Barbados Fun Facts

• Barbados is a relatively small Caribbean island, at only a 166 square miles. Locals say we are "21 miles long and a smile (14 miles) wide!"
• The United Nations Human Development Index (2011) ranked Barbados in the highest bracket "Very High Human Development", well above the regional average for the Caribbean and Latin America.
• Visitors highlight the friendliness of Barbadians as the island's greatest and most pleasing asset. This is reflected in the highest repeat visitor factor in the region of 39%.
• The people of Barbados have a history of long ingrained Christian principles, a sound and free educational system with a literacy rate of 97%.
• Barbados has the third oldest parliament in the world, with uninterrupted parliamentary governance since 1639.
• The name 'Barbados' is derived from the Bearded Fig Trees once found in abundance on the island.
• Barbados is completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean (see where is Barbados).
• Barbados has pure drinking water and was the first Caribbean island to have piped water.
• The island has excellent telecommunications systems.
• Barbados' cultural diversity helps make the island so distinctively charming.
• Utilities are available 100% island-wide.
• Barbados is easily accessible from everywhere.
• The maximum daily temperature is 23-29 °C year round. The island is consistently cooled by North-East tradewinds.
• Barbadians are as we locally refer to ourselves as "Bajans", are slightly different in comparison to other Caribbean islands. Bajans have a deep-rooted spiritual and religious consciousness. Various values and rules of etiquette that have been passed down through the generations, which have led to our people being courteous, thoughtful and generous. Don't be surprised by a flood of Good mornings, Good afternoons and Good nights from passersby as you traverse the island.

Testimonials

Barbados was a blast

Read about 201610 exchange students's Experience »

---