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Barbados economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Barbados ranked 157/197 by economy size with a GDP of $7.5B and 46/197 by GDP per capita at $26,545. Barbados has $7.97B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 106.3%.

In 2024, Barbados made up 0.007% of the world's economy, compared to 0.006% in 1960.

Barbados GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Inflation-adjusted growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $7,498,050,000 2.48%
2023 $7,223,250,000 2.91%
2022 $6,884,900,000 17.2%
2021 $5,947,550,000 -0.1%
2020 $5,407,050,000 -14.4%
2019 $6,161,850,000 0.23%
2018 $6,001,950,000 -1.28%
2017 $5,683,150,000 0.71%
2016 $5,674,600,000 1.5%
2015 $5,698,150,000 -1.17%
2014 $5,620,600,000 0.75%
2013 $5,667,200,000 -1.77%
2012 $5,761,450,000 -3.41%
2011 $5,663,100,000 -0.31%
2010 $5,672,900,000 -2.22%
2009 $4,466,809,600 -5.02%
2008 $4,790,410,400 0.63%
2007 $4,675,767,950 2.08%
2006 $4,217,323,400 6.07%
2005 $3,819,500,000 3.96%
2004 $3,444,500,000 1.41%
2003 $3,209,500,000 2.18%
2002 $3,106,500,000 0.79%
2001 $3,054,500,000 -2.37%
2000 $3,059,500,000 4.45%
1999 $2,951,822,205 0.33%
1998 $2,817,083,478 3.73%
1997 $2,498,384,130 4.74%
1996 $2,363,645,403 3.98%
1995 $2,216,974,096 2.01%
1994 $2,151,344,901 2.01%
1993 $2,063,342,117 0.79%
1992 $1,957,000,000 -5.69%
1991 $2,020,583,702 -3.9%
1990 $2,012,131,457 -3.31%
1989 $2,006,165,167 3.6%
1988 $1,812,757,918 3.51%
1987 $1,704,370,308 2.59%
1986 $1,547,755,183 5.1%
1985 $1,409,536,121 1.1%
1984 $1,346,890,071 3.6%
1983 $1,236,016,507 0.5%
1982 $1,163,923,830 -4.9%
1981 $1,114,204,743 -1.9%
1980 $1,012,280,615 4.37%
1979 $670,362,452 7.89%
1978 $552,883,707 4.88%
1977 $495,097,668 3.64%
1976 $435,911,269 4.36%
1975 $402,178,605 -1.9%
1974 $311,804,630 -4.65%
1973 $260,767,828 1.34%
1972 $213,725,217 1.27%
1971 $186,826,503 3.91%
1970 $166,210,203 9.51%
1969 $141,393,142 7.52%
1968 $125,733,669 6.92%
1967 $125,554,009 10.6%
1966 $113,195,123 4%
1965 $105,021,997 11.4%
1964 $99,252,731 5%
1963 $99,893,761 -5.08%
1962 $88,782,583 9.06%
1961 $85,363,759 7.7%
1960 $80,021,847 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

Barbados GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $26,545 $24,823
2023 $25,584 $23,660
2022 $24,387 $22,193
2021 $21,080 $17,683
2020 $19,194 $16,555
2019 $21,912 $19,971
2018 $21,381 $19,777
2017 $20,285 $18,437
2016 $20,296 $19,176
2015 $20,424 $19,186
2014 $20,193 $18,595
2013 $20,410 $19,032
2012 $20,804 $19,605
2011 $20,508 $20,316
2010 $20,611 $20,033
2009 $16,295 $20,324
2008 $17,566 $21,376
2007 $17,235 $20,949
2006 $15,620 $20,076
2005 $14,214 $18,450
2004 $12,886 $17,299
2003 $12,076 $16,707
2002 $11,760 $16,133
2001 $11,640 $15,866
2000 $11,675 $15,914
1999 $11,244 $14,873
1998 $10,734 $14,621
1997 $9,522 $13,941
1996 $9,012 $13,090
1995 $8,460 $12,375
1994 $8,223 $11,900
1993 $7,905 $11,448
1992 $7,519 $11,127
1991 $7,790 $11,576
1990 $7,781 $11,687
1989 $7,773 -
1988 $7,033 -
1987 $6,625 -
1986 $6,031 -
1985 $5,510 -
1984 $5,284 -
1983 $4,866 -
1982 $4,599 -
1981 $4,417 -
1980 $4,025 -
1979 $2,668 -
1978 $2,198 -
1977 $1,968 -
1976 $1,734 -
1975 $1,601 -
1974 $1,243 -
1973 $1,042 -
1972 $856 -
1971 $750 -
1970 $666 -
1969 $567 -
1968 $506 -
1967 $508 -
1966 $462 -
1965 $433 -
1964 $414 -
1963 $421 -
1962 $377 -
1961 $366 -
1960 $347 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

Barbados has a GDP per capita of $26,545, ranking 46/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $24,823, ranking 84/197, and a median annual after tax income of $18,869, ranking 48/197.

Barbados GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 150 43 78
2023 155 45 78
2022 154 44 79
2021 155 46 86
2020 156 46 78
2019 154 44 73
2018 155 44 71
2017 155 44 71
2016 155 41 68
2015 156 40 67
2014 156 46 69
2013 155 44 67
2012 152 43 63
2011 153 45 59
2010 148 43 58
2009 154 49 56
2008 152 51 54
2007 144 47 53
2006 144 46 51
2005 144 45 50
2004 145 44 49
2003 140 43 48
2002 136 39 49
2001 135 39 48
2000 135 39 47
1999 134 40 46
1998 133 40 45
1997 133 43 45
1996 139 42 44
1995 136 42 44
1994 128 41 44
1993 131 40 43
1992 134 41 44
1991 137 39 43
1990 137 39 42
1989 121 34 -
1988 122 35 -
1987 120 34 -
1986 112 34 -
1985 112 36 -
1984 110 37 -
1983 110 38 -
1982 114 39 -
1981 116 40 -
1980 120 40 -
1979 119 44 -
1978 120 44 -
1977 119 45 -
1976 120 44 -
1975 119 44 -
1974 116 51 -
1973 118 50 -
1972 119 49 -
1971 119 51 -
1970 119 51 -
1969 111 41 -
1968 111 42 -
1967 109 41 -
1966 107 43 -
1965 107 44 -
1964 104 41 -
1963 104 39 -
1962 104 40 -
1961 103 39 -
1960 101 40 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Barbados is ranked 150th out of 182 by GDP (down from 135th), 43rd by GDP per capita (down from 39th), and 78th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 47th).

Economic indicators

Barbados Rank
Gross domestic product
$7.5B
2024
157/197
GDP growth
2.48%
2023-2024
124/194
GDP per capita
$26,545
2024
46/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
84/197
Government debt
$7.97B
2024
134/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
106.3%
2024
18/185
Government debt per person
$28,218
2024
26/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$18,869
2026
48/197
Listed domestic companies
15
2020
93/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.78B
2020
86/100
Number of billionaires
1
2025
64/78
Billionaire frequency
1 in 215,550
2025
8/78
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2016
103/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
106/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.2%
2024
95/195
Consumer prices inflation
-0.44%
2023-2024
191/195
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
94/106
Unemployment rate
6.54%
2023
71/196
Population
282798
175/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 30.2% 106.3% -0.89%
2023 28.8% 113.4% -1.71%
2022 30.3% 116.9% -1.96%
2021 32.5% 130.2% -4.65%
2020 30.3% 128.4% -4.16%
2019 23.9% 109.5% 3.08%
2018 26.9% 115% -0.34%
2017 29.8% 143.6% -3.89%
2016 30.7% 136.5% -4.88%
2015 31.4% 131.9% -8.16%
2014 29% 122% -6.57%
2013 30.8% 118.6% -8.98%
2012 30.6% 109.4% -7.07%
2011 27.7% 98.7% -3.63%
2010 29.7% 96% -7.55%
2009 29.5% 88.5% -6.56%
2008 28.1% 72.6% -4.1%
2007 27.8% 69% -4.34%
2006 27.2% 69.8% -3.41%
2005 28.7% 68.2% -3.03%
2004 28.5% 66.5% -2.97%
2003 29.8% 66.6% -3.08%
2002 31% 66.1% -5.28%
2001 22% 62.6% 4.07%
2000 20.8% 56.6% 4.94%
1999 19.7% 50.1% 5.39%
1998 19% 50.5% 6.03%
1997 21.5% 56.9% 5.64%
1996 20.5% 56.1% 3.76%
1995 18.6% 55.9% 6.22%
1994 17% 55% 6.72%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

This chart shows Barbados' government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 31 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 1.66% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $2.26B (30.2% of GDP), with a deficit of 0.89%.

The national debt reached $7.97B, ranking 134th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 106.3%, ranking 18th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 -0.44%
2023 9.79%
2022 -
2021 -
2020 -
2019 4.1%
2018 3.67%
2017 4.66%
2016 1.28%
2015 -1.11%
2014 1.77%
2013 1.81%
2012 4.53%
2011 9.43%
2010 5.82%
2009 3.64%
2008 8.11%
2007 4.03%
2006 7.31%
2005 6.08%
2004 1.39%
2003 1.62%
2002 0.13%
2001 2.58%
2000 2.44%
1999 1.56%
1998 -1.27%
1997 7.71%
1996 2.39%
1995 1.88%
1994 0.08%
1993 1.11%
1992 6.09%
1991 6.26%
1990 3.07%
1989 6.19%
1988 4.86%
1987 3.31%
1986 1.33%
1985 3.92%
1984 4.69%
1983 5.23%
1982 10.3%
1981 14.6%
1980 14.4%
1979 13.2%
1978 9.48%
1977 8.35%
1976 4.99%
1975 20.3%
1974 38.9%
1973 16.9%
1972 11.9%
1971 7.47%
1970 7.28%
1969 5.84%
1968 7.49%
1967 3.63%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1967–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

Over the past 17 years, Barbados has had an average annual inflation rate of 4.38%. In 2024, inflation was -0.44%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Barbados Rank
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
100/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.22%
2017
140/190
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
160/189
Goods exports
$705M
2017
155/189
Service imports
$687M
2017
155/189
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
116/189
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2025
171/193

Barbados top 10 trading partners

Barbados' biggest trading partner accounting for 37.4% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of -$751M: Barbados exports $81.7M worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $832M.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Barbados.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 United States $914M 37.4% $81.7M $832M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
2 Trinidad $489M 20% $29.8M $460M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Raw materials & minerals
3 Netherlands $131M 5.35% $1.76M $129M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Raw materials & minerals
4 United Kingdom $109M 4.47% $8.22M $101M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
5 China $93.4M 3.82% $2.72M $90.6M Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
6 Jamaica $66.8M 2.73% $34.2M $32.6M Raw materials & minerals Processed food, beverages & tobacco
7 Canada $65.7M 2.69% $19.8M $45.9M Metals Machinery & equipment
8 Japan $61.7M 2.53% $139K $61.6M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
9 Panama $51.6M 2.11% $1.6M $50M Wood & paper products Chemicals & pharma
10 France $31.5M 1.29% $10.4M $21.1M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Processed food, beverages & tobacco

Top 10 exports

Barbados Rank
Raw materials & minerals $172M 142/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $106M 130/192
Chemicals & pharma $56M 124/193
Machinery & equipment $36.7M 145/193
Metals $30.2M 138/192
Precious metals & jewellery $18.3M 126/190
Wood & paper products $17.2M 130/192
Textiles & consumer goods $16.1M 142/193
Raw agricultural goods $4.23M 168/193
Animal & marine products $3.33M 165/192

Top 10 imports

Barbados Rank
Machinery & equipment $536M 153/193
Raw materials & minerals $525M 149/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $267M 147/193
Chemicals & pharma $220M 155/193
Textiles & consumer goods $167M 154/193
Raw agricultural goods $115M 160/193
Animal & marine products $114M 131/193
Metals $99.7M 160/193
Wood & paper products $83.7M 143/193
Miscellaneous $20.2M 135/193

Economic freedom indices

Barbados Rank
Economic freedom 70.4 34/197
Property rights 76.4 42/182
Government integrity 71.3 28/182
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 24/182
Tax burden 83.2 68/182
Government spending 74.5 88/180
Fiscal health 76.5 88/181
Business freedom 72.3 55/182
Labor freedom 54.3 111/182
Monetary freedom 80.8 13/180
Trade freedom 48.2 171/181
Investment freedom 60 59/181
Financial freedom 60 37/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 70.4 87.3 83.2 74.5 76.5
2025 68.9 86.9 83.6 74.1 68.8
2024 66.8 87.3 81.4 66.3 55.7
2023 69.8 68.4 79.2 69.7 73.9
2022 71.3 88.2 80.6 70.8 79.7
2021 65 49.7 79.3 73.1 79.8
2020 61.4 36.1 73.6 69.2 63.1
2019 64.7 59.9 70.1 65 79.5
2018 57 54.4 74 39.3 0
2017 54.5 33 74 39 0
2016 68.3 - 75.8 37.6 -
2015 67.9 - 73.8 42.1 -
2014 68.3 - 74 49.8 -
2013 69.3 - 74.5 54.2 -
2012 69 - 71.1 40.1 -
2011 68.5 - 70.7 48.8 -
2010 68.3 - 70.1 54.6 -
2009 71.5 - 70.9 66.3 -
2008 71.3 - 71.3 62.2 -
2007 70 - 67.4 59.8 -
2006 71.9 - 67.4 58.7 -
2005 70.1 - 60.6 56 -
2004 69.4 - 59.8 58.9 -
2003 71.3 - 60.4 64.7 -
2002 73.6 - 59 65.3 -
2001 71.5 - 58.8 65.3 -
2000 69.5 - 58.6 67.3 -
1999 66.7 - 60.3 67.9 -
1998 67.9 - 60.3 73 -
1997 64.5 - 60.7 73 -
1996 62.3 - 60.8 71.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

Barbados is ranked 28/174 for economic freedom with a score of 70.4, compared to 18/162 and a score of 71.9 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Barbados Rank
Services, % of GDP
75.5%
2024
12/191
Industry, % of GDP
12.4%
2024
171/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.58%
2024
158/193
GNI, Atlas method
$7.1B
2024
154/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$23,850
2024
80/191
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
131/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
83/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
126/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
115/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
70/176

Compare Barbados vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.