Barbuda And Barbados: How Far Apart Are They?

The island nations of Barbuda and Barbados are located in the Caribbean. While the former is a dependency of Antigua, the latter is an independent island country. The distance between the two islands is approximately 326 miles, with a flight time of about 1 hour.

The distance between the two islands

The distance between the islands is dependent on the mode of transport and the specific locations on each island being measured. The distance from the middle of Barbados to the middle of Antigua and Barbuda is 368 miles or 592 kilometres. This is the total straight-line flight distance.

The distance between Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados can also be measured in terms of travel time. If travelling by plane, the journey takes around 1 hour. This is based on an average flight speed of 560 miles per hour.

The distance between the islands can also be contextualised in relation to other locations. For example, the islands of Antigua and Barbuda are approximately 40 kilometres or 25 miles apart. Additionally, Barbados is located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region next to North America and north of South America. It is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands.

Travel options

There are a few options for travelling between Barbuda and Barbados. The distance between the two islands is approximately 300-400 miles, depending on the specific locations of departure and arrival. Here are some ways to get from Barbuda to Barbados:

• By Plane: The fastest and most common way to travel between the two islands is by plane. The flight time is approximately 1 hour, and there are several airlines that offer direct flights, including InterCaribbean Airways, Caribbean Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. The cost of a plane ticket can range from $180 to $1,100, depending on the carrier and the time of booking.
• By Ferry: Another option is to take a ferry from Barbuda to Antigua, and then travel from Antigua to Barbados by plane. This option may be more scenic, but it will also likely be more time-consuming and may depend on ferry schedules.
• By Private Boat: If you have access to a private boat, you could potentially travel directly from Barbuda to Barbados by sea. This option would provide flexibility and the ability to stop at other islands along the way, but it would also be the most expensive and time-consuming method.

It's important to note that the specific travel options and costs may vary depending on the time of year and other factors, so it's always a good idea to check for the most up-to-date information before planning your trip.

Population and demographics

Barbuda is an island and dependency located in the eastern Caribbean, approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Antigua. It is part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda as an autonomous entity. With a population of 1,634 and an area of 62 square miles (160 km2), Barbuda is one of the most sparsely populated islands in the Caribbean.

The population of Barbuda is predominantly of African descent (95.11%), with smaller percentages of the population identifying as Mixed Black/White (2.88%), other Mixed (1.00%), Hispanic (0.44%), White (0.13%), Indian (0.13%), Syrian/Lebanese (0.13%), and other (0.13%). The island has a population density significantly lower than Antigua, and the majority of the population is born in Antigua and Barbuda (89.28%).

In terms of religion, Christianity is the largest group on the island, with 26.71% identifying as Pentecostal, 17.66% as Anglican, 17.54% as Wesleyan Holiness, 11.94% as Baptist, and smaller percentages identifying as irreligious, Rastafarian, Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, and Evangelical.

The economy of Barbuda is largely based on tourism and government, with the central and local governments being the largest employers on the island. Fisheries account for the majority of the island's exports, particularly the lobster catching industry.

Barbados, on the other hand, is located about 306 miles (492 km) away from Antigua and Barbuda. According to the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects, the estimated population of Barbados in 2021 was 281,200, with an earlier census in 2010 estimating the population to be 277,821. The population of Barbados is predominantly black (91-92.4%) or mixed (3.1-4%), with smaller percentages of the population identifying as white (2.7-3.5%), South Asian (1-1.3%), and East Asian (0.1%).

Similar to Barbuda, the largest religious group in Barbados is Christian (75.6%), with smaller percentages of the population having a non-Christian religion (2.6%) or no religion (20.6%). Anglicanism is the largest Christian group (23.9%), followed by Pentecostals (19.5%), Seventh-day Adventists (5.9%), and Methodists (4.2%).

In summary, both Barbuda and Barbados have populations predominantly of African descent, with smaller percentages of other ethnic groups. Christianity is the largest religious group on both islands, with various denominations represented. While Barbuda has a lower population density and is part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados has a larger population and is an independent country.

History of the islands

Barbuda

The first inhabitants of Barbuda were hunter-gatherers who arrived by canoe around 3,000-4,000 years ago. Sources disagree on whether they came from South America, the Greater Antilles, or the Yucatán region of Mexico. The island was subsequently inhabited by the Arawak and Kalinago. Early Spanish settlements were followed by the French and English, who formed a colony in 1666. In 1685, Barbuda was leased to brothers John and Christopher Codrington. The Codringtons held the island until 1870, during which time it was used as a slave colony. In 1834, slavery was abolished in Barbuda. In 1859, Barbuda was annexed as a dependency of Antigua. The island gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1981 as an integral part of Antigua and Barbuda.

Barbados

The island of Barbados was inhabited by the Kalinago people from the 13th century and by other indigenous groups before that. In the late 15th century, Spanish navigators took possession of the island, claiming it for the Crown of Castile. The Portuguese Empire claimed Barbados between 1532 and 1536 but abandoned it in 1620. The first English ship arrived in Barbados on May 14, 1625, and the island was claimed for King James I. In 1627, the first permanent English settlers arrived, and Barbados became an English and later British colony. During this period, the colony operated on a plantation economy, relying on the labour of African slaves. In 1640, the introduction of sugar cane transformed Barbados's society, economy, and landscape. By 1660, there was near parity between the number of Black and White people on the island. The harsh conditions endured by slaves led to several planned rebellions, the largest of which was Bussa's rebellion in 1816. In 1833, slavery was abolished throughout most of the British Empire, including Barbados. Barbados became a separate jurisdiction within the Commonwealth in 1966 and transitioned to a republic within the Commonwealth in 2021.

Climate and geography

Barbuda is an island located in the eastern Caribbean, approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Antigua. It is a flat island with a western portion dominated by the Codrington Lagoon and an eastern portion dominated by an elevated plateau. The island has very little topographical diversity, with coral limestone making up most of it. The highest elevation on Barbuda is 44.5 metres (146 ft), found on the highland plateau east of Codrington. The island's climate is classified as tropical marine, with little seasonal temperature variation. The average daily high temperature ranges from 27 °C (81 °F) in the coolest months of January and February to 30 °C (86 °F) in the warmest months of July and August.

Barbados, on the other hand, is a Caribbean island located about 100 miles (160 km) east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It has a tropical, oceanic climate with hot and humid conditions year-round. The average temperature is 26.8°C, and the weather seasons are classified as either wet or dry. The wet season, which coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season, runs from June to November and is characterised by high humidity, low wind speeds, and high rainfall. The dry season, from December to May, generally has warm days, cool nights, and relatively low rainfall. The island's climate is heavily influenced by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), with El Niño bringing hotter and drier conditions and La Niña bringing colder and wetter conditions.

The underlying rocks of Barbados consist of sedimentary deposits, including thick shales, clays, sands, and conglomerates laid down approximately 70 million years ago. Above these rocks are chalky deposits capped with coral. Mount Hillaby, the highest point in Barbados, rises to 1,102 feet (336 metres) in the north-central part of the island. To the west, the land descends in a series of terraces towards the sea. The island features coral reefs surrounding most of its coastline and has no significant rivers or lakes, only a few streams, springs, and ponds. The soil type varies with elevation, with thin black soils on the coastal plains and more fertile yellow-brown or red soils in the highest parts of the coral limestone.

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