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Known affectionately
to Barbadians as “Bim”, Barbados is the most easterly
island of the Caribbean region and is located 168km away from
the Caribbean Island chain.
According to the UNDP, Barbados is currently ranked 29
in the Human Development Index has a literacy rate of 99.7%!
That's higher than many developed countries.
Located off the east coast of Barbados is a tiny uninhabited
island called Culpepper Island. Years ago there was also
another tiny island located off the west coast of the island
called Pelican Island, which was joined to the mainland
during the building of the deep water harbour in Bridgetown.
Despite the fact that Barbados is only 431 sq km (166 sq
miles), the island is home to approximately 278,289 people.
This makes Barbados one of the most densely populated countries
in the world with an average population density of 647 persons
per sq km. The island is 34 km (21 miles) long and 23 km
(14 miles) wide at its widest part.
The official name for the people of Barbados is "Barbadians".
Nevertheless, in our Barbadian parlance we are called "Bajans".
The majority of the Barbadian population is of African descent.
However, there are whites, people of mixed race, chinese
and a steadily growing number of East-Indians mainly coming
from India, Guyana and Trinidad. Even though our official
language is English, an English based dialect called Bajan
Dialect is widely spoken.
The capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, is located in the
parish of St Michael. The island is divided into 11 parishes:
St Lucy, St Peter, St Andrew, St Joseph, St James, St John,
St George, St Thomas, St Philip, St Michael and Christ Church.
The climate is tropical and the mean annual temperature
is about 26°C (about 79°F). Barbados experiences
two seasons: a rainy season which runs from June to December
and a dry season.
Barbados was a British colony for 300 years until it achieved
its independence on November 30th, 1966 under the leadership
of the third premier of the island, the Rt. Hon Errol Walton
Barrow. On the country’s attainment of independence,
he became Barbados’ first Prime Minister.
The Barbadian economy, which once relied on the export
of sugar, is now based mainly on tourism, offshore banking
and light manufacturing.
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