Known for its beaches and cricket - its national sport - the former British colony has a dual heritage: English - evident in its stone-built Anglican churches and Saturday race meetings - and African, reflected in its music and dance.
Country profiles compiled by BBC Monitoring
Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Political, economic and social stability have given it one of the highest standards of living in the developing world. As well as being a centre for financial services, it also has offshore reserves of oil and natural gas.
However, the economy took something of a knock in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. The country's public debt rose sharply in 2009-11, mainly because of a slowdown in the tourism and financial services sectors.
Prior to the economic crisis there was a construction boom, with new hotels and housing complexes springing up. The trend accelerated as the island prepared to host some of the key Cricket World Cup matches in 2007.
However, a shortage of jobs has prompted many Barbadians - more often known as Bajans - to find work abroad. The money that they send home is an important source of income.
Most Barbadians are the descendants of African slaves who were brought to the island from the 17th century to work the sugar cane plantations.
Limestone caverns, coral reefs and a warm climate tempered by trade winds are among the island's natural assets. Barbados is relatively flat, with highlands in the interior.

Leaders from both nations confirmed a conclusion had been reached after talks that spanned more than two years.
The deal is expected to be signed on Monday and covers 17 areas such as e-commerce, Chinese officials said.
China is South Korea's largest trading partner and their bilateral trade grew to $228.9bn (Â£143bn) in 2013.
South Korea has been running a trade surplus with China since 1993, and the surplus was $62.8bn last year, according to South Korean data.
"South Korean and Chinese leaders today declared an effective conclusion of the FTA at a summit meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing," said a statement from Korea's presidential office, referring to a meeting of South Korean President Park Geun-hye with China's President Xi Jinping at the Apec summit.
Local media reports said the deal included a move to remove tariffs on over 90% of goods in the next two decades.
With China and South Korea the world's first and seventh largest exporters respectively, a tie-up between the two is key for the region's economic growth.
South Korea, Asia's fourth largest economy, already has trade agreements with the European Union and the US.
The eastern Caribbean nation of Barbados was historically heavily dependent on the export of sugar as its main revenue earner, but in recent decades the economy has diversified into tourism and offshore finance.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
China and South Korea are set to sign a free trade agreement that aims to remove most barriers to trade between the countries.