An Introduction to Barbados
The easternmost island in the Caribbean chain of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados is one of the world's most densely populated countries, with a literacy rate ranked close to 100% and in the top five worldwide. The state functions as a successful parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Latin America
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GOVERNMENT: parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy
AREA: 430 sq km
POPULATION: 286,705 (2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: English
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Barbados
Beards may indeed be the best way to disguise oneself in Barbados: camouflage clothing is reserved for military use and forbidden by law for civilians to wear, including children.
Famous Barbadians (sometimes dubiously known as Baijans) include Garry Sobers, Malcolm Marshall, Gordon Greenidge, Joel Garner and Rihanna - not necessarily (but certainly in our opinion) in that order.
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The easternmost island in the Caribbean chain of the Lesser Antilles, Barbados is one of the world's most densely populated countries, with a literacy rate ranked close to 100% and in the top five worldwide. The state functions as a successful parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.
It first appears on a Spanish map from 1511 but went unclaimed until the 1620s when it was finally settled by the British, with whom it remained until independence in 1966, making it the only Caribbean island that did not change hands during the colonial period. 1990s plans for a political union with Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have thus far come to nothing.
GDP: $6.30bn (2011 est.) - $22,744 per capita
Religions Most Barbadians of African and European descent are Christians (95%), chiefly Anglicans (40%).
Currency: Barbadian dollar. 2.04 BBD = $US 1
Telephone Code: +1 246
Research Industry
We have no MR stats for Barbados and don't know of an industry body there (there is one agency however!).Barbados, the 51st richest country in the world ranked by GDP per capita, is one of the Caribbean's leading tourist destinations and one of the most developed islands in the region, with a mixed economy. However, stats suggest that 20% of Barbadians live in poverty. Once heavily dependent on sugarcane cultivation, it has in the last 40 years diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors. Growth rates have averaged between 3%-5% since a significant recession in the early 1990s.
As a crowded island, the government places strong emphasis on keeping Barbados clean, and protecting its offshore coral reefs.
Exports of c.$385m in 2006 consisted mostly of sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals and electrical components, with Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica taking nearly 30% between them and the UK and US just under 10% each. Imports are much higher - $1.586 bn in 2006 and include consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel and electrical components. Just over a third (37/7%) come from the US and 22.6% from Trinidad and Tobago, with the UK now down on 5.9%.
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