Last updated on March 10th, 2020
Facts about Barbadian economy, places of significance and food
18. Two Barbados dollars are approximately equal to one US dollar.
19. Barbados exports more than BBD $57 million of rum each year.
20. According to indexmundi.com, Barbados is the 16th most densely populated country. However, as per Wikipedia, it is the 18th most densely populated country.
21. The island of Barbados plans to remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in November, 2016. This change also coincides with their 50th independence day.
22. Barbados receives more than a million tourists each year, including both land-based tourists and cruise passengers.
23. Barbados’ smallest city–Oistins–is historically known as a fishing town.
24. The Barbados Museum provides rich insights into the country’s history and culture.
25. Holetown–originally known as St. James Town–is named after King James I of England. It is the site of the first Anglican Church, St. James Parish Church, which was built in 1628.
26. With more than a dozen mouthwatering recipes that are prepared from pork, it can be said that Barbadians are extremely fond of pork.
Did you know?
27. Barbados is just 21 miles long and 14 miles wide.
28. The first governor of the US state of South Carolina was a Barbadian.
29. The country has never been successfully invaded by a foreign power.
30. George Washington, the first president of the United States, also visited the island nation in 1751 before he became the president in 1789.
31. Barbados is the only island in the Caribbean that has daily flights to Canada, England, and the United States of America.
32. Between 1841 and 1845, Barbados was the healthiest place in the world to live.
33. Mount Hillaby is the highest point on the island at 1,115 ft.
34. In Barbados, it is considered good luck if a mongoose crosses your path. Mongoose were originally imported from India to take care of the rats in the country’s sugar cane fields.
35. It is the third-most developed country in the Western hemisphere, after the US and Canada.
36. Barbados is known as “the land of flying fish.” The fish is also one of its national symbols.
37. The island was named Los Barbados (bearded ones) by the Portugese explorer Pedro a Campos.
38. Grapefruit is a “hybrid” fruit invented in Barbados.
39. Barbados has a literacy rate of 99.7%, ranking it third in the world. School is compulsory in the country up to age 16.
Barbados – country at a glance
| Independence | 30 November 1966 (from the UK) |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Bridgetown (13°06′N 59°37′W) |
| Largest City | Bridgetown (13°06′N 59°37′W) |
| Area | total: 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Population | 282,515 (2024 est.) |
| Official Language | English |
| Demonym | Barbadian Bajan (colloquial) |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age |
| Literacy | total population: 99.6% (2014) |
| Borders | Completely bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (No land borders). |
| Currency | Barbadian dollar ($) (BBD) |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Life expectancy at birth | 79 years (2024 est.) Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life. |
| Climate | tropical; rainy season (June to October) |
| Terrain | relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean 0 m |
| Highest point | Mount Hillaby 336 m |
| Natural resources | petroleum, fish, natural gas |
| Agricultural land | 32.6% |
| Government type | parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm |
| President | Sandra Mason |
| Prime Minister | Mia Mottley |
| National symbols | Neptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados) |
| National colors | blue, yellow, black |
| National anthem | "The National Anthem of Barbados" |
| Birth rate | 10.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.) |
| Sex ratio | 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.) |
| Industries | tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export |
| Exports | $2.228 billion (2017 est.) liquor, packaged medicine, ships, paper labels, baked goods (2022) |
| Imports | $2.12 billion (2021 est.) refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine (2022) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $17,400 (2023 est.) |
| Internet country code | .bb |
| Time Zone | Eastern Caribbean (UTC-4) |
| Calling Code | +1-246 |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Table last updated | October 23, 2024 |