - commodities field listing
    manufactures, sugar, molasses, rum, other foodstuffs and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
    Imports field listing
    $1.52 billion (2017 est.)
    $1.541 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 176
    Imports - commodities field listing
    consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
    Imports - partners field listing
    US 38.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.6%, China 7.1%, UK 4.7% (2017)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold field listing
    $264.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
    $341.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    Debt - external field listing
    $4.49 billion (2010 est.)
    $668 million (2003 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 136
    Exchange rates field listing
    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 :: Barbados
  • Electricity access field listing
    electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
    Electricity - production field listing
    1.01 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 150
    Electricity - consumption field listing
    990 million kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 155
    Electricity - exports field listing
    0 kWh (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    Electricity - imports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 125
    Electricity - installed generating capacity field listing
    269,000 kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    Electricity - from fossil fuels field listing
    93% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 49
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 46
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 157
    Electricity - from other renewable sources field listing
    7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    Crude oil - production field listing
    1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 90
    Crude oil - exports field listing
    674 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 77
    Crude oil - imports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    Crude oil - proved reserves field listing
    2.534 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    Refined petroleum products - production field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117
    Refined petroleum products - consumption field listing
    11,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 159
    Refined petroleum products - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    Refined petroleum products - imports field listing
    10,630 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 147
    Natural gas - production field listing
    14.16 million cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 91
    Natural gas - consumption field listing
    19.82 million cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 113
    Natural gas - exports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    Natural gas - imports field listing
    5.653 million cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    Natural gas - proved reserves field listing
    141.6 million cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy field listing
    1.76 million Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 160
  • Communications :: Barbados
  • Telephones - fixed lines field listing
    total subscriptions: 141,618
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48.19 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 128
    Telephones - mobile cellular field listing
    total subscriptions: 319,177
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108.61 (2019 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    Telecommunication systems field listing
    general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system; telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas and contributors to the overall GDP; numerous competitors licensed, but small and localized (2020)
    domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 48 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density about 109 per 100 persons (2019)
    international: country code - 1-246; landing points for the ECFS and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cable with links to 15 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and Puerto Ricco; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2019)
    note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
    Broadcast media field listing
    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
    Internet country code field listing
    .bb
    Internet users field listing
    total: 239,664
    percent of population: 81.76% (July 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 171
    Broadband - fixed subscriptions field listing
    total: 89,340
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 124
  • Transportation :: Barbados
  • Civil aircraft registration country code prefix field listing
    8P (2016)
    Airports field listing
    1 (2020)
    country comparison to the world: 212
    Airports - with paved runways field listing
    total: 1 (2019)
    over 3,047 m: 1
    Pipelines field listing
    33 km gas, 64 km oil, 6 km refined products (2013)
    Roadways field listing
    total: 1,700 km (2015)
    paved: 1,700 km (2015)
    country comparison to the world: 173
    Merchant marine field listing
    total: 132
    by type: bulk carrier 25general cargo 90, other 17 (2019)
    country comparison to the world: 78
    Ports and terminals field listing
    major seaport(s): Bridgetown
  • Military and Security :: Barbados
  • Military and security forces field listing
    Royal Barbados Defense Force: The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2020)
    Military and security service personnel strengths field listing
    the Royal Barbados Defense Force (RBDF) has approximately 550 active personnel (450 Barbados Regiment; 100 Coast Guard) (2019 est.)
    Military equipment inventories and acquisitions field listing
    the RBDF's major equipment inventory - maritime patrol boats - is supplied by the Netherlands (2019 est.)
    Military service age and obligation field listing
    18 years of age for voluntary military service, or earlier with parental consent; no conscription (2013)
  • Transnational Issues :: Barbados
  • Disputes - international field listing

    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 field listing
    one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center