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.
St James Parish Church is located in Holetown, St James, Barbados. The church, built of coral stone, is the oldest church in Barbados.
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.
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.
Mongoose in the grass.
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.
Red grapefruit.
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
(2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.)
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)
Coastline
97 km
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
