What is the capital of Barbados?
Bridgetown and its port lie on Carlisle Bay on the south-western coast of Barbados, within the parish of Saint Michael.
Bridgetown is the capital and seat of government of Barbados. Barbados itself has an estimated population of 282,623 (2025).
Bridgetown is also the largest city in Barbados, which is the usual arrangement, though it is far from universal: see the countries where capital and largest city differ.
Bridgetown at a glance
| Metropolitan area | 110,000 (2014, Greater Bridgetown area) |
|---|---|
| Country | 🇧🇧 Barbados |
| Founded | 1628 |
| Largest city in Barbados | Bridgetown |
| Time zone | UTC−04:00 (AST) |
| Currency | Barbadian dollar (BBD) |
About Bridgetown
The present-day location of the city was established by English settlers in 1628, after an earlier settlement at St. James Town, and Bridgetown gained city status in 1824.
During the short-lived Federation of the British West Indian Territories in the 1950s and 1960s, Bridgetown was one of three capital cities considered to become the federal capital of the region.
Locals most often call Bridgetown simply 'Town'; its older formal name was The Town of Saint Michael.
Grantley Adams International Airport, the island's only airport, lies 16 kilometres south-east of the city centre.
Bridgetown no longer has its own municipal government: the city is a constituency of the national Parliament.
City facts sourced from Wikipedia: Bridgetown.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Barbados?
Is Bridgetown the largest city in Barbados?
Where is Bridgetown located?
What time zone is Bridgetown in?
What currency is used in Bridgetown?
See the full profile of Barbados on its country page, or browse every capital city.
Capital and country data from open datasets; city and metropolitan populations are hand-curated per city and cited where they are shown. Populations of countries come from the World Bank (SP.POP.TOTL). Full sources and vintage on the data page. Last updated . Report a correction.