Barbados

**Barbados** is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean. The island has an area of about 430 km². Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown. The official language of Barbados is English. Barbados is a popular tourist destination. In 2008, the island had a population of about 284,000 people. About 80,000 live in or around Bridgetown.

The island is in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres (62 mi) east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea. It is about  east of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and  north-east of Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados is outside of the main Atlantic hurricane belt.

The island's only airport is the Grantley Adams International Airport. It abolished the monarchy and became a republic on 30 November 2021.

Barbados produces rum.

## History

The earliest inhabitants of Barbados were Native Americans. Barbados was first visited by the Spanish around the late 1400s to early 1500s.  It first was on a Spanish map in 1511.  The native Arawaks may have fled or been enslaved.  The Portuguese visited in 1536.  They brought wild hogs for a good supply of meat whenever the island was visited. The first English ship, the _Olive Blossom_, came in 1624. They said the island belonged to the British king James I. Two years later in 1627 the first permanent settlers arrived from England. Slaves from Africa were sent to Barbados to work on sugar plantations.

## Government and politics

Barbados has been an independent country since 30 November 1966.  Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados was the head of state.  The Queen was represented locally by the Governor-General.  The Prime Minister is the local head of the government. On 30 November 2021, the country became a republic with the President of Barbados becoming the head of state. This means the monarchy and the office of governor-general were be abolished on this date and replaced by the presidency.

### Military

The Barbados Defence Force has roughly 600 members.
The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) is the name given to the combined armed forces of Barbados. The BDF was established August 15, 1979, and has responsibility for the territorial defence and internal security of the island. The headquarters for the Barbados Defence Force are in the St. Ann's Fort area at The Garrison, Saint Michael.
There are three main components of the BDF:
Force Headquarters — provided administrative and logistical support for the entire force
The Barbados Regiment — this is the main land force component, and encompasses both regular and reserve units.
Barbados Coast Guard — this is the maritime element, with responsibility for patrolling Barbados' territorial waters as well as drug interdiction and humanitarian and life-saving exercises. It too encompasses both regular and reserve units.
Barbados Cadet Corp — Military youth organisation. Includes Infantry and Sea Cadets. This organisation was started in 1904. The first females joined the cadet corps in 1970s to 1980s.
The Cadet Corps has a pledge and also a song. It started with 3 normal units but today has expanded to 22. These units are grouped into Zones. There are also a band, sea cadet and medical units along with a shooting programme.
In 1981 a Cessna 402C entered service as part of the air wing.

## Geography and climate

Barbados is the easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles. It is flat in comparison to its island neighbours to the west. The highest point of the nation is Mount Hillaby.

The country usually has two seasons. The "wet season" is from June to November. The "dry season" is from December to May.

## Divisions

Barbados is divided into 11 parishes:

1. Christ Church
1. Saint Andrew
1. Saint George
1. Saint James
1. Saint John
1. Saint Joseph
1. Saint Lucy
1. Saint Michael
1. Saint Peter
1. Saint Philip
1. Saint Thomas

St. George and St. Thomas in the middle of the country are the only two parishes without coastlines.

## Demographics

The population of Barbados is about 300,000 people, nearly 90% of that is predominantly of African and Mixed descent, 6% are Asian and 4% Whites. There is also an East Indian minority on the island and Chinese and other ethnic groups. Gypsies were expelled to Barbados during the colonial era. There is also a sizable Jewish, Arab and Irish population in Barbados.

### Religion

Most Barbadians are Christians (95%).  The most common Christian church is Anglicans (40%). Other Christian churces in Barbados are the Catholic Church, Pentecostals (Evangelicals) Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist and Spiritual Baptists. The Church of England was the official state religion.  It was ended by the Parliament of Barbados after independence. Other religions include Hindus, Muslims, the Baha'i Faith, Jews and Wiccans.

## Culture

The influence of the English on Barbados is more noticeable than on other islands in the West Indies. A good example of this is the island's national sport: cricket. Barbados has had several great cricketers, including Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Frank Worrell.

Citizens are officially called Barbadians.

In the music business, Rihanna (born Robyn Fenty) is one of Barbados' best-known Grammy winning artists.

In Barbados, the official language is English. But they also speak an English-African Creole language known as Bajan.

## Sports

Cricket is very popular on the island. Barbadians play on the West Indies cricket team. The country hosted the final of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Obadele Thompson is a world class sprinter from Barbados. Ryan Brathwaite, a hurdler, reached the 2008 Olympic semi-finals in Beijing.

Polo is very popular with the rich on the island.

In golf, the Barbados Open is an annual stop on the European Seniors Tour.

## Tourism

Over half a million tourists visit Barbados every year. Barbados has several beautiful beaches which are well maintained and the sea water is crystal clear. There are also features such as Blackmans Gully, Barbados Wildlife Reserve and Harrison’s Cave which have been developed for tourism.

The annual Crop Over festival attracts many visitors to Barbados. Barbados also has a rich history. Many historic sites and buildings such as Sunbury Plantation House and St. Nicholas Abbey have been preserved or restored. Visitors can visit these sites and learn about the history of Barbados.

A joint tourism initiative has been undertaken between Barbados and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) to the tune of US$20 million. It is aimed at repositioning the tourism sector through the implementation of key tourism initiatives.

## Other websites

- Barbados Government Information Network  - Official website
- Barbados -Citizendium

## Infobox (country)

- **common name**: Barbados
- **image flag**: File:Flag of Barbados.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
- **image map**: BRB orthographic.svg
- **national motto**: "Pride and Industry"
- **national anthem**: _In Plenty and In Time of Need_ <div style="padding-top:0.5em;"class="centre"></div>
- **official languages**: English in Barbados, English
- **languages type**: Vernacular language
- **languages**: Bajan Creole
- **ethnic groups year**: 2020
- **religion year**: 2020
- **capital**: Bridgetown
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Parliamentary system, parliamentary republic
- **leader title1**: President of Barbados, President
- **leader name1**: Jeffrey Bostic
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Barbados, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Mia Mottley
- **legislature**: Parliament of Barbados, Parliament
- **upper house**: Senate of Barbados, Senate
- **lower house**: House of Assembly of Barbados, House of Assembly
- **area km2**: 439
- **area sq mi**: 166
- **area rank**: 183rd
- **percent water**: Negligible
- **population estimate**: 281,998
- **population estimate rank**: 174th
- **population estimate year**: 2023
- **population census**: 269,090
- **population census rank**: 174th
- **population census year**: 2021
- **population density km2**: 660
- **population density sq mi**: 1,704
- **population density rank**: 17th
- **gdp ppp**: $5.436 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2023
- **gdp ppp rank**: 175th
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $18,738
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 90th
- **gdp nominal**: $6.220 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2023
- **gdp nominal rank**: 165th
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $21,442
- **gdp nominal per capita rank**: 50th
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **sovereignty note**: from the United Kingdom
- **established event1**: Part of the West Indies Federation
- **established date1**: 3 January 1958 – 31 May 1962
- **established event2**: Sovereignty
- **established date2**: 30 November 1966
- **established event3**: Admitted to the United Nations, UN
- **established date3**: 7 December 1966
- **established event4**: Joined CARICOM at the Treaty of Chaguaramas
- **established date4**: 1 August 1973
- **established event5**: Republic established
- **established date5**: 30 November 2021
- **hdi year**: 2022
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi**: 0.809
- **hdi rank**: 62nd
- **currency**: Barbadian dollar ($)
- **currency code**: BBD
- **time zone**: Atlantic Time Zone, AST
- **utc offset**: −4
- **drives on**: Left
- **calling code**: North American Numbering Plan, +1 Area code 246, -246
- **cctld**: .bb