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Economy of Barbados vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Barbados has a GDP of $8.02B compared to $1.29B for Samoa, ranking 157/197 and 186/197 by economy size, respectively.

Barbados has $7.55B in government debt (94.2% of GDP), compared to $273M (21.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Barbados vs Samoa GDP by year

Barbados
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Barbados Samoa
2025 $8,016,550,000 $1,287,936,622
2024 $7,597,571,450 $1,175,749,786
2023 $7,223,248,150 $1,044,909,500
2022 $6,886,644,900 $889,554,712
2021 $5,948,900,600 $859,724,936
2020 $5,403,246,950 $868,884,903
2019 $6,166,710,800 $912,950,466
2018 $6,001,101,550 $878,448,433
2017 $5,847,381,600 $884,844,384
2016 $5,679,029,450 $843,924,797
2015 $5,699,619,150 $824,150,499
2014 $5,684,901,000 $796,683,520
2013 $5,660,059,700 $797,736,334
2012 $5,486,500,500 $773,141,661
2011 $5,563,162,050 $744,097,050
2010 $5,428,683,250 $680,260,907
2009 $4,466,809,600 $628,006,115
2008 $4,790,410,400 $641,346,192
2007 $4,675,767,950 $573,548,460
2006 $4,217,323,400 $499,923,758
2005 $3,819,500,000 $476,801,793
2004 $3,444,500,000 $407,747,565
2003 $3,209,500,000 $333,426,188
2002 $3,106,500,000 $281,790,134
2001 $3,054,500,000 $266,299,591
2000 $3,059,500,000 $258,856,140
1999 $2,951,822,205 $255,408,060
1998 $2,817,083,478 $269,485,244
1997 $2,498,384,130 $285,475,592
1996 $2,363,645,403 $249,907,869
1995 $2,216,974,096 $224,865,731
1994 $2,151,344,901 $221,098,107
1993 $2,063,342,117 $133,122,897
1992 $1,957,000,000 $132,303,041
1991 $2,020,583,702 $125,597,205
1990 $2,012,131,457 $125,766,270
1989 $2,006,165,167 $122,888,610
1988 $1,812,757,918 $133,016,065
1987 $1,704,370,308 $111,713,922
1986 $1,547,755,183 $100,947,849
1985 $1,409,536,121 $95,572,173
1984 $1,346,890,071 $109,200,934
1983 $1,236,016,507 $111,862,824
1982 $1,163,923,830 $121,221,652
1981 $1,114,204,743 $118,190,655
1980 $1,012,280,615 $125,747,038
1979 $670,362,452 $122,257,393
1978 $552,883,707 $108,223,444
1977 $495,097,668 $98,295,671
1976 $435,911,269 $85,003,078
1975 $402,178,605 $93,489,283
1974 $311,804,630 $93,549,611
1973 $260,767,828 $82,452,985
1972 $213,725,217 $62,566,116
1971 $186,826,503 $53,719,569
1970 $166,210,203 $45,208,338
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/samoa | CC BY

GDP per capita in Barbados vs Samoa by year

Barbados
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Barbados Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $28,365 - $5,873 -
2024 $26,897 $24,823 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $25,584 $23,660 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $24,393 $22,193 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $21,084 $17,683 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $19,181 $16,555 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $21,929 $19,971 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $21,378 $19,777 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $20,871 $18,437 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $20,311 $19,176 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $20,429 $19,186 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $20,424 $18,595 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $20,384 $19,032 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $19,811 $19,605 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $20,146 $20,316 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $19,723 $20,033 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $16,295 $20,324 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $17,566 $21,376 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $17,235 $20,949 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $15,620 $20,076 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $14,214 $18,450 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $12,886 $17,299 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $12,076 $16,707 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $11,760 $16,133 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $11,640 $15,866 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $11,675 $15,914 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $11,244 $14,873 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $10,734 $14,621 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $9,522 $13,941 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $9,012 $13,090 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $8,460 $12,375 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $8,223 $11,900 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $7,905 $11,448 $775 $2,323
1992 $7,519 $11,127 $777 $2,198
1991 $7,790 $11,576 $742 $2,166
1990 $7,781 $11,687 $744 $2,148
1989 $7,773 - $728 -
1988 $7,033 - $790 -
1987 $6,625 - $666 -
1986 $6,031 - $604 -
1985 $5,510 - $573 -
1984 $5,284 - $655 -
1983 $4,866 - $671 -
1982 $4,599 - $728 -
1981 $4,417 - $713 -
1980 $4,025 - $765 -
1979 $2,668 - $751 -
1978 $2,198 - $671 -
1977 $1,968 - $615 -
1976 $1,734 - $541 -
1975 $1,601 - $610 -
1974 $1,243 - $626 -
1973 $1,042 - $563 -
1972 $856 - $433 -
1971 $750 - $377 -
1970 $666 - $322 -
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/samoa | CC BY

Barbados' GDP per capita is $28,365, ranking 48/197, compared to $5,873 in Samoa, ranking 115/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Barbados Samoa
Gross domestic product
$8.02B
2025
$1.29B
2025
GDP rank
157/197
2025
186/197
2025
GDP growth
2.7%
2024-2025
4.2%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$28,365
2025
$5,873
2025
GDP per capita rank
48/197
2025
115/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
84/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$7.55B
2025
$273M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
94.2%
2025
21.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$26,731
2025
$1,246
2025
Government debt per person rank
28/185
2025
136/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$19,127
2026
$3,918
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
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
26.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2024-2025
2.21%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
2.95%
2026
Unemployment rate
6.03%
2024
5.05%
2022
Population
282789
221158

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Barbados
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Barbados Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 94.2% 26.4% 21.2%
2024 28.1% 98.9% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 26.5% 104.1% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 26.9% 104% 31.1% 41%
2021 27.1% 108.6% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 30.6% 129.6% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 22.2% 101.6% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 25% 107.2% 30% 49.4%
2017 28% 134.6% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 28.6% 127.1% 27.3% 49%
2015 29.2% 122.5% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 27.4% 115.1% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 29.1% 111.7% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 28.9% 103.5% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 26.5% 94.4% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 28% 90.3% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 27.8% 83.5% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 27.1% 69.8% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 26.1% 64.9% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 25% 64.1% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 26.4% 62.7% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 26.2% 61% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 27.7% 61.8% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 29.1% 62% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 20.7% 59% 30% 53.8%
2000 19.7% 53.6% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 18.5% 47% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 17.8% 47.2% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 19.6% 52% 31% -
1996 19.1% 52.3% 38.9% -
1995 17.3% 52% 42.2% -
1994 15.9% 51.4% 54.1% -
1993 - - 49.5% -
1992 - - 43.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, Barbados' government spending was $2.16B, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $340M, or 26.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 94.2% in Barbados and 21.2% in Samoa, ranking 28/185 and 172/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Barbados

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Barbados Samoa
2025 -0.31% 4.68%
2024 -0.84% 9.29%
2023 -1.57% 2.7%
2022 -1.74% 5.03%
2021 -3.88% 1.71%
2020 -4.19% 5.41%
2019 2.86% 1.51%
2018 -0.32% 0.06%
2017 -3.64% -1.98%
2016 -4.55% -0.35%
2015 -7.58% -3.79%
2014 -6.2% -5.38%
2013 -8.46% -3.82%
2012 -6.69% -7.43%
2011 -3.47% -5.25%
2010 -7.1% -5.49%
2009 -6.19% -2.98%
2008 -3.94% -0.36%
2007 -4.08% 0.55%
2006 -3.13% -0.44%
2005 -2.78% 0.23%
2004 -2.73% -0.74%
2003 -2.86% -0.51%
2002 -4.96% -1.77%
2001 3.83% -1.96%
2000 4.68% -0.62%
1999 5.06% 0.27%
1998 5.63% 1.64%
1997 5.15% 1.92%
1996 3.5% 1.21%
1995 5.79% -5.82%
1994 6.28% -9.51%
1993 - -13.2%
1992 - -9.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/barbados/samoa | 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 Samoa's surplus of $60.3M, or 4.68% of GDP.

Over the past 32 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 1.51% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.69% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Barbados

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Barbados Samoa
2025 0.85% 2.21%
2024 1.45% 2.17%
2023 3.19% 7.92%
2022 - 11%
2021 - 3.13%
2020 - -1.57%
2019 1.68% 0.98%
2018 3.11% 4.2%
2017 4.66% 1.75%
2016 1.28% 1.3%
2015 -1.11% 0.72%
2014 1.77% -0.41%
2013 1.81% 0.61%
2012 4.53% 2.05%
2011 9.43% 5.24%
2010 5.82% 0.78%
2009 3.64% 6.32%
2008 8.11% 11.6%
2007 4.03% 5.58%
2006 7.31% 3.7%
2005 6.08% 1.86%
2004 1.39% 16.3%
2003 1.62% 0.12%
2002 0.13% 8.05%
2001 2.58% 3.84%
2000 2.44% 0.97%
1999 1.56% 0.27%
1998 -1.27% 2.22%
1997 7.71% 6.86%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.22%, compared with 3.78% in Samoa. In 2025, inflation was 0.85% in Barbados and 2.21% in Samoa.

Balance of trade

Barbados Samoa
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
$89.3M
2025
Current account balance ranking
96/190
2017
64/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.07%
2017
+6.93%
2025
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
$440M
2025
Goods exports
$705M
2017
$24.2M
2025
Service imports
$687M
2017
$108M
2025
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
$328M
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
43%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2026
27.6%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Barbados Samoa
Economic freedom 70.4 68
Economic freedom ranking 34/197 52/197
Property rights 76.4 77.1
Government integrity 71.3 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 77.6
Tax burden 83.2 79.3
Government spending 74.5 75.2
Fiscal health 76.5 98.7
Business freedom 72.3 63.7
Labor freedom 54.3 73.7
Monetary freedom 80.8 69.4
Trade freedom 48.2 67.2
Investment freedom 60 40
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Barbados
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Barbados Samoa
2026 70.4 68
2025 68.9 66.6
2024 66.8 67.2
2023 69.8 68.3
2022 71.3 68.3
2021 65 61.9
2020 61.4 62.1
2019 64.7 62.2
2018 57 61.5
2017 54.5 58.4
2016 68.3 63.5
2015 67.9 61.9
2014 68.3 61.1
2013 69.3 57.1
2012 69 60.5
2011 68.5 60.6
2010 68.3 60.4
2009 71.5 59.5
2008 71.3 -
2007 70 -
2006 71.9 -
2005 70.1 -
2004 69.4 -
2003 71.3 -
2002 73.6 -
2001 71.5 63.1
2000 69.5 60.8
1999 66.7 58.7
1998 67.9 49.9
1997 64.5 51.5
1996 62.3 47.6

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Barbados is 70.4, ranking 34/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Barbados Samoa
Services, % of GDP
75.8%
2024
72.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
12.2%
2024
10.2%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.55%
2024
9.09%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$7.65B
2025
$1.24B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$24,840
2025
$9,300
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
$598M
2025
Total reserves ranking
131/177
2024
153/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
-$1.83M
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
30%
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/samoa | 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 (1992–2025, 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. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. 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.