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People
More than 90 percent of the people of Barbados are direct descendents
from the Africans that were brought in as slaves in the late 1600s
and 1700s. The rest are of mixed European (primarily British) and
Afro blood. There is also a minority of Indians, Arabs and Jews.
With more than 600 people per square kilometre, Barbados has one
of the highest population densities in the world. St. Michael, the
parish in which the capital Bridgetown is located, contains nearly
40 per cent of the population. About 93 per cent of Barbadians are
descended from African slaves brought over to work on the sugar
plantations between 1636 and 1834. About 3.5 per cent are of European
ancestry, 0.75 per cent are of Asian Indian descent, and 2.4 per
cent are of mixed origins. The official language of Barbados is
English, but a local dialect is also spoken.
Language
English is the official language. However, the colorful local dialect
is also largely used by most locals.
Religion
Religion is evident everywhere, manifested in diverse and colorful
Caribbean style. About half of the population are Anglicans, while
the rest are made up of Hindus, Muslims, and Jews.
Most Barbadians are Anglicans. Other denominations include Moravians,
Methodists, Roman Catholics, Pentecostalists, and Seventh-day Adventists.
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