Barbados
Population
304.1K
Area
430 km²
GDP
$7.17B
GDP Per Capita
$19,900
Pop. Density
707/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
$Barbadian dollar(BBD)
Calling Code
+1246
Timezone
UTC-04:00
Languages
English
Driving Side
left
Demonym
Barbadian
Background
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑77.8% since 2006Population
↑4.6% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 76.2 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography17
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries
Coastline
97 km
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Geography - note
easternmost Caribbean island
People & Society31
Population
male: 146,587
female: 157,552
Nationality
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups
African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
Languages
English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
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.)
Age structure
15-64 years: 67% (male 100,328/female 103,536)
65 years and over: 16.3% (2024 est.) (male 20,986/female 28,732)
Dependency ratios
youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.1 (2024 est.)
Median age
male: 40.3 years
female: 42.5 years
Population growth rate
-0.42% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
8.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
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.)
Maternal mortality ratio
35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 76.3 years
female: 81.8 years
Total fertility rate
1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
unimproved: total: total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
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.)
Tobacco use
male: 11.4% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.2% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Government25
Country name
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
Government type
parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
Capital
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
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
Legal system
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
election results
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
number of seats
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
Barbados Labor Party or BLP
Democratic Labor Party or DLP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
washington@foreign.gov.bb
https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/
consulate(s) general
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
bridgetownpublicaffairs@state.gov
https://bb.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
30 November 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Flag
meaning: blue stands for the sea and sky, and gold for the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past
National symbol(s)
Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (also known as "Pride of Barbados")
National color(s)
blue, yellow, black
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
history: adopted 1966
National heritage
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
Economy29
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.428 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.214 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 17.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.165 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 4.1% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 13.2% (2023 est.)
services: 75.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, tropical fruits, pulses (2023)
Industries
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate
-1.3% (2023 est.)
Labor force
147,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 8.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
female: 19.6% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 25.8% (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $1.664 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
24.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2016: -$452.39 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2015: -$98.732 million (2015 est.)
Exports
Exports 2016: $2.41 billion (2016 est.)
Exports 2015: $2.358 billion (2015 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 22%, Jamaica 17%, Trinidad & Tobago 8%, Canada 6%, Guyana 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities
liquor, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, margarine, baked goods (2023)
Imports
Imports 2017: $2.213 billion (2017 est.)
Imports 2016: $2.238 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners
USA 32%, Trinidad & Tobago 19%, Netherlands 6%, UK 6%, Guyana 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, plastic products, ships (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.52 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.673 billion (2021 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2024
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Energy7
Electricity access
Electricity
consumption: 1.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 64.586 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports: 57 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 1.978 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
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.)
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
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)
Internet country code
.bb
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2022 est.)
Transportation5
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
8P
Airports
1 (2025)
Heliports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, other 28
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security6
Military and security forces
Barbados Defense Force (BDF): The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 600 active BDF personnel (2025)
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)
Military service age and obligation
18-25 for voluntary active service at the start of recruit training; 18-30 for reserves (2025)
Military - note
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)