Barbados

This article is about the country in the Caribbean. For other uses, see Barbados (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Barbuda or Barbatos.

Barbados
Motto: "Pride and Industry"
Anthem: "In Plenty and In Time of Need"
Location of Barbados
Capital
and largest city
Bridgetown
13°05′52″N 59°37′06″W / 13.09778°N 59.61833°W / 13.09778; -59.61833
Official languagesEnglish
Vernacular languageBajan Creole
Ethnic groups
(2020[1])
Religion
(2020)
Demonym(s)
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary republic
• President
Sandra Mason
Mia Mottley
LegislatureParliament
• Upper house
Senate
• Lower house
House of Assembly
Independence 
from the United Kingdom
• Part of the West Indies Federation
3 January 1958 – 31 May 1962
30 November 1966
7 December 1966
• Joined CARICOM at the Treaty of Chaguaramas
1 August 1973
30 November 2021
Area
• Total
439 km2 (169 sq mi) (183rd)
• Water (%)
Negligible
Population
• 2023 estimate
281,998[2] (174th)
• 2021 census
269,090[3] (174th)
• Density
660/km2 (1,709.4/sq mi) (17th)
GDP (PPP)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $5.436 billion[4] (175th)
• Per capita
Increase $18,738[4] (90th)
GDP (nominal)2023 estimate
• Total
Increase $6.220 billion[4] (165th)
• Per capita
Increase $21,442[4] (50th)
HDI (2022)Increase 0.809[5]
very high (62nd)
CurrencyBarbadian dollar ($) (BBD)
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
Drives onleft[6]
Calling code+1 -246
ISO 3166 codeBB
Internet TLD.bb

Barbados (UK: /bɑːrˈbeɪdɒs/ bar-BAY-doss; US: /bɑːrˈbeɪdoʊs/ bar-BAY-dohss; locally /bɑːrˈbeɪdəs/ bar-BAY-dəss) is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region next to North America and north of South America, and is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. It lies on the boundary of the South American and Caribbean plates. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.

Inhabited by Kalinago people since the 13th century, and prior to that by other Indigenous peoples, Spanish navigators took possession of Barbados in the late 15th century, claiming it for the Crown of Castile. It first appeared on a Spanish map in 1511.[7] The Portuguese Empire claimed the island between 1532 and 1536, but abandoned it in 1620 with their only remnants being an introduction of wild boars for a good supply of meat whenever the island was visited. An English ship, the Olive Blossom, arrived in Barbados on 14 May 1625; its men took possession of the island in the name of King James I. In 1627, the first permanent settlers arrived from England, and Barbados became an English and later British colony.[8] During this period, the colony operated on a plantation economy, relying on the labour of African slaves who worked on the island's plantations. Slavery continued until it was phased out through most of the British Empire by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

On 30 November 1966, Barbados moved towards political independence and assumed the status of a Commonwealth realm, becoming a separate jurisdiction with Elizabeth II as the Queen of Barbados. On 30 November 2021, Barbados transitioned to a republic within the Commonwealth, replacing its monarchy with a ceremonial president.[9][10]

Barbados's population is predominantly of African ancestry. While it is technically an Atlantic island, Barbados is closely associated with the Caribbean and is ranked as one of its leading tourist destinations.[11]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference cia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Our World in Data". Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ 2021 Population and Housing Census Report – August 1, 2021 (PDF) (Report). Barbados Statistical Service. June 2023. p. 21.
  4. ^ a b c d "World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (Barbados)". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. 10 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Human Development Report 2023/24" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 13 March 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Barbados". 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. (fco.gov.uk), updated 5 June 2006.
  7. ^ Sauer, Carl Ortwin (1969) [1966]. Early Spanish Main, The. University of California Press. pp. 192–197. ISBN 0-520-01415-4.
  8. ^ Secretariat. "Barbados – History". Commonwealth of Nations. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014.
  9. ^ Said-Moorhouse, Lauren; Foster, Max (30 November 2021). "Barbadians celebrate the birth of a republic and bid farewell to the Queen". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  10. ^ Safi, Michael (30 November 2021). "Barbados parts way with Queen and becomes world's newest republic". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  11. ^ Belle, Nicole; Bramwell, Bill (1 August 2005). "Climate Change and Small Island Tourism: Policy Maker and Industry Perspectives in Barbados". Journal of Travel Research. 44: 34–38. doi:10.1177/0047287505276589. ISSN 0047-2875. S2CID 154912745.