Land Area: 430 sq. km (166 sq. miles)
Climate: Sub-tropical (16-31 Celsius)
Religions: Christian with Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Rastafarian, Moravian, Brethren
Language: English, local ‘Bajan’ dialect
Population: 285,719 (2017)
Education: Primary, secondary and tertiary*, free and available to all citizens
Health: Free health care on demand;
Birth rate: 1.80 births per woman births (2016)
Average life expectancy: 75.91 years (2016)
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, Port with convenient access to all countries in the world Deep Water Harbour, regular shipping facilities
Currency: BDS$ 2 = US$ 1
GDP per Capita Income: Toal: $4.663 billion, Per Capita: 16,669 (2016 Estimate). Highest current “quality of life” rating of any developing country. Economy principally tourism, light industry, sugar, rum distillation and offshore financial services
Income Tax: The first is the standard rate of 17.5% which is generally applicable to all taxable supplies.
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)