Barbados and its 66 important Details for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams
Barbados and its Details Like , Capital, GDP, Currency, Geography, Economy, Defence, Culture, Natural resources, Habitat, Sports and all you want to know for UPSC, PSC and Other Competitive Exams.
Barbados and its Basic Details :
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Name of the country | Barbados |
| Capital | Bridgetown |
| Independence day | November 30, 1966 |
| Major religions | Christianity (Protestantism) |
| Currency | Barbadian Dollar (BBD) |
| Continent | North America |
| Top 5 Famous cities | Bridgetown, Speightstown, Oistins, Holetown, Bathsheba |
| Top 10 Famous persons | Rihanna, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Grantley Adams, Kamau Brathwaite, Sir Frank Walcott, Errol Barrow, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, Kerryann Ifill, Sir Elliot Belgrave, Charles Duncan O’Neal |
| Type of government | Parliamentary democracy |
| Main wars fought | Barbados did not participate in major wars |
| GDP | $5.5 billion (2021) |
| 5 popular tourist places | 1. Harrison’s Cave, 2. Crane Beach, 3. Animal Flower Cave, 4. Carlisle Bay, 5. St. Nicholas Abbey |
Geography of Barbados :
| Category | Information |
| Geography | Coral island in the southeastern Caribbean Sea |
| Area | 430 square kilometers (166 square miles) |
| Population | 287,199 (2022 estimate) |
| Main Mountains | Mount Hillaby (336 meters), Turner’s Hill (163 meters), Chalky Mount (118 meters), Mount Gay (116 meters), Four Hills (115 meters) |
| Main Rivers | Saint Lucy’s River, Constitution River, Morgan Lewis River, Saint George’s River, Joe’s River |
| Crops/Vegetation | Sugarcane, cotton, potatoes; Tropical rainforest, savanna, beach vegetation |
| Main Beaches | Carlisle Bay Beach, Bathsheba Beach, Crane Beach |
| Neighbouring Countries | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Martinique |
| Nearby Seas/Oceans | Southeastern Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean (east/north), Caribbean Sea (west/south) |
| Coastline Length | Approximately 97 kilometers (60 miles) |
| Natural Resources | Coral reefs, limestone, sand, fish |
Economy of Barbados :
| Category | Information |
| Economy | Tourism-based, mixed economy |
| Major Industries | Tourism, sugar processing, manufacturing, agriculture, financial services |
| Revenue Sources | Tourism, agriculture exports, financial services, manufacturing, international business |
| Top 10 Companies | Banks Holdings Limited, Goddard Enterprises Limited, Sagicor Financial Corporation, Massy Holdings, Barbados National Bank |
| Per Capita Income | Around $17,000 (approximate) |
| Top 5 Imports | Machinery, foodstuffs, chemicals, fuel, vehicles |
| Top 5 Exports | Sugar, molasses, rum, electrical components, chemicals |
| Total Gold Reserves | 3 tons |
Defence Power of Barbados :
| Category | Information |
| Defence | Barbados Defence Force (BDF) |
| Defence Budget | $20.4 million (2022) |
| Army Personnel | 1,000 |
| Air Force Personnel | 120 |
| Navy Personnel | 120 |
| Defence Imports | $0.1 million (2022) |
| Defence Exports | $0 million (2022) |
Cultural of Barbados :
| Category | Information |
| Main Festivals | Crop Over Festival, Holetown Festival, Oistins Fish Festival, Reggae Festival, Food and Rum Festival |
| Main Religious Places | St. John’s Parish Church, Nidhe Israel Synagogue, Hindu temples, Christian churches, mosques |
| Arts and Dances | Tuk Band, Landship, Crop Over Festival dances, Steelpan music, Barbadian folk music and dance |
| Main Languages | English (Official), Bajan Creole |
| Famous Food and Cuisines | Flying fish and cou-cou, Pudding and souse, Macaroni pie, Conkies, Fish cakes |
| UNESCO Protected Buildings | George Washington House, Parliament Buildings, Bridgetown Historic Area, Barbados Garrison, Morgan Lewis Windmill |
Sports in Barbados :
| Category | Information |
| National Game | Cricket |
| Main Sports | Cricket, Football, Athletics, Netball, Basketball |
| Top Athletes | Ryan Brathwaite (Athletics), Rihanna (Musician, also known for support in sports), Obadele Thompson (Athletics), Mia Mottley (Politics, supportive of sports initiatives) |
| Top Sports Achievements | Gold Medal in 2000 Olympics (Athletics), Cricket World Cup victories (1975, 1979), Gold in CARIFTA Games (Athletics) |
Natural Habitat and wild life of Barbados :
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| National Animal | Green monkey |
| National Bird | Barbados bullfinch |
| Main Recognized Natural Habitats | Coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, coastal scrub, dry forests, rainforests |
| Notable Wildlife | Over 400 bird species, 40 reptile species, 15 mammal species (including green monkeys, Barbados bullfinches, hawksbill turtles, leatherback turtles) |
| Protected Forests | Andromeda Botanic Gardens, Flower Forest, Barbados Wildlife Reserve |
Biggest in the Barbados :
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Richest Person | Michael Lee-Chin, with an estimated net worth of $7.3 billion |
| Largest Company | FirstCaribbean International Bank (FCIB), with a market cap of $1.3 billion |
| Tallest Building | The Barbados Hilton Resort and Spa, 111 meters (364 feet) tall |
| Largest Natural Lake | Carlisle Bay, a saltwater lake covering 4 square kilometers |
| Longest River | Saint Lucy’s River, 17 kilometers (10.6 miles) long |
| Largest Forest | Barbados National Park, covering 405 hectares |
| Largest Beach | Crane Beach, stretching for 5 kilometers |
| Largest Cricket Ground | Kensington Oval, with a capacity of 28,000 spectators |
| Largest Zoo | Barbados Wildlife Reserve, housing over 300 animals |
| Largest Botanical Garden | Andromeda Botanic Gardens, spanning 60 acres |
| Largest Hospital | Queen Elizabeth Hospital, accommodating 465 beds |
| Largest Museum | Barbados Museum & Historical Society, housing over 100,000 artifacts |
| Largest Library | National Library Service, with a collection of over 1 million books |
| Longest Bridge | Tom Adams Bridge, 850 meters (2,790 feet) long |
| Highest Mountain | Mount Hillaby, 336 meters (1,099 feet) tall |
| Largest Waterfall | Harrison’s Cave Waterfall, 130 feet (40 meters) tall |
| Largest Cave | Harrison’s Cave, 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) long and 150 feet (46 meters) deep |
| Oldest Town | Bridgetown, founded in 1627 |
| Oldest Building | St. James Parish Church, built in 1628 |
| Oldest Rum Distillery | Mount Gay Rum Distillery, established in 1703 |
| Oldest Newspaper | The Barbados Advocate, first published in 1845 |
| Oldest University | University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, founded in 1963 |
Brief History Of Barbados :
Concise overview of this country’s history across different periods:
Ancient Barbados:
- Pre-Columbian Era: The island of this country was originally inhabited by Amerindian tribes, primarily the Arawaks. These indigenous populations lived on the island for centuries before European arrival.
Medieval Period:
- European Exploration: In 1536, the Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos reportedly named Barbados “Os Barbados,” meaning “the bearded ones” after the island’s fig trees.
- Colonial Era: The English first landed in this country in 1625 and claimed it for the English Crown. Settlements began, primarily focused on agriculture, especially tobacco and cotton.
Modern Era:
- Plantation Economy: This country became a major center for sugar production using enslaved African labor. By the mid-17th century, sugar dominated the island’s economy.
- British Colony: This country remained under British rule, becoming known as “Little England” due to its strong British influence, parliamentary traditions, and plantation economy.
- Society and Slavery: The island saw the growth of a strict social hierarchy based on race and wealth, with enslaved Africans forming the backbone of the economy.
Recent History:
- Emancipation and Transition: Slavery was abolished in 1834, leading to significant changes in the island’s social and economic landscape.
- Shift to Independence: This country gained its independence from Britain on November 30, 1966, becoming a sovereign state within the Commonwealth. Errol Barrow became the first Prime Minister.
- Economic Diversification: Post-independence, this country focused on diversifying its economy beyond sugar, emphasizing tourism, manufacturing, and financial services.
Recent Developments:
- Political Stability: This country maintained a stable political environment, transitioning governments peacefully and gaining international recognition for its stability.
- Cultural Richness: The island’s cultural heritage, including music (calypso, soca), festivals, and culinary traditions, contributed to its vibrant identity.
- Global Position:This country played an active role in regional affairs, being a member of organizations like CARICOM and advocating for climate change action due to its vulnerability to rising sea levels.
Throughout its history, Barbados has evolved from its indigenous roots through colonial rule to become an independent nation, preserving its rich cultural heritage while navigating modern challenges and opportunities.
