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Economy of Barbados vs Saint Kitts and Nevis compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Barbados has a GDP of $8.02B compared to $1.18B for Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 157/197 and 188/197 by economy size, respectively.

Barbados has $7.55B in government debt (94.2% of GDP), compared to $691M (58.4% of GDP) in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Barbados vs Saint Kitts and Nevis GDP by year

Barbados
Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year GDP, current $
Barbados Saint Kitts
2025 $8,016,550,000 $1,183,514,815
2024 $7,597,571,450 $1,122,388,889
2023 $7,223,248,150 $1,055,651,852
2022 $6,886,644,900 $981,429,630
2021 $5,948,900,600 $858,622,222
2020 $5,403,246,950 $883,922,222
2019 $6,166,710,800 $1,107,855,556
2018 $6,001,101,550 $1,076,548,148
2017 $5,847,381,600 $1,056,977,778
2016 $5,679,029,450 $1,006,818,519
2015 $5,699,619,150 $957,222,222
2014 $5,684,901,000 $952,111,111
2013 $5,660,059,700 $874,548,148
2012 $5,486,500,500 $824,585,185
2011 $5,563,162,050 $836,092,593
2010 $5,428,683,250 $778,718,519
2009 $4,466,809,600 $774,274,074
2008 $4,790,410,400 $777,692,593
2007 $4,675,767,950 $689,285,185
2006 $4,217,323,400 $644,414,815
2005 $3,819,500,000 $547,203,704
2004 $3,444,500,000 $506,900,000
2003 $3,209,500,000 $469,869,870
2002 $3,106,500,000 $481,077,374
2001 $3,054,500,000 $458,643,829
2000 $3,059,500,000 $421,695,770
1999 $2,951,822,205 $406,595,484
1998 $2,817,083,478 $383,257,331
1997 $2,498,384,130 $374,641,308
1996 $2,363,645,403 $333,944,444
1995 $2,216,974,096 $313,485,185
1994 $2,151,344,901 $295,159,259
1993 $2,063,342,117 $263,755,556
1992 $1,957,000,000 $242,137,037
1991 $2,020,583,702 $220,540,741
1990 $2,012,131,457 $217,259,259
1989 $2,006,165,167 $192,518,519
1988 $1,812,757,918 $172,692,593
1987 $1,704,370,308 $147,748,148
1986 $1,547,755,183 $130,685,185
1985 $1,409,536,121 $111,007,407
1984 $1,346,890,071 $98,603,704
1983 $1,236,016,507 $86,874,074
1982 $1,163,923,830 $86,022,222
1981 $1,114,204,743 $80,888,889
1980 $1,012,280,615 $68,459,259
1979 $670,362,452 $58,840,741
1978 $552,883,707 $49,433,333
1977 $495,097,668 $44,496,296
1976 $435,911,269 $30,095,602
1975 $402,178,605 $33,364,055
1974 $311,804,630 $31,514,856
1973 $260,767,828 $24,196,018
1972 $213,725,217 $22,944,849
1971 $186,826,503 $19,624,746
1970 $166,210,203 $16,300,000
1969 $141,393,142 $15,850,000
1968 $125,733,669 $14,600,000
1967 $125,554,009 $16,742,338
1966 $113,195,123 $14,469,078
1965 $105,021,997 $13,593,932
1964 $99,252,731 $13,416,633
1963 $99,893,761 $12,833,301
1962 $88,782,583 $12,541,635
1961 $85,363,759 $12,483,302
1960 $80,021,847 $12,366,636

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

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

GDP per capita in Barbados vs Saint Kitts and Nevis by year

Barbados
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saint Kitts and Nevis
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Barbados Saint Kitts
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $28,365 - $25,223 -
2024 $26,897 $24,823 $23,961 $34,847
2023 $25,584 $23,660 $22,577 $33,980
2022 $24,393 $22,193 $21,012 $31,871
2021 $21,084 $17,683 $18,361 $26,897
2020 $19,181 $16,555 $18,859 $27,326
2019 $21,929 $19,971 $23,595 $32,482
2018 $21,378 $19,777 $22,901 $30,795
2017 $20,871 $18,437 $22,465 $29,579
2016 $20,311 $19,176 $21,388 $28,215
2015 $20,429 $19,186 $20,329 $26,877
2014 $20,424 $18,595 $20,219 $26,756
2013 $20,384 $19,032 $18,580 $24,624
2012 $19,811 $19,605 $17,532 $23,458
2011 $20,146 $20,316 $17,832 $24,550
2010 $19,723 $20,033 $16,623 $23,691
2009 $16,295 $20,324 $16,503 $23,385
2008 $17,566 $21,376 $16,605 $24,102
2007 $17,235 $20,949 $14,758 $21,301
2006 $15,620 $20,076 $13,838 $20,676
2005 $14,214 $18,450 $11,784 $19,500
2004 $12,886 $17,299 $10,945 $17,276
2003 $12,076 $16,707 $10,176 $16,226
2002 $11,760 $16,133 $10,454 $16,619
2001 $11,640 $15,866 $10,023 $16,235
2000 $11,675 $15,914 $9,320 $15,256
1999 $11,244 $14,873 $9,116 $13,754
1998 $10,734 $14,621 $8,711 $13,319
1997 $9,522 $13,941 $8,627 $13,409
1996 $9,012 $13,090 $7,788 $12,498
1995 $8,460 $12,375 $7,406 $11,747
1994 $8,223 $11,900 $7,065 $11,062
1993 $7,905 $11,448 $6,395 $10,418
1992 $7,519 $11,127 $5,947 $9,652
1991 $7,790 $11,576 $5,465 $9,131
1990 $7,781 $11,687 $5,373 $8,983
1989 $7,773 - $4,723 -
1988 $7,033 - $4,206 -
1987 $6,625 - $3,573 -
1986 $6,031 - $3,140 -
1985 $5,510 - $2,651 -
1984 $5,284 - $2,341 -
1983 $4,866 - $2,052 -
1982 $4,599 - $2,023 -
1981 $4,417 - $1,894 -
1980 $4,025 - $1,598 -
1979 $2,668 - $1,367 -
1978 $2,198 - $1,144 -
1977 $1,968 - $1,026 -
1976 $1,734 - $692 -
1975 $1,601 - $765 -
1974 $1,243 - $721 -
1973 $1,042 - $551 -
1972 $856 - $521 -
1971 $750 - $444 -
1970 $666 - $365 -
1969 $567 - $347 -
1968 $506 - $309 -
1967 $508 - $344 -
1966 $462 - $290 -
1965 $433 - $265.8 -
1964 $414 - $256.4 -
1963 $421 - $240.1 -
1962 $377 - $230.3 -
1961 $366 - $225.6 -
1960 $347 - $221.6 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Barbados' GDP per capita is $28,365, ranking 48/197, compared to $25,223 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 53/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ranks 64th at $34,847.

Economic indicators

Barbados Saint Kitts
Gross domestic product
$8.02B
2025
$1.18B
2025
GDP rank
157/197
2025
188/197
2025
GDP growth
2.7%
2024-2025
2.69%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$28,365
2025
$25,223
2025
GDP per capita rank
48/197
2025
53/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
$34,847
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
84/197
2024
64/197
2024
Government debt
$7.55B
2025
$691M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
94.2%
2025
58.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$26,731
2025
$14,732
2025
Government debt per person rank
28/185
2025
45/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$19,127
2026
$13,351
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
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
42.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2024-2025
1.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.03%
2024
5.12%
2001
Population
282789
47031

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Barbados
Spending

Debt
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Barbados Saint Kitts
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 94.2% 42.4% 58.4%
2024 28.1% 98.9% 44.4% 58.1%
2023 26.5% 104.1% 43.7% 60%
2022 26.9% 104% 50.4% 64.5%
2021 27.1% 108.6% 42% 73%
2020 30.6% 129.6% 37.2% 71.7%
2019 22.2% 101.6% 37.9% 57.2%
2018 25% 107.2% 34.2% 54.7%
2017 28% 134.6% 25.5% 56.2%
2016 28.6% 127.1% 26.1% 57.4%
2015 29.2% 122.5% 29% 62.2%
2014 27.4% 115.1% 27.4% 67.9%
2013 29.1% 111.7% 27.9% 89.3%
2012 28.9% 103.5% 26.4% 118%
2011 26.5% 94.4% 30.3% 127.1%
2010 28% 90.3% 31.2% 134.9%
2009 27.8% 83.5% 30.4% 129.1%
2008 27.1% 69.8% 29.5% 123.4%
2007 26.1% 64.9% 30.9% 130.1%
2006 25% 64.1% 31.2% 134.8%
2005 26.4% 62.7% 33% 124%
2004 26.2% 61% 32.4% 147.2%
2003 27.7% 61.8% 30% 136.6%
2002 29.1% 62% 34.1% 115.2%
2001 20.7% 59% 29.5% 100.5%
2000 19.7% 53.6% 33.3% 92.9%
1999 18.5% 47% 33.6% 89.2%
1998 17.8% 47.2% 29.1% 79%
1997 19.6% 52% 26.3% 67.2%
1996 19.1% 52.3% 26.8% 50.7%
1995 17.3% 52% 23.7% -
1994 15.9% 51.4% 22.2% -
1993 - - 21.3% -
1992 - - 19.8% -
1991 - - 18.2% -
1990 - - 19.3% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

In 2025, Barbados' government spending was $2.16B, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Saint Kitts and Nevis spent $502M, or 42.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 94.2% in Barbados and 58.4% in Saint Kitts and Nevis, ranking 28/185 and 82/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Barbados

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Barbados Saint Kitts
2025 -0.31% -11.7%
2024 -0.84% -11.3%
2023 -1.57% 0.21%
2022 -1.74% -4.23%
2021 -3.88% 5.5%
2020 -4.19% -3.12%
2019 2.86% -0.71%
2018 -0.32% 1.82%
2017 -3.64% 1.68%
2016 -4.55% 3.77%
2015 -7.58% 5.66%
2014 -6.2% 8.33%
2013 -8.46% 10.7%
2012 -6.69% 4.2%
2011 -3.47% 1.6%
2010 -7.1% -4.15%
2009 -6.19% -1.23%
2008 -3.94% -1.57%
2007 -4.08% -0.99%
2006 -3.13% -1.31%
2005 -2.78% -3.29%
2004 -2.73% -6.34%
2003 -2.86% -5.49%
2002 -4.96% -11.3%
2001 3.83% -10.4%
2000 4.68% -12.8%
1999 5.06% -11.1%
1998 5.63% -5.13%
1997 5.15% -2.33%
1996 3.5% -2.27%
1995 5.79% 0.9%
1994 6.28% 0.79%
1993 - 0.24%
1992 - 0.5%
1991 - 0.92%
1990 - 0.62%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/saint-kitts-and-nevis | 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis' deficit of $139M, or 11.7% of GDP.

Over the past 32 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Saint Kitts and Nevis ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 1.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.05% of GDP for Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Barbados

Saint Kitts and Nevis
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Barbados Saint Kitts
2025 0.85% 1.3%
2024 1.45% 1.1%
2023 3.19% 3.6%
2022 - 2.7%
2021 - 1.2%
2020 - -1.2%
2019 1.68% -0.3%
2018 3.11% -1%
2017 4.66% 0.7%
2016 1.28% -0.7%
2015 -1.11% -2.3%
2014 1.77% 0.2%
2013 1.81% 1.1%
2012 4.53% 0.8%
2011 9.43% 5.8%
2010 5.82% 0.9%
2009 3.64% 2.1%
2008 8.11% 5.3%
2007 4.03% 4.5%
2006 7.31% 8.5%
2005 6.08% 3.4%
2004 1.39% 2.2%
2003 1.62% 2.3%
2002 0.13% 2.1%
2001 2.58% 2.1%
2000 2.44% 2.1%
1999 1.56% 3.4%
1998 -1.27% 3.7%
1997 7.71% 8.7%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/saint-kitts-and-nevis | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.22%, compared with 2.22% in Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2025, inflation was 0.85% in Barbados and 1.3% in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Top exports between countries

Barbados
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.84M
Chemicals & pharma $1.49M
Raw materials & minerals $1.35M
Metals $383K
Wood & paper products $269K
Machinery & equipment $214K
Textiles & consumer goods $210K
Animal & marine products $57K
Raw agricultural goods $6K
Miscellaneous $5K
Saint Kitts
Export category Export value
Metals $286K
Wood & paper products $30K
Machinery & equipment $8K
Chemicals & pharma $4K

Balance of trade

Barbados Saint Kitts
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
-$162M
2025
Current account balance ranking
96/190
2017
88/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.07%
2017
-13.7%
2025
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
$448M
2025
Goods exports
$705M
2017
$46.5M
2025
Service imports
$687M
2017
$259M
2025
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
$529M
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2026
11%
2026

Economic freedom indices

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

Barbados Saint Kitts
Economic freedom 70.4 62
Economic freedom ranking 34/197 90/197
Property rights 76.4 n/a
Government integrity 71.3 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 n/a
Tax burden 83.2 n/a
Government spending 74.5 n/a
Fiscal health 76.5 n/a
Business freedom 72.3 n/a
Labor freedom 54.3 n/a
Monetary freedom 80.8 n/a
Trade freedom 48.2 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 60 n/a

Other economic metrics

Barbados Saint Kitts
Services, % of GDP
75.8%
2024
66.2%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
12.2%
2024
20.8%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.55%
2024
1.29%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$7.65B
2025
$1.15B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$24,840
2025
$36,430
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
$282M
2025
Total reserves ranking
131/177
2024
167/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
-$18.5M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
$42.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
$8.97M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
n/a

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/saint-kitts-and-nevis | 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. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. TradeMap (2017–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, 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.