Barbados is a country in North America, in Central America and the Caribbean, with about 283,000 people (2025) and an area of 430 square kilometres. Its capital is Bridgetown, and it has no land borders.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of BarbadosBarbados in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
430 km² (166 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 183rd largest of 195.
Population density
657 people per km²
Land neighbours
None. It has no land borders with another country.
UN status
Member state
Capital coordinates
13.10° N, 59.62° W Bridgetown, Natural Earth.
No land borders
Barbados shares no land border with another country. Its nearest neighbours are across the sea, as the map above shows.
From the Geography app
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Barbados's 5, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 5
The easternmost Caribbean island, facing the open Atlantic
Barbados sits about 160 kilometers east of the main Caribbean island chain, fully exposed to the Atlantic Ocean rather than sheltered within the archipelago. The island is just 431 square kilometers, roughly the size of a mid-sized city, and is built on coral limestone rather than volcanic rock. That eastward position meant European sailing ships encountered Barbados first, making it one of the earliest and most continuously colonized islands in the Caribbean.
More on coral limestone
Unlike most Caribbean islands formed by volcanic activity, Barbados rose from the sea floor through tectonic uplift of coral reefs. This geology gives the island relatively flat terrain, fertile soils, and no volcanic peaks.
4 more lenses on Barbados in the app
STORY From sugar colony to republic in four centuries
NOW A small island leading the global climate finance debate
STORY Cricket, Rihanna, and a disproportionate cultural reach
THREAD Small island, large diplomatic footprint
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
Compare Barbados with another country
Opens the country comparison tool with population, area, income and more side by side, every figure dated.
Common questions
What is the capital of Barbados?
The capital of Barbados is Bridgetown. Bridgetown lies at about 13.1 degrees north and 59.6 degrees west. Barbados is in North America, in the region often called Central America and the Caribbean. It is home to about 283,000 people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Barbados?
About 283,000 people live in Barbados, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 174th most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 430 square kilometres, that is about 657 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Barbados?
None. Barbados has no land borders with any other country. It is surrounded by sea, so every neighbour of Barbados is across the water. It lies in North America, in the region often called Central America and the Caribbean. Its area is 430 square kilometres, and about 283,000 people live there.
How big is Barbados?
Barbados covers 430 square kilometres, or about 166 square miles. That makes it the 183rd largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 283,000 gives a density of 657 people per square kilometre.
Barbados is a country in North America, in Central America and the Caribbean, with about 283,000 people (2025) and an area of 430 square kilometres. Its capital is Bridgetown, and it has no land borders.
Capital
Bridgetown
Continent
North America
Region
Central America and the Caribbean
Population
282,623 2025, World Bank. 174th of 195.
Area
430 km² (166 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 183rd largest of 195.
Population density
657 people per km²
Land neighbours
None. It has no land borders with another country.
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
The easternmost Caribbean island, facing the open Atlantic
Barbados sits about 160 kilometers east of the main Caribbean island chain, fully exposed to the Atlantic Ocean rather than sheltered within the archipelago. The island is just 431 square kilometers, roughly the size of a mid-sized city, and is built on coral limestone rather than volcanic rock. That eastward position meant European sailing ships encountered Barbados first, making it one of the earliest and most continuously colonized islands in the Caribbean.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/barbados/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Barbados
NameDate
Draw the flag
Colour Barbados on the map, then fill in what you find.
Capital
Continent
Population
Area
Languages
Currency
Neighbours
Landmarks
Rivers or mountains
Three things I learned
1
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One question I still have
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Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/barbados/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
