BARBADOS Official name: Barbados Location: Caribbean International organisations: The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, The Commonwealth of Nations, The Non-Aligned Movement, The Organisation of American States, The United Nations, The World Trade Organisation. Borders: None Coastline: Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea Land area: 431 Km2 Population: 300,000 Ethnicity: More than 90% of the population are of African descent. There are small European and Indian minorities.

Languages: English is the official language and is generally understood. Most of the population speak a creole called Bajan.
Religion: Over 70% of the population are Christian, the large majority Protestant. There are small Moslem and Hindu minorities.
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Barbados is divided into eleven parishes.
Capital: Bridgetown
Constitution: The Constitution of Barbados came into effect on 30 November 1966.
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados. The Queen came to the British throne on 6 February 1952, and has held the title Queen of Barbados since 30 November 1966. The Queen's functions in Barbados are excercised by a Governor-General, appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The current Governor-General, Sir Clifford Husbands, took office on 1 June 1996.
Head of government: The Prime Minister, appointed by the Governor-General. The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party in the legislature and is accountable to it.
Legislature: Barbados has a bicameral legislature, the Parliament of Barbados. The House of Assembly has 28 members, elected for five-year terms from single-member constituencies. The Senate has 21 appointed members.
Electoral authority: The Electoral and Boundaries Commission conducts national elections.
Freedom House 2005 rating: Political Rights 1, Civil Liberties 1

Political history