Barbados, the second-smallest independent country, lies between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located east of the Windward Islands and roughly 200 miles (320 kilometers) north-northeast of Trinidad and Tobago. The western coast of Barbados borders the Caribbean Sea, and its eastern coast borders the North Atlantic Ocean. Its total area is 166 square miles (431 square kilometers) which is slightly less than 2.5 times the area of Washington, DC.
Barbados’ population was estimated as 279,912 in 2006 and it is counted as one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The capital city is Bridgetown.
Almost three-quarters of Barbadians are descendents of African slaves brought to the island between 1600 and 1800. Some Asians, Indians, and Europeans also live there.
English, the official language, is spoken universally, with local pronunciations.
Christianity is the dominant religion and about 67 percent of the total population is Protestant.
Barbados' government is a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is the British monarch. The monarch is represented on the island by a governor-general but real political authority rests with the Barbadian Parliament.
Its monetary unit is the Barbadian dollar (BDS$).
Web Sites
- The Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia
- CIA: The World Factbook
- The Barbados Government Information Service
- U.S. Department of State
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for Barbados guidebooks
Databases
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