Where is Barbados located?

What countries border Barbados?

Barbados Weather

What is the current weather in Barbados?


Barbados Facts and Culture

What is Barbados famous for?

  • Cultural Attributes: Informal English phrases are common. More
  • Family: Extended family is important and members may live with or near one another. The mother's role in rearing children is... More
  • Personal Apperance: Bajan cuisine combines African and English traditions. Fast foods and Pizza are becoming popular. More
  • Recreation: Cricket is the national sport. The coral reefs encourage diving with sunken ships close for exploration. Dominoes is the... More
  • Food and Recipes: Steamed Flying Fish combined with Cou-Cou is considered the national dish of Barbados.  Salt cod or codfish preserved with salt... More
  • Visiting: Bajans usually visit on weekends with a favorite time for men to gather being Sunday Morning. Cricket matches are important... More

Barbados Facts

What is the capital of Barbados?

Capital Bridgetown
Government Type parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
Currency Barbadian dollars (BBD)
Total Area 166 Square Miles
430 Square Kilometers
Location The Caribbean, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Language English
GDP - real growth rate 1.7%
GDP - per capita (PPP) $17,200.00 (USD)

Barbados Demographics

What is the population of Barbados?

Ethnic Groups Black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Nationality Adjective Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Nationality Noun Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
Population 294,560
Population Growth Rate 0.34%
Population in Major Urban Areas BRIDGETOWN (capital) 122,000
Predominant Language English
Urban Population 44.4%

Barbados Government

What type of government does Barbados have?

  • Executive Branch: chief of state: President Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021) previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022) head... More
  • Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal More
  • Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years More
  • National Holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966) More
  • Constitution: history: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic... More
  • Independence: 30 November 1966 (from the UK) More

Barbados Video

YouTube: Anne Martin The Island of Barbados: History and Ecology

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Barbados Geography

What environmental issues does Barbados have?

  • Overview: Barbados lies about 270 miles northeast of Venezuela and 1,612 miles southeast of Miami. The island is 21 miles long... More
  • 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... More
  • Environment - Current Issues: Pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers More
  • Environment - International Agreements: Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone... More
  • Terrain: Relatively flat; rises gently to a central highland region More

Barbados Economy

How big is the Barbados economy?

Barbados News and Current Events

What current events are happening in Barbados?
Source: Google News

Barbados Travel Information

What makes Barbados a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Barbados is an independent Caribbean island nation with a developed economy. The capital is Bridgetown. Facilities for tourism are widely available. The U.S. Embassy in Barbados has consular responsibility for Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts, and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, as well as the British dependent territories of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat, and the French islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Barthélemy and St. Martin.

Crime

Crime in Barbados is characterized primarily by petty theft and street crime. Incidents of violent crime, including rape, do occur. Visitors should be especially vigilant on the beaches at night. In 2012 several female tourists were reportedly sexually assaulted in separate attacks while walking alone in the Holetown area on the West Coast of Barbados.

As always, visitors to and residents in Barbados should always be aware of their surroundings and exercise caution, especially when walking alone and even during the day. If walking alone, avoid secluded areas. Always secure valuables in a hotel safe, and always lock and secure a hotel room and rental home doors and windows.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Barbados, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Barbados, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Barbados laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in Barbados are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

The main medical facility in Barbados is Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Medical care is good for the region, but medical transport can take hours to respond and ambulance attendants are prohibited from applying lifesaving techniques during transport. Minor problems requiring a visit to the emergency room can involve a wait of several hours; private clinics and physicians offer speedier service. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Barbados, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Driving in Barbados is on the left-hand side of the road. Registered taxis and large public buses are generally safe. Private vans and small buses are often crowded and tend to travel at excessive speeds. Travelers are cautioned against riding in private mini-buses, known as “Z buses”, as the owners frequently drive erratically. Night driving should be done with caution because of narrow roads with no shoulders and pedestrian/bicycle traffic. Visitors are warned to be extremely careful when driving, riding in a vehicle, or crossing roads on foot.

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