telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200 chancery:
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marcia BERNICHT embassy: Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO
Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown mailing
P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055 telephone:
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side),
gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold
band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past
(the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Economy Barbados

Economy - overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy had been
dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production
in recent years has diversified into manufacturing and tourism. Offshore
finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners,
and there is also a light manufacturing sector. The government continues
its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment,
and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted
in 2001 due to slowdowns in tourism and consumer spending. Growth will
remain anemic in 2002 with a recovery likely near the end of the year.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $4 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $14,500 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 16% services: 78%
(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 128,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%, agriculture 10%
(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 10% (2001 est.)

Budget: revenues: $847 million (including grants) expenditures: $886
million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly
for export

Industrial production growth rate: -3.2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production: 740 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption: 688.2 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)

Electricity -