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Economy of Barbados vs Mali compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Barbados has a GDP of $7.5B compared to $26.8B for Mali, ranking 157/197 and 113/197 by economy size, respectively.

Barbados has $7.97B in government debt (106.3% of GDP), compared to $13.9B (51.7% of GDP) in Mali.

Barbados vs Mali GDP by year

Barbados
Mali
1x
Year GDP, current $
Barbados Mali
2024 $7,498,050,000 $26,794,747,240
2023 $7,223,250,000 $24,813,860,599
2022 $6,884,900,000 $22,539,987,719
2021 $5,947,550,000 $22,999,245,263
2020 $5,407,050,000 $20,698,560,939
2019 $6,161,850,000 $20,477,421,885
2018 $6,001,950,000 $20,368,015,381
2017 $5,683,150,000 $18,308,362,040
2016 $5,674,600,000 $16,743,796,800
2015 $5,698,150,000 $15,583,181,170
2014 $5,620,600,000 $17,081,681,993
2013 $5,667,200,000 $15,747,192,681
2012 $5,761,450,000 $14,795,114,603
2011 $5,663,100,000 $15,452,791,789
2010 $5,672,900,000 $12,710,739,159
2009 $4,466,809,600 $12,155,217,833
2008 $4,790,410,400 $11,462,490,840
2007 $4,675,767,950 $9,699,047,443
2006 $4,217,323,400 $8,212,007,554
2005 $3,819,500,000 $7,429,066,951
2004 $3,444,500,000 $6,485,774,930
2003 $3,209,500,000 $5,605,613,011
2002 $3,106,500,000 $4,647,238,257
2001 $3,054,500,000 $4,124,281,594
2000 $3,059,500,000 $3,521,570,876
1999 $2,951,822,205 $4,091,446,054
1998 $2,817,083,478 $3,894,433,432
1997 $2,498,384,130 $3,414,879,486
1996 $2,363,645,403 $3,743,103,420
1995 $2,216,974,096 $3,373,322,735
1994 $2,151,344,901 $2,655,768,636
1993 $2,063,342,117 $3,632,801,877
1992 $1,957,000,000 $3,680,775,037
1991 $2,020,583,702 $3,576,562,682
1990 $2,012,131,457 $3,248,417,791
1989 $2,006,165,167 $2,824,822,489
1988 $1,812,757,918 $2,712,207,901
1987 $1,704,370,308 $2,437,004,680
1986 $1,547,755,183 $2,132,938,007
1985 $1,409,536,121 $1,594,347,021
1984 $1,346,890,071 $1,387,809,615
1983 $1,236,016,507 $1,496,616,127
1982 $1,163,923,830 $1,680,304,773
1981 $1,114,204,743 $2,234,583,940
1980 $1,012,280,615 $2,704,362,789
1979 $670,362,452 $1,595,422,956
1978 $552,883,707 $1,222,702,573
1977 $495,097,668 $1,049,838,548
1976 $435,911,269 $939,228,017
1975 $402,178,605 $830,710,615
1974 $311,804,630 $538,747,340
1973 $260,767,828 $563,683,703
1972 $213,725,217 $486,617,280
1971 $186,826,503 $395,218,629
1970 $166,210,203 $359,772,315
1969 $141,393,142 $339,913,867
1968 $125,733,669 $343,771,973
1967 $125,554,009 $275,494,478
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Barbados vs Mali by year

Barbados
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Mali
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Barbados Mali
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $26,545 $24,823 $1,095 $3,315
2023 $25,584 $23,660 $1,044 $3,175
2022 $24,387 $22,193 $977 $3,014
2021 $21,080 $17,683 $1,027 $2,796
2020 $19,194 $16,555 $953 $2,724
2019 $21,912 $19,971 $972 $2,820
2018 $21,381 $19,777 $996 $2,684
2017 $20,285 $18,437 $924 $2,607
2016 $20,296 $19,176 $872 $2,532
2015 $20,424 $19,186 $838 $2,330
2014 $20,193 $18,595 $948 $2,185
2013 $20,410 $19,032 $902 $2,059
2012 $20,804 $19,605 $873 $1,990
2011 $20,508 $20,316 $938 $2,046
2010 $20,611 $20,033 $797 $2,012
2009 $16,295 $20,324 $787 $1,945
2008 $17,566 $21,376 $767 $1,893
2007 $17,235 $20,949 $671 $1,852
2006 $15,620 $20,076 $587 $1,832
2005 $14,214 $18,450 $549 $1,771
2004 $12,886 $17,299 $495 $1,730
2003 $12,076 $16,707 $442 $1,715
2002 $11,760 $16,133 $378 $1,581
2001 $11,640 $15,866 $346 $1,559
2000 $11,675 $15,914 $305 $1,357
1999 $11,244 $14,873 $364 $1,376
1998 $10,734 $14,621 $357 $1,332
1997 $9,522 $13,941 $321 $1,267
1996 $9,012 $13,090 $360 $1,224
1995 $8,460 $12,375 $331 $1,154
1994 $8,223 $11,900 $266.5 $1,147
1993 $7,905 $11,448 $372 $1,087
1992 $7,519 $11,127 $385 $1,039
1991 $7,790 $11,576 $382 $1,091
1990 $7,781 $11,687 $354 $956
1989 $7,773 - $314 -
1988 $7,033 - $307 -
1987 $6,625 - $280.7 -
1986 $6,031 - $250 -
1985 $5,510 - $190.4 -
1984 $5,284 - $169.1 -
1983 $4,866 - $186.3 -
1982 $4,599 - $213.8 -
1981 $4,417 - $290.5 -
1980 $4,025 - $359 -
1979 $2,668 - $216.3 -
1978 $2,198 - $169.1 -
1977 $1,968 - $148.1 -
1976 $1,734 - $134.9 -
1975 $1,601 - $121.5 -
1974 $1,243 - $80.2 -
1973 $1,042 - $85.4 -
1972 $856 - $75.1 -
1971 $750 - $62 -
1970 $666 - $57.3 -
1969 $567 - $55 -
1968 $506 - $56.5 -
1967 $508 - $46 -
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/mali | CC BY

Barbados' GDP per capita is $26,545, ranking 46/197, compared to $1,095 in Mali, ranking 173/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Mali ranks 174th at $3,315.

Economic indicators

Barbados Mali
Gross domestic product
$7.5B
2024
$26.8B
2024
GDP rank
157/197
2024
113/197
2024
GDP growth
2.48%
2023-2024
4.99%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$26,545
2024
$1,095
2024
GDP per capita rank
46/197
2024
173/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
$3,315
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
84/197
2024
174/197
2024
Government debt
$7.97B
2024
$13.9B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
106.3%
2024
51.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$28,218
2024
$566
2024
Government debt per person rank
26/185
2024
161/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$18,869
2026
$1,463
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.78B
2020
n/a
Number of billionaires
1
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
25.8%
2016
28.3%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
3.2%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.2%
2024
24.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
-0.44%
2023-2024
3.2%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.54%
2023
5.45%
2023
Population
282798
26143152

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Barbados
Spending

Debt
Mali
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Barbados Mali
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 30.2% 106.3% 24.7% 51.7%
2023 28.8% 113.4% 24.8% 51.9%
2022 30.3% 116.9% 24.4% 50.3%
2021 32.5% 130.2% 26.9% 51.6%
2020 30.3% 128.4% 26.1% 47.3%
2019 23.9% 109.5% 23.1% 40.7%
2018 26.9% 115% 20.3% 37.5%
2017 29.8% 143.6% 22.9% 38.2%
2016 30.7% 136.5% 22.3% 37.2%
2015 31.4% 131.9% 20.9% 30.7%
2014 29% 122% 20% 26.9%
2013 30.8% 118.6% 19.8% 26.4%
2012 30.6% 109.4% 15.5% 25.4%
2011 27.7% 98.7% 20.6% 24%
2010 29.7% 96% 20.3% 25.3%
2009 29.5% 88.5% 22.8% 21.9%
2008 28.1% 72.6% 18.8% 20.1%
2007 27.8% 69% 21.5% 18.5%
2006 27.2% 69.8% 22.1% 18.1%
2005 28.7% 68.2% 21.6% 46.6%
2004 28.5% 66.5% 21.8% 42.4%
2003 29.8% 66.6% 20.8% 44.1%
2002 31% 66.1% 19.9% 42.6%
2001 22% 62.6% 18.3% 77.5%
2000 20.8% 56.6% 19.4% 90.5%
1999 19.7% 50.1% - -
1998 19% 50.5% - -
1997 21.5% 56.9% - -
1996 20.5% 56.1% - -
1995 18.6% 55.9% - -
1994 17% 55% - -

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

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

In 2024, Barbados' government spending was $2.26B, accounting for 30.2% of its GDP, while Mali spent $6.61B, or 24.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 106.3% in Barbados and 51.7% in Mali, ranking 18/185 and 102/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Barbados

Mali
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Barbados Mali
2024 -0.89% -2.57%
2023 -1.71% -3.57%
2022 -1.96% -4.75%
2021 -4.65% -4.91%
2020 -4.16% -5.42%
2019 3.08% -1.68%
2018 -0.34% -4.74%
2017 -3.89% -2.86%
2016 -4.88% -3.95%
2015 -8.16% -1.82%
2014 -6.57% -2.89%
2013 -8.98% -2.37%
2012 -7.07% -0.96%
2011 -3.63% -3.42%
2010 -7.55% -2.57%
2009 -6.56% -3.71%
2008 -4.1% -1.97%
2007 -4.34% -2.78%
2006 -3.41% 27.8%
2005 -3.03% -2.76%
2004 -2.97% -2.36%
2003 -3.08% -1.19%
2002 -5.28% -3.09%
2001 4.07% -2.8%
2000 4.94% -2.64%
1999 5.39% -
1998 6.03% -
1997 5.64% -
1996 3.76% -
1995 6.22% -
1994 6.72% -

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

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

In 2024, Barbados' government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $66.8M, equivalent to 0.89% of GDP. This compares to Mali's deficit of $687M, or 2.57% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 22 of those years, while Mali ran a deficit in 24 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 3.41% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.76% of GDP for Mali.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Barbados

Mali
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Barbados Mali
2024 -0.44% 3.2%
2023 9.79% 2.1%
2022 - 9.7%
2021 - 3.8%
2020 - 0.5%
2019 4.1% -3%
2018 3.67% 1.9%
2017 4.66% 2.4%
2016 1.28% -1.8%
2015 -1.11% 1.4%
2014 1.77% 0.9%
2013 1.81% -0.6%
2012 4.53% 5.3%
2011 9.43% 3%
2010 5.82% 1.2%
2009 3.64% 2.4%
2008 8.11% 9.2%
2007 4.03% 1.4%
2006 7.31% 1.6%
2005 6.08% 6.4%
2004 1.39% -3.1%
2003 1.62% -1.3%
2002 0.13% 5%
2001 2.58% 5.2%
2000 2.44% -0.8%
1999 1.56% -1.2%
1998 -1.27% 4.1%
1997 7.71% -0.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.63%, compared with 2.08% in Mali. In 2024, inflation was -0.44% in Barbados and 3.2% in Mali.

Balance of trade

Barbados Mali
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
-$1.61B
2023
Current account balance ranking
100/190
2017
136/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.22%
2017
-6.49%
2023
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
$5.73B
2023
Goods exports
$705M
2017
$5.65B
2023
Service imports
$687M
2017
$2.34B
2023
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
$475M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
27.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2025
22.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Barbados Mali
Economic freedom 70.4 52.1
Economic freedom ranking 34/197 150/197
Property rights 76.4 13.8
Government integrity 71.3 23.2
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 23.3
Tax burden 83.2 67.9
Government spending 74.5 81.8
Fiscal health 76.5 73.6
Business freedom 72.3 40.8
Labor freedom 54.3 54.1
Monetary freedom 80.8 78.2
Trade freedom 48.2 64
Investment freedom 60 65
Financial freedom 60 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Barbados
Mali
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Barbados Mali
2026 70.4 52.1
2025 68.9 52.6
2024 66.8 52.5
2023 69.8 54.5
2022 71.3 55.9
2021 65 55.6
2020 61.4 55.9
2019 64.7 58.1
2018 57 57.6
2017 54.5 58.6
2016 68.3 56.5
2015 67.9 56.4
2014 68.3 55.5
2013 69.3 56.4
2012 69 55.8
2011 68.5 56.3
2010 68.3 55.6
2009 71.5 55.6
2008 71.3 55.6
2007 70 54.7
2006 71.9 54.1
2005 70.1 57.3
2004 69.4 56.6
2003 71.3 58.6
2002 73.6 61.1
2001 71.5 60.1
2000 69.5 60.3
1999 66.7 58.4
1998 67.9 57.3
1997 64.5 56.4
1996 62.3 57
1995 - 52.4

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Barbados is 70.4, ranking 34/197, compared to 52.1 for Mali, ranking 150/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Barbados Mali
Services, % of GDP
75.5%
2024
36.3%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
12.4%
2024
23.5%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.58%
2024
33.3%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$7.1B
2024
$25.2B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$23,850
2024
$3,230
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
131/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
-$673M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
$921M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
$78.1M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
1.41%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
43.3%
2024
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
19.5%
2024

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/mali | 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 (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  6. 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.

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.