Which Continent is Barbados In?

Barbados is an island country located in the Caribbean. It is the easternmost island in the Caribbean and completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Barbados does not share a border with any country. In fact, the Caribbean Sea does not touch the island at all. Barbados covers an area of approximately 167 square miles and stretches 21 miles long and 14 miles wide. Its capital city is Bridgetown.

Barbados attained independence in 1966. Queen Elizabeth II is the hereditary head of state. The country’s population is about 285,000 people, the majority of which are of African descent. Although it is one of the Atlantic islands, Barbados is considered as part of the Caribbean. It is a major tourist destination in the Caribbean with the majority of the tourists coming from the United Kingdom.

Geography of Barbados

Barbados is located in the Atlantic Ocean, on the eastern side of the West Indies. It is the easternmost island in the Caribbean. The island lies 62 miles east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea and 250 miles northeast of Trinidad and Tobago. It has a total land area of 167 square miles and a 60-mile long coastline. Its physical shape is often compared to a pear or leg of mutton. The terrain of Barbados is gentle sloping, terraced plains separated by rolling hills. The highest point on the island is Mount Hillaby which measures 340 meters above sea level.

Barbados’ climate is classified as a tropical monsoon. It experiences both the wet and dry seasons. The wet season is from June to November while the dry season is from December to May. Annual rainfall ranges 40 and 90 inches while temperature ranges from 70 to 88 degrees fahrenheit.

Which Continent is Barbados Located in?

Barbados is in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean. The Caribbean is a region in the Americas encompassing the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and the surrounding coasts. It is situated in North America, South America, and Central America. The Caribbean has approximately 7 thousand islands and islets grouped into three major groups: The Lesser Antilles, Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas. The Greater and the Lesser Antilles form the Antilles. Geographically, the Antillean islands are considered part of North America. Therefore, since Barbados is in the Lesser Antilles, it is geographically in the continent of North America.

Barbados maintains relations with over 100 countries around the world. It is also part of trade blocks involving Caribbean nations and Latin America such as the Association of Caribbean States. Barbados is also a member of the Organization of the American States, an organization that brings together 35 countries of the Americas.

Economy of Barbados

In terms of GDP per Capita, Barbados is the 53 richest countries in the world. It is characterized by a mixed economy and a relatively high standard of living. The country is categorized among the top 70 high-income economies of the world. Although Barbados relied on sugarcane cultivation, it has since diversified into tourism and manufacturing sectors. It is the leading tourist destination in the Caribbean with 40% of its tourist coming from the United Kingdom. The country also maintains the 3rd largest stock exchange in the Caribbean region.