Country Profile

• Location: Most easterly of the Caribbean islands. 13 10 North, 59 32 West
• Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/UTC) minus 4 hours - Winter, GMT/UTC minus 5 hours – Summer
• Area: 430 sq.km; 166 sq.miles
• Terrain: Relatively flat. Highest Point: Mount Hillaby -1,100 feet
• Climate: Tropical. Mean Temperature 26 Celsius (78.8 F). Rainy Season - June to October
• Natural Hazards: Infrequent hurricanes, periodic flooding and landslides
• Capital: Bridgetown
• Ports of Entry: Airport - Sir Grantley Adams. Seaports - Deep Water Harbour/Port St. Charles
• Electricity: 110 volts, 50Hz/AC
• Currency: Barbadian Dollar (BBD), tied to the US Dollar. US$1 = BBD2.00
• Nationality: Barbadian/Bajan
• Language: English
• Population: 277,821 (2010 Population & Housing Census, Barbados Statistical Service)
• Ethnicity: 80% - African Descent, 16% - Mixed, 4% - European Descent
• Religion: 67% - Protestant, 4% Roman Catholic, Other - 12%, None - 17%
• Natural Resources: Petroleum, Fish, Natural Gas
• Industries: Tourism, Financial Services (incl. Offshore Banking), Sugar, Light Manufacturing
• Healthcare: Free on demand
• Education: Free from primary to tertiary
• Legal System: English Common Law