39 Interesting Facts About Barbados

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.

St James Parish Church is located in Holetown, St James, Barbados. The church, built of coral stone, is the oldest church in Barbados.
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.

St. James Parish Church, Barbados.
St. James Parish Church. Image credit – Rufus

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.

Mongoose in the grass.
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.
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

Independence30 November 1966 (from the UK)
Capital CityBridgetown
(13°06′N 59°37′W)
Largest CityBridgetown
(13°06′N 59°37′W)
Areatotal: 430 sq km

land: 430 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Population302,674 (2022 est.)
Official LanguageEnglish
DemonymBarbadian
Bajan (colloquial)
Suffrage18 years of age
Literacytotal population: 99.6%
BordersCompletely bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (No land borders).
CurrencyBarbadian dollar ($) (BBD)
ReligionChristianity
Life expectancy at birth78.55 years (2022)
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.
Climatetropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrainrelatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Lowest pointAtlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest pointMount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resourcespetroleum, fish, natural gas
Agricultural land32.6%
Government typeparliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
PresidentSandra Mason
Prime MinisterMia Mottley
National symbolsNeptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados)
National colorsblue, yellow, black
National anthem"The National Anthem of Barbados"
Birth rate10.83 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate7.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Sex ratio0.94 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Industriestourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Exports$485.4 million (2017 est.)
manufactures, sugar, molasses, rum, other foodstuffs and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
Imports$1.52 billion (2017 est.)
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
GDP - per capita (PPP)$12,900 (2020 est.)
Internet country code.bb
Time ZoneEastern Caribbean (UTC-4)
Calling Code+1-246
Drives on theLeft
Table last updatedAugust 6, 2022