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Economy of Barbados vs Ghana compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Barbados has a GDP of $8.02B compared to $114B for Ghana, ranking 157/197 and 69/197 by economy size, respectively.

Barbados has $7.55B in government debt (94.2% of GDP), compared to $55.8B (48.8% of GDP) in Ghana.

Barbados vs Ghana GDP by year

Barbados
Ghana
1x
Year GDP, current $
Barbados Ghana
2025 $8,016,550,000 $114,209,905,279
2024 $7,597,571,450 $83,288,585,604
2023 $7,223,248,150 $80,547,146,876
2022 $6,886,644,900 $73,919,003,212
2021 $5,948,900,600 $79,514,204,730
2020 $5,403,246,950 $70,008,243,860
2019 $6,166,710,800 $68,352,629,246
2018 $6,001,101,550 $67,259,353,966
2017 $5,847,381,600 $60,385,409,435
2016 $5,679,029,450 $56,144,179,398
2015 $5,699,619,150 $49,436,806,230
2014 $5,684,901,000 $54,678,533,806
2013 $5,660,059,700 $62,845,721,960
2012 $5,486,500,500 $41,271,701,061
2011 $5,563,162,050 $39,336,668,081
2010 $5,428,683,250 $32,197,655,567
2009 $4,466,809,600 $26,048,720,006
2008 $4,790,410,400 $28,679,383,241
2007 $4,675,767,950 $24,827,339,138
2006 $4,217,323,400 $20,885,037,597
2005 $3,819,500,000 $10,744,568,381
2004 $3,444,500,000 $8,881,417,907
2003 $3,209,500,000 $7,632,723,556
2002 $3,106,500,000 $6,166,197,848
2001 $3,054,500,000 $5,314,872,854
2000 $3,059,500,000 $4,982,850,662
1999 $2,951,822,205 $7,718,109,982
1998 $2,817,083,478 $7,482,069,162
1997 $2,498,384,130 $6,891,443,192
1996 $2,363,645,403 $6,932,991,739
1995 $2,216,974,096 $6,464,382,808
1994 $2,151,344,901 $5,446,383,727
1993 $2,063,342,117 $5,968,922,939
1992 $1,957,000,000 $6,416,103,926
1991 $2,020,583,702 $6,603,185,268
1990 $2,012,131,457 $5,889,106,573
1989 $2,006,165,167 $5,251,858,440
1988 $1,812,757,918 $5,197,765,032
1987 $1,704,370,308 $5,074,829,932
1986 $1,547,755,183 $5,735,677,434
1985 $1,409,536,121 $4,504,306,723
1984 $1,346,890,071 $4,412,279,843
1983 $1,236,016,507 $4,057,275,132
1982 $1,163,923,830 $4,035,994,398
1981 $1,114,204,743 $4,222,441,860
1980 $1,012,280,615 $4,445,228,216
1979 $670,362,452 $4,020,227,920
1978 $552,883,707 $3,662,478,185
1977 $495,097,668 $3,189,428,571
1976 $435,911,269 $2,765,254,237
1975 $402,178,605 $2,810,106,383
1974 $311,804,630 $2,894,409,938
1973 $260,767,828 $3,006,766,758
1972 $213,725,217 $2,112,293,280
1971 $186,826,503 $2,417,108,578
1970 $166,210,203 $2,215,028,588
1969 $141,393,142 $1,962,050,556
1968 $125,733,669 $1,666,909,518
1967 $125,554,009 $1,747,187,645
1966 $113,195,123 $2,126,300,672
1965 $105,021,997 $2,053,462,968
1964 $99,252,731 $1,731,296,200
1963 $99,893,761 $1,540,797,589
1962 $88,782,583 $1,382,515,654
1961 $85,363,759 $1,302,674,325
1960 $80,021,847 $1,217,230,095

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

GDP per capita in Barbados vs Ghana by year

Barbados
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Ghana
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Barbados Ghana
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $28,365 - $3,257 -
2024 $26,897 $24,823 $2,419 $8,020
2023 $25,584 $23,660 $2,384 $7,556
2022 $24,393 $22,193 $2,230 $7,208
2021 $21,084 $17,683 $2,445 $6,608
2020 $19,181 $16,555 $2,195 $6,047
2019 $21,929 $19,971 $2,187 $6,003
2018 $21,378 $19,777 $2,195 $5,536
2017 $20,871 $18,437 $2,012 $5,171
2016 $20,311 $19,176 $1,912 $5,011
2015 $20,429 $19,186 $1,723 $5,191
2014 $20,424 $18,595 $1,950 $5,517
2013 $20,384 $19,032 $2,295 $5,215
2012 $19,811 $19,605 $1,544 $4,934
2011 $20,146 $20,316 $1,507 $4,381
2010 $19,723 $20,033 $1,264 $3,855
2009 $16,295 $20,324 $1,048 $3,617
2008 $17,566 $21,376 $1,183 $3,516
2007 $17,235 $20,949 $1,050 $3,241
2006 $15,620 $20,076 $906 $3,103
2005 $14,214 $18,450 $479 $2,904
2004 $12,886 $17,299 $406 $2,729
2003 $12,076 $16,707 $358 $2,584
2002 $11,760 $16,133 $297.5 $2,475
2001 $11,640 $15,866 $263.5 $2,397
2000 $11,675 $15,914 $253.7 $2,315
1999 $11,244 $14,873 $403 $2,239
1998 $10,734 $14,621 $400 $2,167
1997 $9,522 $13,941 $378 $2,097
1996 $9,012 $13,090 $389 $2,026
1995 $8,460 $12,375 $372 $1,947
1994 $8,223 $11,900 $321 $1,875
1993 $7,905 $11,448 $360 $1,821
1992 $7,519 $11,127 $396 $1,739
1991 $7,790 $11,576 $418 $1,678
1990 $7,781 $11,687 $383 $1,581
1989 $7,773 - $350 -
1988 $7,033 - $355 -
1987 $6,625 - $355 -
1986 $6,031 - $411 -
1985 $5,510 - $330 -
1984 $5,284 - $330 -
1983 $4,866 - $311 -
1982 $4,599 - $319 -
1981 $4,417 - $344 -
1980 $4,025 - $372 -
1979 $2,668 - $347 -
1978 $2,198 - $326 -
1977 $1,968 - $292.3 -
1976 $1,734 - $261 -
1975 $1,601 - $273 -
1974 $1,243 - $289.4 -
1973 $1,042 - $310 -
1972 $856 - $223.8 -
1971 $750 - $263.4 -
1970 $666 - $248.2 -
1969 $567 - $225.8 -
1968 $506 - $196.7 -
1967 $508 - $211.2 -
1966 $462 - $263.3 -
1965 $433 - $260.5 -
1964 $414 - $225 -
1963 $421 - $205 -
1962 $377 - $188.4 -
1961 $366 - $181.9 -
1960 $347 - $174.9 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

Barbados' GDP per capita is $28,365, ranking 48/197, compared to $3,257 in Ghana, ranking 139/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Ghana ranks 140th at $8,020.

Economic indicators

Barbados Ghana
Gross domestic product
$8.02B
2025
$114B
2025
GDP rank
157/197
2025
69/197
2025
GDP growth
2.7%
2024-2025
5.95%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$28,365
2025
$3,257
2025
GDP per capita rank
48/197
2025
139/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
$8,020
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
84/197
2024
140/197
2024
Government debt
$7.55B
2025
$55.8B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
94.2%
2025
48.8%
2025
Government debt per person
$26,731
2025
$1,590
2025
Government debt per person rank
28/185
2025
128/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$19,127
2026
$2,135
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.78B
2020
$16.4B
2025
Number of billionaires
1
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2016
32.2%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
1.6%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
17%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2024-2025
14.2%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
14%
2026
Unemployment rate
6.03%
2024
3.97%
2024
Population
282789
36032857

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Barbados
Spending

Debt
Ghana
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Barbados Ghana
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 94.2% 17% 48.8%
2024 28.1% 98.9% 22% 70.3%
2023 26.5% 104.1% 18.5% 79.1%
2022 26.9% 104% 27.5% 92.7%
2021 27.1% 108.6% 27.2% 86.9%
2020 30.6% 129.6% 31.5% 79.1%
2019 22.2% 101.6% 22.5% 62.9%
2018 25% 107.2% 20.9% 62%
2017 28% 134.6% 17.6% 57%
2016 28.6% 127.1% 19.9% 55.9%
2015 29.2% 122.5% 18.6% 53.9%
2014 27.4% 115.1% 21% 50.1%
2013 29.1% 111.7% 21.6% 42.9%
2012 28.9% 103.5% 22.1% 35.5%
2011 26.5% 94.4% 19.5% 31.2%
2010 28% 90.3% 19% 32.9%
2009 27.8% 83.5% 16.6% 25.4%
2008 27.1% 69.8% 16.6% 23.2%
2007 26.1% 64.9% 16.8% 21.1%
2006 25% 64.1% 14.4% 17.3%
2005 26.4% 62.7% 12.9% 31.7%
2004 26.2% 61% 13.7% 38.4%
2003 27.7% 61.8% 12.1% 49.3%
2002 29.1% 62% 10.7% 54.1%
2001 20.7% 59% 13.8% 57.8%
2000 19.7% 53.6% 12% 74.5%
1999 18.5% 47% 11.1% 51.7%
1998 17.8% 47.2% 11.8% 37.6%
1997 19.6% 52% 12% 45.2%
1996 19.1% 52.3% 12.4% 42.9%
1995 17.3% 52% 13% 47.6%
1994 15.9% 51.4% 12.7% 50.6%
1993 - - 12.1% 34.1%
1992 - - 9.2% 21.3%
1991 - - 7.09% 17.3%
1990 - - 6.59% 17.8%
1989 - - 7.24% 23%
1988 - - 7.23% 23.5%
1987 - - 7.32% 26.8%
1986 - - 7.29% 18.2%
1985 - - 6.08% 14.4%
1984 - - 4.64% 13%
1983 - - 3.49% 9.21%
1982 - - 4.73% 8.51%
1981 - - 5.74% 8.77%
1980 - - 7.51% 9.75%
1979 - - 9.14% 11.5%
1978 - - 6.54% 11.4%
1977 - - 10.5% 20.7%
1976 - - 12.8% 26%
1975 - - 13.2% 21.8%
1974 - - 9.52% 21.8%
1973 - - 9.35% 25.4%
1972 - - 11.4% 29.8%
1971 - - 11.7% 29.5%
1970 - - 12.2% 31.9%
1969 - - 11.2% 31.4%
1968 - - 12.3% 34.5%
1967 - - 11.5% 33.9%
1966 - - 9.12% 29.8%
1965 - - 14.2% 30.2%
1964 - - 15.8% 30.8%
1963 - - 15.3% 30.5%
1962 - - 12.5% 11.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

In 2025, Barbados' government spending was $2.16B, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Ghana spent $19.4B, or 17% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 94.2% in Barbados and 48.8% in Ghana, ranking 28/185 and 108/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Barbados

Ghana
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Barbados Ghana
2025 -0.31% -1.35%
2024 -0.84% -6.23%
2023 -1.57% -3.37%
2022 -1.74% -11.8%
2021 -3.88% -12%
2020 -4.19% -17.4%
2019 2.86% -7.52%
2018 -0.32% -6.79%
2017 -3.64% -3.97%
2016 -4.55% -6.75%
2015 -7.58% -4.01%
2014 -6.2% -7.81%
2013 -8.46% -9.12%
2012 -6.69% -8.36%
2011 -3.47% -5.47%
2010 -7.1% -7.13%
2009 -6.19% -5.05%
2008 -3.94% -5.56%
2007 -4.08% -4.91%
2006 -3.13% -3.11%
2005 -2.78% -1.87%
2004 -2.73% -2.02%
2003 -2.86% -1.99%
2002 -4.96% -2.73%
2001 3.83% -3.64%
2000 4.68% -3.98%
1999 5.06% -5.64%
1998 5.63% -5.27%
1997 5.15% -6.14%
1996 3.5% -5.61%
1995 5.79% -4.52%
1994 6.28% -4.99%
1993 - -5.39%
1992 - -4.5%
1991 - -1.47%
1990 - -1.93%
1989 - -0.81%
1988 - -1.08%
1987 - -0.92%
1986 - -1.26%
1985 - -1.19%
1984 - -0.98%
1983 - -1.13%
1982 - -2.03%
1981 - -3.8%
1980 - -4.73%
1979 - -3.61%
1978 - -1.21%
1977 - -4.68%
1976 - -5.53%
1975 - -4.05%
1974 - -2.06%
1973 - -2.64%
1972 - -2.19%
1971 - 0.13%
1970 - -2.35%
1969 - -2.67%
1968 - -2.34%
1967 - -2.32%
1966 - -1.29%
1965 - -3.29%
1964 - -3.72%
1963 - -5.66%
1962 - -5.04%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

In 2025, Barbados' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $24.8M, equivalent to 0.31% of GDP. This compares to Ghana's deficit of $1.54B, or 1.35% of GDP.

Over the past 32 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Ghana ran a deficit in 32 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 1.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 5.82% of GDP for Ghana.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Barbados

Ghana
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Barbados Ghana
2025 0.85% 14.2%
2024 1.45% 22.8%
2023 3.19% 38.1%
2022 - 31.3%
2021 - 9.97%
2020 - 9.89%
2019 1.68% 7.14%
2018 3.11% 7.81%
2017 4.66% 12.4%
2016 1.28% 17.5%
2015 -1.11% 17.1%
2014 1.77% 15.5%
2013 1.81% 11.7%
2012 4.53% 11.2%
2011 9.43% 8.73%
2010 5.82% 10.7%
2009 3.64% 19.2%
2008 8.11% 16.5%
2007 4.03% 10.7%
2006 7.31% 11.7%
2005 6.08% 15.4%
2004 1.39% 18%
2003 1.62% 29.8%
2002 0.13% 9.36%
2001 2.58% 41.5%
2000 2.44% 40.2%
1999 1.56% 4.87%
1998 -1.27% 14.6%
1997 7.71% 27.9%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.22%, compared with 17.4% in Ghana. In 2025, inflation was 0.85% in Barbados and 14.2% in Ghana.

Top exports between countries

Barbados
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $36K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $19K
Miscellaneous $15K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K
Ghana
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $51K
Wood & paper products $34K
Chemicals & pharma $9K
Textiles & consumer goods $4K
Machinery & equipment $1K
Metals $1K

Balance of trade

Barbados Ghana
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
$9.39B
2025
Current account balance ranking
96/190
2017
25/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.07%
2017
+8.22%
2025
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
$17.5B
2025
Goods exports
$705M
2017
$31.2B
2025
Service imports
$687M
2017
$14.6B
2025
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
$10.1B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
33.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2026
35.1%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Barbados Ghana
Economic freedom 70.4 57.3
Economic freedom ranking 34/197 118/197
Property rights 76.4 50.2
Government integrity 71.3 45.4
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 57.5
Tax burden 83.2 79.4
Government spending 74.5 84
Fiscal health 76.5 10.1
Business freedom 72.3 64.5
Labor freedom 54.3 54.9
Monetary freedom 80.8 56.7
Trade freedom 48.2 65.2
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Barbados
Ghana
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Barbados Ghana
2026 70.4 57.3
2025 68.9 56
2024 66.8 55.8
2023 69.8 58
2022 71.3 59.8
2021 65 59.2
2020 61.4 59.4
2019 64.7 57.5
2018 57 56
2017 54.5 56.2
2016 68.3 63
2015 67.9 63
2014 68.3 64.2
2013 69.3 61.3
2012 69 60.7
2011 68.5 59.4
2010 68.3 60.2
2009 71.5 58.1
2008 71.3 57
2007 70 57.6
2006 71.9 55.6
2005 70.1 56.5
2004 69.4 59.1
2003 71.3 58.2
2002 73.6 57.2
2001 71.5 58
2000 69.5 58.1
1999 66.7 57.9
1998 67.9 57
1997 64.5 56.7
1996 62.3 57.7
1995 - 55.6

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Barbados is 70.4, ranking 34/197, compared to 57.3 for Ghana, ranking 118/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Barbados Ghana
Services, % of GDP
75.8%
2024
42.9%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
12.2%
2024
29.3%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.55%
2024
21.3%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$7.65B
2025
$92.3B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$24,840
2025
$8,080
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
$4.47B
2024
Total reserves ranking
131/177
2024
108/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
-$1.87B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
$1.77B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
$5.37M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.5%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
23.4%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
9.9%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/ghana | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1962–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2020–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.