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Economy of Barbados vs Tonga compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Barbados has a GDP of $8.02B compared to $679M for Tonga, ranking 157/197 and 191/197 by economy size, respectively.

Barbados has $7.55B in government debt (94.2% of GDP), compared to $186M (27.4% of GDP) in Tonga.

Barbados vs Tonga GDP by year

Barbados
Tonga
1x
Year GDP, current $
Barbados Tonga
2025 $8,016,550,000 $679,218,219
2024 $7,597,571,450 $647,488,244
2023 $7,223,248,150 $591,139,734
2022 $6,886,644,900 $556,514,556
2021 $5,948,900,600 $519,306,339
2020 $5,403,246,950 $506,571,487
2019 $6,166,710,800 $506,031,248
2018 $6,001,101,550 $493,530,767
2017 $5,847,381,600 $459,976,847
2016 $5,679,029,450 $420,828,255
2015 $5,699,619,150 $437,525,539
2014 $5,684,901,000 $440,997,735
2013 $5,660,059,700 $451,788,498
2012 $5,486,500,500 $471,122,971
2011 $5,563,162,050 $414,143,828
2010 $5,428,683,250 $366,887,375
2009 $4,466,809,600 $312,415,028
2008 $4,790,410,400 $344,438,844
2007 $4,675,767,950 $298,519,623
2006 $4,217,323,400 $292,232,703
2005 $3,819,500,000 $261,823,805
2004 $3,444,500,000 $230,678,011
2003 $3,209,500,000 $202,246,591
2002 $3,106,500,000 $182,764,281
2001 $3,054,500,000 $181,117,230
2000 $3,059,500,000 $204,848,488
1999 $2,951,822,205 $199,208,718
1998 $2,817,083,478 $191,504,893
1997 $2,498,384,130 $214,991,452
1996 $2,363,645,403 $222,100,576
1995 $2,216,974,096 $208,871,666
1994 $2,151,344,901 $195,990,986
1993 $2,063,342,117 $138,489,884
1992 $1,957,000,000 $137,066,291
1991 $2,020,583,702 $132,201,141
1990 $2,012,131,457 $113,563,822
1989 $2,006,165,167 $106,344,855
1988 $1,812,757,918 $106,657,267
1987 $1,704,370,308 $81,667,133
1986 $1,547,755,183 $68,195,856
1985 $1,409,536,121 $60,058,663
1984 $1,346,890,071 $64,248,355
1983 $1,236,016,507 $60,863,964
1982 $1,163,923,830 $62,068,161
1981 $1,114,204,743 $62,242,013
1980 $1,012,280,615 $53,260,077
1979 $670,362,452 $44,667,002
1978 $552,883,707 $41,567,472
1977 $495,097,668 $34,139,388
1976 $435,911,269 $30,036,417
1975 $402,178,605 $32,506,742
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/tonga | CC BY

GDP per capita in Barbados vs Tonga by year

Barbados
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tonga
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Barbados Tonga
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $28,365 - $6,547 -
2024 $26,897 $24,823 $6,215 -
2023 $25,584 $23,660 $5,652 $7,803
2022 $24,393 $22,193 $5,298 $7,296
2021 $21,084 $17,683 $4,923 $6,929
2020 $19,181 $16,555 $4,792 $6,676
2019 $21,929 $19,971 $4,789 $6,473
2018 $21,378 $19,777 $4,675 $6,393
2017 $20,871 $18,437 $4,366 $6,229
2016 $20,311 $19,176 $3,988 $5,920
2015 $20,429 $19,186 $4,124 $5,472
2014 $20,424 $18,595 $4,137 $5,336
2013 $20,384 $19,032 $4,219 $5,120
2012 $19,811 $19,605 $4,384 $4,996
2011 $20,146 $20,316 $3,850 $4,855
2010 $19,723 $20,033 $3,416 $4,465
2009 $16,295 $20,324 $2,914 $4,384
2008 $17,566 $21,376 $3,218 $4,600
2007 $17,235 $20,949 $2,797 $4,316
2006 $15,620 $20,076 $2,750 $4,327
2005 $14,214 $18,450 $2,478 $4,315
2004 $12,886 $17,299 $2,195 $4,235
2003 $12,076 $16,707 $1,936 $4,231
2002 $11,760 $16,133 $1,759 $4,171
2001 $11,640 $15,866 $1,754 $3,955
2000 $11,675 $15,914 $1,995 $3,834
1999 $11,244 $14,873 $1,952 $3,636
1998 $10,734 $14,621 $1,889 $3,527
1997 $9,522 $13,941 $2,136 $3,434
1996 $9,012 $13,090 $2,215 $3,410
1995 $8,460 $12,375 $2,084 $3,347
1994 $8,223 $11,900 $1,957 $3,088
1993 $7,905 $11,448 $1,383 $2,882
1992 $7,519 $11,127 $1,370 $2,716
1991 $7,790 $11,576 $1,323 $2,652
1990 $7,781 $11,687 $1,139 $2,416
1989 $7,773 - $1,070 -
1988 $7,033 - $1,078 -
1987 $6,625 - $830 -
1986 $6,031 - $696 -
1985 $5,510 - $613 -
1984 $5,284 - $656 -
1983 $4,866 - $621 -
1982 $4,599 - $633 -
1981 $4,417 - $636 -
1980 $4,025 - $545 -
1979 $2,668 - $458 -
1978 $2,198 - $428 -
1977 $1,968 - $353 -
1976 $1,734 - $315 -
1975 $1,601 - $349 -
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/tonga | CC BY

Barbados' GDP per capita is $28,365, ranking 48/197, compared to $6,547 in Tonga, ranking 110/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Barbados ranks 84th at $24,823, while Tonga ranks 144th at $7,803.

Economic indicators

Barbados Tonga
Gross domestic product
$8.02B
2025
$679M
2025
GDP rank
157/197
2025
191/197
2025
GDP growth
2.7%
2024-2025
2.8%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$28,365
2025
$6,547
2025
GDP per capita rank
48/197
2025
110/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$24,823
2024
$7,803
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
84/197
2024
144/197
2023
Government debt
$7.55B
2025
$186M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
94.2%
2025
27.4%
2025
Government debt per person
$26,731
2025
$1,793
2025
Government debt per person rank
28/185
2025
123/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$19,127
2026
$4,104
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
22%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.5%
2016
4%
2021
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
46.8%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
0.85%
2024-2025
5.59%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
2%
2020
n/a
Unemployment rate
6.03%
2024
1.65%
2023
Population
282789
103283

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Barbados
Spending

Debt
Tonga
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Barbados Tonga
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 94.2% 46.8% 27.4%
2024 28.1% 98.9% 44.3% 31.9%
2023 26.5% 104.1% 41.5% 37.2%
2022 26.9% 104% 41.3% 40.2%
2021 27.1% 108.6% 44.5% 43%
2020 30.6% 129.6% 37.1% 41.7%
2019 22.2% 101.6% 39% 41.8%
2018 25% 107.2% 39.3% 45.5%
2017 28% 134.6% 39.7% 44.7%
2016 28.6% 127.1% 37.2% 49.4%
2015 29.2% 122.5% 37.4% 51.1%
2014 27.4% 115.1% 31.5% 47.4%
2013 29.1% 111.7% 34.3% 48.9%
2012 28.9% 103.5% 32% 60%
2011 26.5% 94.4% 32.6% 51.9%
2010 28% 90.3% 28.4% 44.7%
2009 27.8% 83.5% 23.9% 39.7%
2008 27.1% 69.8% 24% 34%
2007 26.1% 64.9% 23.2% 37.8%
2006 25% 64.1% 25.6% 39.6%
2005 26.4% 62.7% 19.8% 43.3%
2004 26.2% 61% 19.3% 52.2%
2003 27.7% 61.8% 20% 56.2%
2002 29.1% 62% 21.3% 60.7%
2001 20.7% 59% 19.1% 53.4%
2000 19.7% 53.6% 20% 43.6%
1999 18.5% 47% 18.8% 38.4%
1998 17.8% 47.2% - -
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/tonga | CC BY

In 2025, Barbados' government spending was $2.16B, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Tonga spent $318M, or 46.8% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 94.2% in Barbados and 27.4% in Tonga, ranking 28/185 and 162/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Barbados

Tonga
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Barbados Tonga
2025 -0.31% 4.86%
2024 -0.84% 3.6%
2023 -1.57% 5.28%
2022 -1.74% -0.09%
2021 -3.88% -0.87%
2020 -4.19% 5.15%
2019 2.86% 3.2%
2018 -0.32% 2.9%
2017 -3.64% 3.58%
2016 -4.55% 1.47%
2015 -7.58% -2.75%
2014 -6.2% 6.38%
2013 -8.46% -1.3%
2012 -6.69% -1.74%
2011 -3.47% -6.02%
2010 -7.1% -1.22%
2009 -6.19% 6.85%
2008 -3.94% 2.14%
2007 -4.08% 5.39%
2006 -3.13% 1.34%
2005 -2.78% 4.23%
2004 -2.73% 4.23%
2003 -2.86% 2.37%
2002 -4.96% 2.59%
2001 3.83% 2.23%
2000 4.68% 1.35%
1999 5.06% 1.55%
1998 5.63% -
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/tonga | 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 Tonga's surplus of $33M, or 4.86% of GDP.

Over the past 27 years, Barbados recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of those years, while Tonga ran a deficit in 7 years. On average, Barbados posted an annual deficit equal to 2.77% of GDP, compared to surplus of 2.1% of GDP for Tonga.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Barbados

Tonga
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Barbados Tonga
2025 0.85% 5.59%
2024 1.45% 3.18%
2023 3.19% 6.35%
2022 - 11%
2021 - 5.64%
2020 - -0.35%
2019 1.68% 1.18%
2018 3.11% 5.03%
2017 4.66% 7.52%
2016 1.28% 2.58%
2015 -1.11% -1.05%
2014 1.77% 2.51%
2013 1.81% 0.78%
2012 4.53% 1.15%
2011 9.43% 6.27%
2010 5.82% 3.53%
2009 3.64% 1.43%
2008 8.11% 10.4%
2007 4.03% 5.84%
2006 7.31% 6.15%
2005 6.08% 8.67%
2004 1.39% 11%
2003 1.62% 11.6%
2002 0.13% 10.4%
2001 2.58% 8.29%
2000 2.44% 6.33%
1999 1.56% 4.46%
1998 -1.27% 3.27%
1997 7.71% 2.12%

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

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

Over the past 29 years, Barbados has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 3.22%, compared with 5.2% in Tonga. In 2025, inflation was 0.85% in Barbados and 5.59% in Tonga.

Balance of trade

Barbados Tonga
Current account balance
-$296M
2017
-$43.5M
2024
Current account balance ranking
96/190
2017
76/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-5.07%
2017
-6.72%
2024
Goods imports
$1.53B
2017
$232M
2024
Goods exports
$705M
2017
$10.8M
2024
Service imports
$687M
2017
$161M
2024
Service exports
$1.52B
2017
$93.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP n/a
60.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
14.5%
2026
16.9%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Barbados Tonga
Economic freedom 70.4 58.9
Economic freedom ranking 34/197 107/197
Property rights 76.4 71.1
Government integrity 71.3 45.1
Judicial effectiveness 87.3 64.9
Tax burden 83.2 85.6
Government spending 74.5 31
Fiscal health 76.5 97.3
Business freedom 72.3 59.2
Labor freedom 54.3 55.9
Monetary freedom 80.8 61
Trade freedom 48.2 75.4
Investment freedom 60 40
Financial freedom 60 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Barbados
Tonga
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Barbados Tonga
2026 70.4 58.9
2025 68.9 58.5
2024 66.8 59.2
2023 69.8 60
2022 71.3 60.8
2021 65 57.5
2020 61.4 58.8
2019 64.7 57.7
2018 57 63.1
2017 54.5 63
2016 68.3 59.6
2015 67.9 59.3
2014 68.3 58.2
2013 69.3 56
2012 69 57
2011 68.5 55.8
2010 68.3 53.4
2009 71.5 54.1
2008 71.3 -
2007 70 -
2006 71.9 -
2005 70.1 -
2004 69.4 -
2003 71.3 -
2002 73.6 -
2001 71.5 -
2000 69.5 -
1999 66.7 -
1998 67.9 -
1997 64.5 -
1996 62.3 -

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Barbados is 70.4, ranking 34/197, compared to 58.9 for Tonga, ranking 107/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Barbados Tonga
Services, % of GDP
75.8%
2024
49.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
12.2%
2024
17.7%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
1.55%
2024
18.6%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$7.65B
2025
$709M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$24,840
2025
$9,240
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.65B
2024
$413M
2025
Total reserves ranking
131/177
2024
162/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$208M
2017
$13.3M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$303M
2024
-$12.1M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$18.6M
2024
$1.25M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
6.33%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.7%
2016
20.6%
2021
Gross capital formation, % of GDP n/a
26.4%
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/tonga | 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. 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.