Quick Facts:
Land Area: 430 sq. Km 166 sq. miles
Location: The most easterly Caribbean island located at 13.1°N, 59.32°W.
Time Zone: GMT – 4 hours (Barbados does not observe daylight saving time)
Capital City: Bridgetown
Climate: Tropical Average Daytime High 70°-85°F 21°-30°C Relative Humidity 60-70%
Language: English
Political Status: Independent Member of the British Commonwealth
Government: Parliamentary Republic
President: Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, FB, GCMG, DA, QC, LLD
Prime Minister: The Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P.
Literacy Rate: 99.7%
UNDP Human Development Index 2020: 58th of 189 countries; 8th in Americas
Population 2020 (est): 271,021
Population Growth Rate 2020: – 0.5%
Infant Mortality Rate 2016: 13.5 per 1,000 births
Life Expectancy: 78 years
Labour Force December 2019 (est): 139,700
Unemployment Rate 2019: 10.1%
GDP (Market Prices) 2020 (P): US$4.69B
Per Capita GDP 2020 (P) : US$14,600
% Annual Inflation Rate 2020: 3.0%
Major Industries: Tourism, Financial Services, Sugar, Agriculture
& Manufacturing
Major Trading Partners: CARICOM, USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan
Imports 2020: US$1,501.71 Million (excludes petroleum imports)
Domestic Exports 2020: US$345.21 Million (excludes petroleum exports)
Tourist Arrivals 2018: 1,000,537
Currency: Barbados dollar which is fixed at Bds$2.00=US$1.00
Measures: Metric system
Public Holidays
There are twelve paid public holidays in Barbados each year. Note: Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is celebrated on the following day.
The following holidays will be celebrated in 2022:
New Year’s Day – January 1
Errol Barrow Day – January 21
Good Friday – April 15
Easter Monday – April 18
National Heroes Day – April 28
Labour Day – May 1
Whit Monday – June 6
Kadooment Day – August 1
Emancipation Day Holiday – August 2
Independence Day – November 30
Christmas Day – December 25
Boxing Day – December 26
Christmas Day Holiday – December 27
Updated December 1, 2021