Project: Barbados/Country
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Location
Barbados is an island country located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of North America. It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic, approximately 100 km (62 miles) east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea. The island is outside the principal Atlantic hurricane belt and is known for its beautiful beaches and tropical climate.
See Also: Geography of Barbados
Administrative Divisions
Barbados is divided into 11 parishes and 1 city. The parishes are:
- Christ Church
- Saint Andrew
- Saint George
- Saint James
- Saint John
- Saint Joseph
- Saint Lucy
- Saint Michael
- Saint Peter
- Saint Philip
- Saint Thomas
The city of Bridgetown, is the capital of Barbados and is located within the parish of Saint Michael.
Historically, Barbados had a local government system based on its parishes, but this was abolished in the late 1960s. Today, all local matters are managed at the national level.
See Also: Administrative Divisions of Barbados
History
Before European colonization, the island was inhabited by indigenous peoples, including the Arawaks and Caribs. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in the 16th century, followed by the Spanish. However, it was the English who established a permanent settlement in 1625, and Barbados remained a British colony until it gained independence in 1966.
The island’s economy was historically based on the cultivation of tobacco and cotton, but it was the introduction of sugar cane in the 1640s that transformed Barbados into a profitable colony. This led to the importation of enslaved Africans to work on the plantations, and their labor was a significant factor in the island’s economic success.
In recent history, Barbados made a significant constitutional change by becoming a republic on November 30, 2021, removing the British monarch as its head of state and electing its own president.
See also: History of Barbados
Ethnicities
The vast majority of the Barbadian population is of African descent, with more than 90% of the population identifying as African or Afro-Caribbean. About 3% of the population identifies as white, mostly from the United Kingdom and Ireland. Asians comprise as little more than 1% of the population.
See Also: Barbadians
Languages
The official language of Barbados is English, which is used in formal settings and for written communication. In addition to English, an English-based creole language called Bajan is also widely spoken in informal settings. Bajan is a blend of British English and West African languages, reflecting the island’s history and cultural influences. While English is taught in schools and used in government and business, Bajan is an integral part of the local culture and everyday conversation.
See also: English in Barbados
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Religions
Religion in Barbados is predominantly Christian, with the majority of the population adhering to various Christian denominations. Here is a breakdown of the religious affiliations in Barbados:
Approximately 95% of Barbadians identify as Christian, with Protestants (34%) and Anglicans (29%) being the largest groups. Roman Catholics represent about 4% of the population. Other Christian denominations include Methodists, Pentecostals, and Seventh-Day Adventists. Non-Christian religions include Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, and the Bahá’í Faith, with smaller percentages of the population, as well as the Rastafarian Movement, which was introduced to Barbados in 1975.
See Also: Religion in Barbados
See Also: Demographics of Barbados
Barbadian Naming Conventions
Barbadian naming customs have evolved over time, with the nobility and wealthy landowners being the first to use surnames, followed by merchants, townspeople, and the rural population. Surnames often developed from occupations, geography, patronymics, or descriptions and nicknames.
In the context of immigration, especially to English-speaking countries, Barbadian surnames may have changed to accommodate different phonetic spellings or been translated into English. However, within local communities, original names may continue to be used alongside English-language equivalents.
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