Barbados

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Barbados's Information


Capital	Bridgetown
Languages	English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
Ethnic Groups	Black 92.4%, white 2.7%, mixed 3.1%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
Religion	Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)
Government	Parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Independance	30 November 1966 (from the UK)
Area	430.00 km²
Land Area	430.00 km²
Population	291,495.00 Most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas
Location	Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
GDP(PPP)	$4,804,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$17,200.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are sugar, molasses, rum, and other foodstuffs.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Trinidad and Tobago and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include consumer goods, machinery, and foodstuffs.
Climate	Tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain	Relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Where is Barbados?

Located in the Caribbean, Barbados is an island nation. It has a 97.00 km coastline. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration descision, which delimited the maritime boundary in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone.

Previously referred to as St Michael town, Bridgetown is the largest city on the island of Barbados. This city was developed in 1628 by the English settlers and is situated within the parish of St Michael. The population of the capital city of Barbados is 110,000 with an average population density of 18,834 people living is a square mile. Bridgetown has more than enough tourist attraction sites to offer. Being an old city, it houses some of the oldest attractions in Barbados like the Harrington caves, and the Barbados museum. La Reina Park houses two unique species of baobab trees on the Island. The weather in Bridgetown is perfect for swimming during August when the temperature is approximately 29 degrees Celsius. The city has some distinct lengthy wet and dry seasons, with March being the month with longer sun hours of approximately ten hours.

Geography

Barbados has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate with a rainy season from June to October. Its terrain is relatively flat, although it does rise slightly in the central region.

Population

Barbados has a population of 291,495 making it the 179th largest in the world. Most of the country lives in urban areas.

English is the official language; Bajan is also spoken. The major ethnicities reported are black, white, and mixed. The population is mostly Protestant Christian, with some other Christian minority groups.

Standard English is used as the language of instruction in schools, in all written communications, in government, and the media. Bajan is mostly used in less formal situations, for example, among family and friends, in the markets between vendors and customers or in music. Barbadians can seamlessly switch from Bajan to Standard English.

Government

Barbados is an independent country. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. Its constitution was last ratified in 1966.

The legislature of Barbados comprises of a 21-member senate who are appointed on the monarch’s behalf by the governor-general. Of the 21 members, 12 members are appointed on the prime minister’s advice, seven on the full discretion of the governor-general and two on the leader of the opposition’s advice. The legislature is also made up of a 30-member House of Assembly, all of whom are elected. All legislation is debated by both houses. However, a rejection of other bills with the exception of bills that amend the Constitution by the Senate may be overturned by the lower house. The prime minister of Barbados is head of the cabinet. The country’s executive branch of government conducts its ordinary business. The Barbadian judiciary is an independent branch of the government and is only subject to the country’s constitution.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Barbados's GDP is $4,804,000,000.00 (USD) with $17,200.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 175th largest economy and its citizens the 92nd richest in the world. The currency of Barbados is the Dollar (BBD).

Its major export partners are Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. Its main exports are sugar, molasses, rum, and other foodstuffs. Its major import partners are Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Its major imports include consumer goods, machinery, and foodstuffs.

Flag

The current flag of the Barbados was first commissioned in the Independence Day in 1966, and this was after a fierce competition of artists in presenting their works of art reflecting the flag of Barbados. Grantley Prescod won the open competition, and his flag was adopted. The ultramarine band of the flag reflects the sea that surrounds it and the sky, the golden middle stripe represents the sand and the black stripe represents independence from the colonizers. The upper 3 points signify democracy, with the government of the people, government for the people and the government by the people as its three pinnacles.