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Economy of Barbados vs Latvia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Barbados has a GDP of $8.02B compared to $48.6B for Latvia, ranking 157/197 and 99/197 by economy size, respectively.

Barbados has $7.55B in government debt (94.2% of GDP), compared to $22.8B (46.9% of GDP) in Latvia.

Barbados vs Latvia GDP by year

Barbados
Latvia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Barbados Latvia
2025 $8,016,550,000 $48,618,869,160
2024 $7,597,571,450 $44,001,275,013
2023 $7,223,248,150 $42,779,550,937
2022 $6,886,644,900 $38,003,198,509
2021 $5,948,900,600 $38,183,326,785
2020 $5,403,246,950 $33,379,927,435
2019 $6,166,710,800 $33,099,503,951
2018 $6,001,101,550 $33,247,935,477
2017 $5,847,381,600 $29,391,059,767
2016 $5,679,029,450 $27,117,105,060
2015 $5,699,619,150 $26,344,565,877
2014 $5,684,901,000 $30,277,203,767
2013 $5,660,059,700 $29,152,128,168
2012 $5,486,500,500 $27,116,149,949
2011 $5,563,162,050 $26,575,547,901
2010 $5,428,683,250 $23,468,324,572
2009 $4,466,809,600 $25,691,530,442
2008 $4,790,410,400 $34,135,200,994
2007 $4,675,767,950 $29,420,499,248
2006 $4,217,323,400 $20,434,922,247
2005 $3,819,500,000 $16,306,935,905
2004 $3,444,500,000 $13,827,070,379
2003 $3,209,500,000 $11,244,337,720
2002 $3,106,500,000 $9,249,030,241
2001 $3,054,500,000 $8,190,888,740
2000 $3,059,500,000 $7,761,252,607
1999 $2,951,822,205 $7,324,192,890
1998 $2,817,083,478 $6,974,112,951
1997 $2,498,384,130 $6,349,481,007
1996 $2,363,645,403 $5,799,465,288
1995 $2,216,974,096 $5,608,208,785
1994 $2,151,344,901 -
1993 $2,063,342,117 -
1992 $1,957,000,000 -
1991 $2,020,583,702 -
1990 $2,012,131,457 -
1989 $2,006,165,167 -
1988 $1,812,757,918 -
1987 $1,704,370,308 -
1986 $1,547,755,183 -
1985 $1,409,536,121 -
1984 $1,346,890,071 -
1983 $1,236,016,507 -
1982 $1,163,923,830 -
1981 $1,114,204,743 -
1980 $1,012,280,615 -
1979 $670,362,452 -
1978 $552,883,707 -
1977 $495,097,668 -
1976 $435,911,269 -
1975 $402,178,605 -
1974 $311,804,630 -
1973 $260,767,828 -
1972 $213,725,217 -
1971 $186,826,503 -
1970 $166,210,203 -
1969 $141,393,142 -
1968 $125,733,669 -
1967 $125,554,009 -
1966 $113,195,123 -
1965 $105,021,997 -
1964 $99,252,731 -
1963 $99,893,761 -
1962 $88,782,583 -
1961 $85,363,759 -
1960 $80,021,847 -

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

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

GDP per capita in Barbados vs Latvia by year

Barbados
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Latvia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Barbados Latvia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $28,365 - $26,312 -
2024 $26,897 $24,823 $23,579 $43,394
2023 $25,584 $23,660 $22,710 $42,576
2022 $24,393 $22,193 $20,221 $40,559
2021 $21,084 $17,683 $20,262 $36,912
2020 $19,181 $16,555 $17,564 $32,741
2019 $21,929 $19,971 $17,295 $32,199
2018 $21,378 $19,777 $17,252 $29,818
2017 $20,871 $18,437 $15,132 $25,764
2016 $20,311 $19,176 $13,839 $24,063
2015 $20,429 $19,186 $13,322 $22,544
2014 $20,424 $18,595 $15,186 $21,554
2013 $20,384 $19,032 $14,484 $20,474
2012 $19,811 $19,605 $13,329 $19,417
2011 $20,146 $20,316 $12,903 $17,680
2010 $19,723 $20,033 $11,188 $16,373
2009 $16,295 $20,324 $11,996 $15,545
2008 $17,566 $21,376 $15,678 $17,443
2007 $17,235 $20,949 $13,371 $16,246
2006 $15,620 $20,076 $9,212 $14,180
2005 $14,214 $18,450 $7,284 $12,826
2004 $12,886 $17,299 $6,110 $11,319
2003 $12,076 $16,707 $4,915 $10,193
2002 $11,760 $16,133 $4,004 $9,569
2001 $11,640 $15,866 $3,505 $8,808
2000 $11,675 $15,914 $3,278 $7,849
1999 $11,244 $14,873 $3,064 $7,256
1998 $10,734 $14,621 $2,894 $6,922
1997 $9,522 $13,941 $2,610 $6,366
1996 $9,012 $13,090 $2,360 $5,688
1995 $8,460 $12,375 $2,257 $5,391
1994 $8,223 $11,900 - $5,012
1993 $7,905 $11,448 - $4,722
1992 $7,519 $11,127 - $4,760
1991 $7,790 $11,576 - $6,762
1990 $7,781 $11,687 - $7,448
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Barbados' GDP per capita is $28,365, ranking 48/197, compared to $26,312 in Latvia, ranking 51/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Latvia ranks 53rd at $43,394.

Economic indicators

Barbados Latvia
Gross domestic product
$8.02B
2025
$48.6B
2025
GDP rank
157/197
2025
99/197
2025
GDP growth
2.7%
2024-2025
2.14%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$28,365
2025
$26,312
2025
GDP per capita rank
48/197
2025
51/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
$43,394
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
84/197
2024
53/197
2024
Government debt
$7.55B
2025
$22.8B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
94.2%
2025
46.9%
2025
Government debt per person
$26,731
2025
$12,353
2025
Government debt per person rank
28/185
2025
50/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$19,127
2026
$16,702
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.78B
2020
n/a
Number of billionaires
1
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2016
26.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
2.6%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
45.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2024-2025
3.75%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.03%
2024
6.9%
2025
Population
282789
1826986

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Barbados
Spending

Debt
Latvia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Barbados Latvia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 94.2% 45.4% 46.9%
2024 28.1% 98.9% 44% 46.2%
2023 26.5% 104.1% 42.9% 44.4%
2022 26.9% 104% 43.6% 44.4%
2021 27.1% 108.6% 44.6% 45.9%
2020 30.6% 129.6% 42.6% 44%
2019 22.2% 101.6% 39% 37.9%
2018 25% 107.2% 39.4% 38.3%
2017 28% 134.6% 37.8% 40.3%
2016 28.6% 127.1% 37.4% 41.7%
2015 29.2% 122.5% 38.7% 38.3%
2014 27.4% 115.1% 39.2% 43.1%
2013 29.1% 111.7% 38.7% 41.8%
2012 28.9% 103.5% 38.6% 44.4%
2011 26.5% 94.4% 41.2% 46.8%
2010 28% 90.3% 43.6% 48.2%
2009 27.8% 83.5% 43.6% 37.6%
2008 27.1% 69.8% 38.2% 19.3%
2007 26.1% 64.9% 34.8% 9%
2006 25% 64.1% 35.5% 10.7%
2005 26.4% 62.7% 35.8% 12.5%
2004 26.2% 61% 34.8% 15.3%
2003 27.7% 61.8% 34.4% 15.4%
2002 29.1% 62% 35.4% 15.4%
2001 20.7% 59% 35% 17.8%
2000 19.7% 53.6% 37% 15.1%
1999 18.5% 47% 40.4% 14.8%
1998 17.8% 47.2% 38.1% 9.81%
1997 19.6% 52% - -
1996 19.1% 52.3% - -
1995 17.3% 52% - -
1994 15.9% 51.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Barbados' government spending was $2.16B, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Latvia spent $22.1B, or 45.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 94.2% in Barbados and 46.9% in Latvia, ranking 28/185 and 112/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Barbados

Latvia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Barbados Latvia
2025 -0.31% -4.05%
2024 -0.84% -1.72%
2023 -1.57% -3.36%
2022 -1.74% -3.95%
2021 -3.88% -5.71%
2020 -4.19% -3.85%
2019 2.86% -0.39%
2018 -0.32% -0.77%
2017 -3.64% -0.85%
2016 -4.55% -0.41%
2015 -7.58% -1.57%
2014 -6.2% -1.74%
2013 -8.46% -0.58%
2012 -6.69% 0.18%
2011 -3.47% -3.38%
2010 -7.1% -6.56%
2009 -6.19% -7.14%
2008 -3.94% -3.29%
2007 -4.08% 0.63%
2006 -3.13% -0.48%
2005 -2.78% -1.06%
2004 -2.73% -1.04%
2003 -2.86% -1.67%
2002 -4.96% -2.59%
2001 3.83% -2.03%
2000 4.68% -2.57%
1999 5.06% -3.54%
1998 5.63% -0.66%
1997 5.15% -
1996 3.5% -
1995 5.79% -
1994 6.28% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/latvia | 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 Latvia's deficit of $1.97B, or 4.05% of GDP.

Over the past 28 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Latvia ran a deficit in 26 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 2.47% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.29% of GDP for Latvia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Barbados

Latvia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Barbados Latvia
2025 0.85% 3.75%
2024 1.45% 1.27%
2023 3.19% 8.94%
2022 - 17.3%
2021 - 3.28%
2020 - 0.22%
2019 1.68% 2.81%
2018 3.11% 2.53%
2017 4.66% 2.93%
2016 1.28% 0.14%
2015 -1.11% 0.17%
2014 1.77% 0.62%
2013 1.81% -0.03%
2012 4.53% 2.26%
2011 9.43% 4.37%
2010 5.82% -1.08%
2009 3.64% 3.53%
2008 8.11% 15.4%
2007 4.03% 10.1%
2006 7.31% 6.54%
2005 6.08% 6.75%
2004 1.39% 6.19%
2003 1.62% 2.94%
2002 0.13% 1.94%
2001 2.58% 2.49%
2000 2.44% 2.65%
1999 1.56% 2.36%
1998 -1.27% 4.64%
1997 7.71% 8.45%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.22%, compared with 4.26% in Latvia. In 2025, inflation was 0.85% in Barbados and 3.75% in Latvia.

Top exports between countries

Barbados
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $13K
Machinery & equipment $1K
Latvia
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $1.94M
Miscellaneous $191K
Raw materials & minerals $159K
Wood & paper products $45K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $40K
Chemicals & pharma $23K
Textiles & consumer goods $7K
Metals $3K

Balance of trade

Barbados Latvia
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
-$1.64B
2025
Current account balance ranking
96/190
2017
133/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.07%
2017
-3.38%
2025
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
$25.6B
2025
Goods exports
$705M
2017
$21.1B
2025
Service imports
$687M
2017
$7.07B
2025
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
$9.33B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
67.2%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2026
62.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Barbados Latvia
Economic freedom 70.4 71.6
Economic freedom ranking 34/197 31/197
Property rights 76.4 88.8
Government integrity 71.3 67.7
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 70.9
Tax burden 83.2 70.9
Government spending 74.5 42.7
Fiscal health 76.5 80.8
Business freedom 72.3 80.7
Labor freedom 54.3 60.5
Monetary freedom 80.8 76.3
Trade freedom 48.2 79.4
Investment freedom 60 80
Financial freedom 60 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Barbados
Latvia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Barbados Latvia
2026 70.4 71.6
2025 68.9 71.4
2024 66.8 71.5
2023 69.8 72.8
2022 71.3 74.8
2021 65 72.3
2020 61.4 71.9
2019 64.7 70.4
2018 57 73.6
2017 54.5 74.8
2016 68.3 70.4
2015 67.9 69.7
2014 68.3 68.7
2013 69.3 66.5
2012 69 65.2
2011 68.5 65.8
2010 68.3 66.2
2009 71.5 66.6
2008 71.3 68.3
2007 70 67.9
2006 71.9 66.9
2005 70.1 66.3
2004 69.4 67.4
2003 71.3 66
2002 73.6 65
2001 71.5 66.4
2000 69.5 63.4
1999 66.7 64.2
1998 67.9 63.4
1997 64.5 62.4
1996 62.3 55

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Barbados is 70.4, ranking 34/197, compared to 71.6 for Latvia, ranking 31/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Barbados Latvia
Services, % of GDP
75.8%
2024
64.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
12.2%
2024
18.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.55%
2024
4.01%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$7.65B
2025
$46.1B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$24,840
2025
$45,740
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
$6.1B
2025
Total reserves ranking
131/177
2024
95/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
$72.5M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
$1.51B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
$257M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
22.5%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
24.1%
2025

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/latvia | 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 (1994–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. 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.

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.