World · permanent entity record · BB
Barbados
Thirty-second orientation
Barbados at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial); adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Languages
- English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
Barbados through time
Admitted to the United Nations
Barbados became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 282,623World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 304,139 (2024 est.) male: 146,587 female: 157,552CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-08 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $8.0 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $28,365
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 76.3 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 59.7%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 70.4%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Bridgetown
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 430 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 282,623
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- Barbadian dollars (BBD)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- Languages
- English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial); adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Government
- parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json ·
- Continent
- North America
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Central America and the Caribbean.”
- Coastline
- 97 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- tropical; rainy season (June to October)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Religions
- Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- blue, gold, black
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (also known as "Pride of Barbados")
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Mount Hillaby · 1,102 ft (336 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean · 0 ft (0 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- Background
- Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Enslaved Africans worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720, Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados became a republic in 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Map references
- Central America and the Caribbean
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 430 sq km land: 430 sq km water: 0 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maritime claims
- territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical; rainy season (June to October)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 23.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.) forest: 14.7% (2023 est.) other: 62.1% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society31 fields
- Population
- total: 304,139 (2024 est.) male: 146,587 female: 157,552
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial) adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 16.6% (male 25,273/female 25,284) 15-64 years: 67% (male 100,328/female 103,536) 65 years and over: 16.3% (2024 est.) (male 20,986/female 28,732)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 49.2 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 4.1 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 42.2 years (2025 est.) male: 40.3 years female: 42.5 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 8.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 31.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 79 years (2024 est.) male: 76.3 years female: 81.8 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 8.1% of GDP (2021) 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- total: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- total: 9.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 6.2% (2025 est.) male: 11.4% (2025 est.) female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 57.2% (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 3.6% of GDP (2024 est.) 14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment10 fields
- Environmental issues
- pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid-waste disposal
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International environmental agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical; rainy season (June to October)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 23.3% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.) forest: 14.7% (2023 est.) other: 62.1% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 31.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 1.348 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 1.284 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 64,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 174,800 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.6% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 54.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government25 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados etymology: the name is the plural of the Spanish word barbado and means "the bearded ones," which could refer either to the beard-like leaves of the island's fig trees or to the beards of Carib inhabitants
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: Bridgetown geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: originally named Indian Bridge in 1628 for a bridge built beside Carlisle Bay, then called St. Michael's Town until the 19th century; now named after a bridge built over the Constitution River that flows through the center of the city
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Administrative divisions
- 11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC (since 30 November 2025) head of government: Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election/appointment process: president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition as prime minister; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister most recent election date: 7 October 2025 election results: Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC elected as the country's second president expected date of next election: NA
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Parlement de Barbade (Parliament of Barbados) legislative structure: bicameral note: tradition dictates that the next election is held within 5 years of the last election, but constitutionally it is 5 years from the first seating of Parliament plus a 90-day grace period
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name: House of Assembly number of seats: 30 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 1/19/2022 parties elected and seats per party: Barbados Labour Party (BLP) (30) percentage of women in chamber: 26.7% expected date of next election: January 2027
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name: Senate number of seats: 21 (all appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/4/2022 percentage of women in chamber: 33.3% expected date of next election: February 2027
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the High Court chief justice and president of the court and 4 justices; Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and presidential appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- Alliance Party for Progress or APP Barbados Labor Party or BLP Democratic Labor Party or DLP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Anthony FERNANDES (since 18 September 2024) chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200 FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467 email address and website: washington@foreign.gov.bb https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/ consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Karin B. SULLIVAN (since January 2025); note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines embassy: Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I. mailing address: 3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3120 telephone: (246) 227-4000 FAX: (246) 431-0179 email address and website: bridgetownpublicaffairs@state.gov https://bb.usembassy.gov/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- description: three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (left side), gold, and ultramarine blue with a black trident head centered on the gold band meaning: blue stands for the sea and sky, and gold for the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National symbol(s)
- Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (also known as "Pride of Barbados")
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "The National Anthem of Barbados" lyrics/music: Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS history: adopted 1966
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy29 fields
- Economic overview
- high-income Eastern Caribbean economy; high standard of living among regional peers; key tourism, construction, and financial sectors driving recent GDP growth; declining but still very high public debt leading to IMF support programs; susceptible to natural disasters and reliance on import partners
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $5.634 billion (2024 est.) $5.428 billion (2023 est.) $5.214 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 3.8% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) 17.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $19,900 (2024 est.) $19,200 (2023 est.) $18,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $7.165 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- -0.5% (2024 est.) 9.8% (2023 est.) 4.1% (2019 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 1.9% (2023 est.) industry: 13.2% (2023 est.) services: 75.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 75.6% (2022 est.) government consumption: 11.8% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2022 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2022 est.) exports of goods and services: 34.3% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -42.2% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, tropical fruits, pulses (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- -1.3% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 147,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 7.6% (2024 est.) 7.9% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 23.7% (2024 est.) male: 27.5% (2024 est.) female: 19.6% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- 34.1 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 2.5% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 25.8% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $1.269 billion (2015 est.) expenditures: $1.664 billion (2015 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Public debt
- 133.2% of GDP (2016 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 24.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- -$296.396 million (2017 est.) -$452.39 million (2016 est.) -$98.732 million (2015 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $2.228 billion (2017 est.) $2.41 billion (2016 est.) $2.358 billion (2015 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- USA 22%, Jamaica 17%, Trinidad & Tobago 8%, Canada 6%, Guyana 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- liquor, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, margarine, baked goods (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $2.12 billion (2021 est.) $2.213 billion (2017 est.) $2.238 billion (2016 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- USA 32%, Trinidad & Tobago 19%, Netherlands 6%, UK 6%, Guyana 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, plastic products, ships (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $1.606 billion (2023 est.) $1.52 billion (2022 est.) $1.673 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - 2 (2024 est.) 2 (2023 est.) 2 (2022 est.) 2 (2021 est.) 2 (2020 est.) note: the Barbadian dollar is pegged to the US dollar
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy7 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 320,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 1.025 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 64.586 million kWh (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 91.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- exports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 57 metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 1.978 million barrels (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- production: 7.957 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 32.593 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 24.636 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 113.267 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 68.293 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 121,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 323,482 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial TV station; CBC also has a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen CBC-operated radio stations operate alongside privately owned radio stations (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 106,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 8P
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 272 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, other 28
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Bridgetown
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security6 fields
- Military and security forces
- Barbados Defense Force (BDF): The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2025) note 1: the Barbados Police Service (TBPS) is the national police force; it is modeled after London's Metropolitan Police Service and divided into three territorial divisions note 2: the Barbados Cadet Corps is a national youth organization affiliated with the BDF; membership is open to all school children in Barbados between the ages of 11 and 18
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military expenditures
- 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 600 active BDF personnel (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the BDF's major equipment inventory is comprised mostly of donated items from China, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military service age and obligation
- 18-25 for voluntary active service at the start of recruit training; 18-30 for reserves (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- formed in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for protecting national security, but it may also be called up to maintain internal public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs, such as special joint patrols with the police; it also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations both domestically and regionally; other duties include assisting with national development, such as through the training of the country's youth with the units of the Barbados Cadet Corps Barbados has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues2 fields
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 13 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Trafficking in persons
- tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Barbados did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/barbados/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
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