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Barbados
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Customs and Culture
Customs and Culture
About the People
Informal english phrases are common.
Cultural Attributes
Informal English phrases are common.
Island of Rum, Root, and Resilience
Greetings, Gestures & Visiting
Chupse or Kiss-Teeth is a way of showing disgust. Abimbo or standing with the hands on the hips and the arms turned outward is a gesture of defiance or anger in Barbados.
Bajans usually visit on weekends with a favorite time for men to gather being Sunday Morning. Cricket matches are important opportunities for friends and family to gather.
Bajan cuisine combines African and English traditions. Fast foods and Pizza are becoming popular.
Diet
Steamed Flying Fish combined with Cou-Cou is considered the national dish of Barbados. Salt cod or codfish preserved with salt is a staple food.
Family
Extended family is important and members may live with or near one another. The mother's role in rearing children is considered most important, but the father is considered the head of the family. Many young people are choosing not to marry until after they have begun their careers. In recent years about 50% of women are working outside the house.
Recreation
Cricket is the national sport. The coral reefs encourage diving with sunken ships close for exploration. Dominoes is the National Table Game. Sundays and Holidays are usually spent at the beach.
Holidays
Independence Day
11/30Independence Day
Dates of Interest
- August
Kadooment is Barbados's biggest street carnival, held on the first Monday in August. Kadooment means fun and good times.
How do people communicate in Barbados?
Informal English phrases are commonly used in everyday communication.
Good to know
- Expect casual, informal English phrasing in conversation
What foods should I try in Barbados?
Bajan cuisine blends African and English traditions, with Steamed Flying Fish and Cou-Cou considered the national dish.
Do
- Try Steamed Flying Fish with Cou-Cou, the national dish
Good to know
- Salt cod (codfish preserved with salt) is a staple food
- Fast foods and pizza are becoming popular
What gestures should I be aware of in Barbados?
Certain gestures clearly signal negative emotions, so be mindful of body language.
Don’t
- Don't use Chupse or Kiss-Teeth, which shows disgust
- Don't stand with hands on hips and arms turned outward (Abimbo), a gesture of defiance or anger
What is family life like in Barbados?
Extended family is important, with members often living with or near one another; the mother's role in rearing children is considered most important while the father is regarded as the head of the family.
Good to know
- Many young people choose not to marry until after starting their careers
- About 50% of women work outside the home in recent years
What do people do for fun in Barbados?
Cricket is the national sport and a key occasion for friends and family to gather, while Sundays and holidays are usually spent at the beach.
Do
- Watch or join a cricket match to connect with locals
- Explore coral reefs and nearby sunken ships for diving
Good to know
- Dominoes is the national table game
- Bajans usually visit on weekends, with men favoring Sunday mornings to gather
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports
Photos of Barbados
Photos of Barbados
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
- Currency
- 2
- Time Difference
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- Climate
- The temperature in Barbados varies little during the year, averaging about 77°F (25°C) and rarely rising above 89°F (32°C) or falling below 65°F (18°C). However, the intensity of the sun this near to the Equator often makes it seem much hotter, especially when combined with high humidity. During July through October, the rainy season as well as the hurricane season, high humidity levels make the weather quite uncomfortable. During the dry winter months from November through May, which is the tourist season, it is more comfortable and can even become cool in the evenings. However, even in these months a significant amount of rain can fall.
- Airports
- 1
- Recommended Vaccinations
- How important is it to do your research about vaccinations? It might just save your life! Make yourself aware of the different types of vaccinations and which ones you may need to travel to your destination. Schedule an appointment with your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel to ensure you receive all important shots. Be sure that you and your family are up to date on your routine vaccinations. Which vaccinations you need will depend on a number of factors including your destination, whether you will be spending time in rural areas, the season of the year you are traveling, your age, health status, and previous immunizations.
Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.
View full travel guideRecipes
Recipes
History
History
Historical Eras
Indigenous Settlement
500 – 1492
Barbados was first inhabited by Barrancoid Indians around 500 CE, followed by Arawak settlers around 800 CE who established farming and fishing communities. Later Carib incursions from neighboring islands are believed to have displaced or annihilated the Arawak population, leaving the island largely uninhabited by the time Europeans arrived. This pre-colonial period left few lasting material traces but established Barbados's place in the broader Amerindian Caribbean world.
Early European Contact
1492 – 1627
Spanish sailors claimed Barbados following Columbus's 1492 voyages, and Portuguese explorers visited in 1536, reportedly naming the island 'Os Barbados' after its bearded fig trees. Neither Spain nor Portugal established a permanent settlement, leaving the island effectively unclaimed by European powers. This brief interlude of transient contact set the stage for English colonization in the following decade.
English Colonial Plantation Era
1627 – 1834
Captain Henry Powell landed the first English settlers in 1627, and the introduction of sugar cane around 1630 transformed Barbados into one of the most profitable plantation colonies in the Caribbean. The House of Assembly, established in 1639, gave the planter class substantial local autonomy even as Barbados became an English Crown possession in 1663. Hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans were transported to work the sugar estates, and a major slave revolt in 1816 underscored the deep tensions within this brutally exploitative system.
Post-Emancipation & Reform
1834 – 1966
The abolition of slavery in 1834 formally ended forced labor but left the Afro-Barbadian majority economically marginalized under a planter-merchant elite for nearly a century. Political consciousness grew in the 1930s, driven by leaders such as Sir Grantley Adams, who founded the Barbados Labour Party in 1938. Universal adult suffrage was introduced in 1951, internal self-government achieved in 1961, and a brief membership in the West Indies Federation (1958–1962) preceded the final push toward full sovereignty.
Independence & Modern Barbados
1966 – present
Barbados became an independent state within the British Commonwealth on November 30, 1966, with Errol Barrow as its first prime minister, establishing a stable parliamentary democracy modeled on the Westminster system. The economy gradually diversified away from sugar, with tourism and manufacturing surpassing the sugar industry in importance by the 1990s. In 2021, Barbados became a republic, removing the British monarch as head of state and installing Dame Sandra Mason as its first president.
Overview
From the arrival of the first British settlers in 1627-28 until independence in 1966, Barbados was a self-funding colony under uninterrupted British rule. Nevertheless, Barbados always enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy. Its House of Assembly, which began meeting in 1639, is the third-oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, preceded only by Bermuda’s legislature and the Virginia House of Burgesses.
As the sugar industry developed into the main commercial enterprise, Barbados was divided into large plantation estates, which replace the small holdings of the early British settlers. Some of the displaced farmers relocated to British colonies in North America. To work the plantations, slaves were brought from Africa; the slave trade ceased a few years before the abolition of slavery throughout the British empire in 1834.
Plantation owners and merchants of British descent dominated local politics. It was not until the 1930s that the descendants of emancipated slaves began a movement for political rights. One of the leaders of this movement, Sir Grantley Adams, founded the Barbados Labor Party in 1938. Progress toward more democratic government for Barbados was made in 1951, when the first general election under universal adult suffrage occurred. This was followed by steps toward increased self-government, and in 1961, Barbados achieved internal autonomy.
From 1958 to 1962, Barbados was one of 10 members of the West Indies Federation, and Sir Grantley Adams served as its first and only prime minister. When the federation was terminated, Barbados reverted to its former status as a self-governing colony. Following several attempts to form another federation composed of Barbados and the Leeward and Windward Islands, Barbados negotiated its own independence at a constitutional conference with the United Kingdom in June 1966. After years of peaceful and democratic progress, Barbados became an independent state within the British Commonwealth on November 30, 1966.
Under its constitution, Barbados is a parliamentary democracy modeled on the British system. The governor general represents the monarch. Control of the government rests with the cabinet, headed by the prime minister and responsible to the Parliament.
The bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Assembly and Senate. The 30 members of the House are elected by universal suffrage to 5-year terms. Elections may be called at any time the government wishes to seek a new mandate or if the government suffers a vote of no-confidence in Parliament, with a 5-year maximum duration for Parliament. The Senate’s 21 members are appointed by the governor general -- 12 with the advice of the prime minister, two with the advice of the leader of the opposition, and seven at the governor general’s discretion to represent segments of the community.
Barbados has an independent judiciary composed of magistrate courts, which are statutorily authorized, and a Supreme Court, which is constitutionally mandated. The Supreme Court consists of the high court and the court of appeals, each with four judges. The Chief Justice serves on both the high court and the court of appeals. The court of last resort is the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty’s Privy Council in London, whose decisions are binding on all parties. Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition.
The island is divided into 11 parishes and the city of Bridgetown for administrative purposes. There is no local government. Barbados’ defense expenditures account for about 2.5% of the government budget.
Timeline of Key Events
500
The Barrancoid Indians arrived on the island.
The Barrancoid Indians arrived on the island.
800
The Arawak Indians arrived on the island.
The Arawak Indians arrived on the island.
1492
The island was taken over by the Spanish in 1492.
The island was taken over by the Spanish in 1492.
1536
Portuguese explores visit Barbados.
Portuguese explores visit Barbados, but they did not settle the island. They named the island Barbados because of the bearded men found on the island.
1627
Captain Henry Powell lands a party of English settlers who establish a colony.
Captain Henry Powell lands a party of English settlers who establish a colony, which they then develop as a sugar plantation economy using slaves brought in from Africa.
1630
Sugar cane was introduced to the agriculture
During the 1630s, sugar cane was introduced to the agriculture.
1639
The colonists established a House of Assembly.
The colonists established a House of Assembly.
Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.
View expanded historyInteresting Facts
Interesting Facts
Barbados was given its name by a group of Portuguese sailors who landed on the island on their way to Brazil in 1536. Here they found huge banyan trees with roots hanging like beards from the branches. They called the island “Los Barbados” meaning “ the bearded ones.”
Barbados was the first island in the West Indies to have piped drinking water. It has many underground wells and caves that provide a plentiful supply of pure drinking water filtered through the porous coral of the land.
For the past 358 years, the Barbados parliament has functioned without interruption. This makes it the third oldest parliament in the world.
Parents warn their children to be careful with the saying, “ The sea ain't got no back door.” This means, “ Don't go out too far into the sea, you may not be able to get back.”
In the 17th century, people who were deemed to be enemies of the British crown were sent to Barbados as indentured servants. This practice was so widespread that punishment was sometimes described as “ being Barbadoed.”
In the 17th century, people who were deemed to be enemies of the British crown were sent to Barbados as indentured servants. This practice was so widespread that punishment was sometimes described as “ being Barbadoed.”
See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.
View all interesting factsGeography and Environment
Geography and Environment
- Terrain
- relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
- Climate
- Temperatures in Barbados vary little during the year, averaging about 77°F (25°C) and rarely rising above 89°F (32°C) or falling below 65°F (18°C). However, the intensity of the sun this near to the Equator often makes it seem much hotter, especially when combined with high humidity. During July through October, the rainy season as well as the hurricane season, high humidity levels make the weather quite uncomfortable. During the dry winter months from November through May, which is the tourist season, it is more comfortable and can even become cool in the evenings. However, even in these months a significant amount of rain can fall.
- Natural Hazards
- infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
- Current Environmental Issues
- pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.
View full geographyPeople & Demographics
People & Demographics
Religion
Languages Spoken
English
- English
Population
- Population
- 285,653
- Population in Major Urban Areas
- BRIDGETOWN (capital) 122,000
- Nationality Noun
- Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
- Ethnic Groups
- Black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Education
- Literacy Definition
- Age 15 and over has ever attended school
Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.
View full people and societyGovernment & Politics
Government & Politics
Country Identity
- Country Name
- Barbados
- Full Country Name
- Barbados
Government Structure
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
- Legal System
- English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Dame Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021); Barbados became a republic on 30 November 2021, removing the British monarch as head of state and transitioning from a constitutional monarchy to a parliamentary republic head of government: Prime Minister Mia Amor MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018); she was re-elected following the January 2022 general elections, in which her Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats in the House of Assembly cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament for a four-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
- Legislative Branch
- bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2008) election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Constitution
- 30-Nov-66
- Independence
- 30 November 1966 (from UK)
- National Holiday
- Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Capital City
- Capital Name
- Bridgetown
- Capital - geographic coordinate
- 13 06 N, 59 37 W
- Capital Time Difference
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
named after a bridge constructed over the swampy area (known as the Careenage) around the Constitution River that flows through the center of Bridgetown
Military
Branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard
Embassy / Diplomatic Mission
U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown
Wildey Business Park
Wildey
St. Michael, Barbados
Telephone: (246) 227-4399
Emergency after-hours telephone: (246) 227-4000
Facsimile: (246) 431-0179
Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov
Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbadian and U.S. holidays.
Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.
View full government detailsEconomy
Economy
Barbados has successfully transitioned from an economy historically dependent on sugarcane cultivation to one driven primarily by tourism, international business, and financial services. While sugar production still exists, it plays a minimal role in the broader economy today. Tourism remains the dominant earner of foreign exchange, with the sector having recovered strongly from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which triggered a sharp economic contraction in 2020. The economy has since rebounded robustly, with real GDP growth of roughly 4 to 4.5 percent in 2023 and continued expansion in 2024 as visitor arrivals and tourism receipts surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
International business and financial services continue to be significant contributors to GDP, with Barbados maintaining its status as a well-regulated international financial center. The government has worked to align its tax policies with international standards, including adopting OECD-led measures on tax transparency and the global minimum corporate tax, which helped remove the country from the European Union's list of non-cooperative jurisdictions. Light manufacturing, information and communications technology, the creative industries, and renewable energy development are among the sectors the government is actively promoting to further diversify the economy.
Unemployment and public debt remain ongoing concerns, though both have improved markedly in recent years, with public debt falling from over 140 percent of GDP at its peak to around 105 percent. The government has pursued structural reforms under successive fiscal consolidation programs, including ongoing engagements with the International Monetary Fund under the Extended Fund Facility and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. Barbados has also made notable commitments to sustainability, pledging to transition to 100 percent renewable energy and a fossil-fuel-free economy by 2030, and has established itself as a leader in climate resilience policy through initiatives such as the Bridgetown Initiative on global financial reform. Economic performance continues to be closely tied to conditions in key source markets, particularly the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Snapshot
- Currency Name and Code
- Barbadian dollars (BBD)
- GDP — official exchange rate
- $2,964,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Real Growth Rate
- 4.1%
- GDP by Sector
- agriculture: 6% industry: 16% services: 78%
Banknotes
Budget & Public Finance
- Fiscal Year
- 1 April - 31 March
- Annual Budget
- $886,000,000 (USD)
- External Debt
- $668,000,000 (USD)
- Economic Aid
- $9,100,000 (USD)
Labor, Industry & Trade
- Labor Force by Occupation
- services 75%; industry 15%; agriculture 10%
- Industries
- tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
- Agriculture Products
- sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
- Export Commodities
- sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
- Export Partners
- US 14.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, UK 10.8%, Jamaica 6.2%, Saint Lucia 4.6%
- Import Commodities
- consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components
- Import Partners
- US 41.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, UK 7.4%, Japan 4.2%
Energy
- Oil Production
- 1,000 bbl/day
- Oil Consumption
- 10,000 bbl/day
- Oil Reserves
- 1,254,000 bbl/day
- Natural Gas Production
- 29,170,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Consumption
- 29,170,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Imports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Exports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Reserves
- 141,600,000 cu m
Communications
- Telephone System
- General Assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system Domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons International: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat - Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia
- Internet Country Code
- .bb
News & Weather
News & Weather
Current Weather
Latest News
Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Barbados—Whether You're Chasing Rum or Surf - Condé Nast Traveler
Condé Nast Traveler · 1d ago
West Indies fall narrowly short on emotional day in Barbados - ICC
ICC · 18h ago
Barbados Is the Perfect Four-Day Vacation From New York Right Now — With Flying Fish, Rum Shops, and a Beachfront All-Inclusive - Caribbean Journal
Caribbean Journal · 1d ago
Explore Barbados, a Caribbean Escape for Every Traveler - Travel Market Report
Travel Market Report · 9h ago
Reifer confident West Indies will rediscover batting form in Barbados - Caribbean National Weekly
Caribbean National Weekly · 23h ago
Barbados Acts in Unison With Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Cayman Islands and More Caribbean Countries Right Now Doubling Down on Luxury Tourism as Ultra High-End Resorts, Private Islands, Wellness Retreats and Yacht Experiences Redefine the Region Tra - Travel And Tour World
Travel And Tour World · 2d ago
ICE Boston arrests Barbados national during targeted operations in Attleboro - WJAR
WJAR · 3d ago
To Understand the American Revolution, I Went to Barbados - The New York Times
The New York Times · 36d ago
News via Google News
Climate Overview
The temperature in Barbados varies little during the year, averaging about 77°F (25°C) and rarely rising above 89°F (32°C) or falling below 65°F (18°C). However, the intensity of the sun this near to the Equator often makes it seem much hotter, especially when combined with high humidity. During July through October, the rainy season as well as the hurricane season, high humidity levels make the weather quite uncomfortable. During the dry winter months from November through May, which is the tourist season, it is more comfortable and can even become cool in the evenings. However, even in these months a significant amount of rain can fall.
Videos
Videos
1 curated YouTube videos.
Source: YouTube
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Barbados?
How do people communicate in Barbados?
What foods should I try in Barbados?
What gestures should I be aware of in Barbados?
What is family life like in Barbados?
What do people do for fun in Barbados?
What is the capital of Barbados?
Where is Barbados located?
What are the ocean borders of Barbados?
What religion is practiced in Barbados?
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What language is spoken in Barbados?
What is the geography of Barbados like?
What is Barbados known for?
Last reviewed 2026