Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
37 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
106,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.bb
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
70.36% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
43 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
121,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
115 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
323,482 (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, tropical fruits, pulses (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.664 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.269 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$252.5 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$645.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$98.732 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$452.39 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$296.396 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
2.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
2.0000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
2.0000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
2.0000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
2.0000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
2.0000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
2.0000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
2.0000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
2.0000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
2.0000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
2.0000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
2.0000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
2.0000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
liquor, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, margarine, baked goods (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$2.358 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$2.41 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$2.228 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
34.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
11.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
75.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-42.2% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
16.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.2% (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
13.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
75.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$24,823 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.165 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$7.012 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
34.1 (2016 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
25.8% (2016 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.5% (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, plastic products, ships (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$2.238 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$2.213 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$2.12 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-1.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-1.11% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.28% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.66% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.11% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
4.1% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
9.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
-0.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
147,200 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
25.70% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
99.43% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
108.31% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
125.13% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$5.176 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$5.353 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$5.361 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$5.165 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$5.616 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$4.664 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$4.989 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.214 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.428 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.634 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-1.17% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.50% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
0.71% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
-1.28% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
0.23% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-14.36% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
-0.10% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
17.23% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.91% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$18,595 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$19,186 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$19,176 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$18,437 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$19,971 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$16,555 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$17,683 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$22,193 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$23,660 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$191.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$188.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$198.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$553.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$431.8 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$265.8 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$533.9 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$772.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.358 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.673 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.52 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.606 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.654 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
24.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
8.41% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
10.59% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
11.02% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
7.26% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
6.54% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
6.45% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
19.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
27.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
23.7% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
57 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
91.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
1.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
320,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
64.586 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
68.293 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
32.593 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
24.636 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
7.957 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
113.267 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
1.978 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
64,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
1.284 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
1.348 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Environment: Environmental issues
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid-waste disposal
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
23.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
14.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
62.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
54.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
31.4% of total population (2023)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
174,800 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
430 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
97 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Hillaby 336 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Geography: Geography - note
easternmost Caribbean island
Geography: Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
23.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
14.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
62.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Geography: Population distribution
most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
Geography: Terrain
relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Government: 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
Government: Capital: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
13 06 N, 59 37 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: 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
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Barbados
Government: Country name: 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: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
bridgetownpublicaffairs@state.gov https://bb.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I.
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
(246) 431-0179
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3120
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(246) 227-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Victor Anthony FERNANDES (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Miami, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@foreign.gov.bb https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 332-7467
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 939-9200
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC (since 30 November 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC elected as the country's second president
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
NA
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
7 October 2025
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Magistrates' Courts
Government: Legal system
English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Assembly
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
January 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
1/19/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
30 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Barbados Labour Party (BLP) (30)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
26.7%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
February 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
2/4/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
21 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
33.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parlement de Barbade (Parliament of Barbados)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1966
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
Government: National color(s)
blue, yellow, black
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Government: National symbol(s)
Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (also known as "Pride of Barbados")
Government: Political parties
Alliance Party for Progress or APP Barbados Labor Party or BLP Democratic Labor Party or DLP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Barbados Defense Force (BDF): The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 600 active BDF personnel (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 for voluntary active service at the start of recruit training; 18-30 for reserves (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
16.6% (male 25,273/female 25,284)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
67% (male 100,328/female 103,536)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
16.3% (2024 est.) (male 20,986/female 28,732)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
9.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
8.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.40% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.2% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
24.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
4.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
49.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
24.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.56% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.1% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.00% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
6.4 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
78.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
73.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
42.5 years
People and Society: Median age: male
40.3 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
282,467 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.42% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
157,552
People and Society: Population: male
146,587
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
11.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
6.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
31.4% of total population (2023)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
13 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: 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/
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
8P
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, other 28
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
272 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Bridgetown
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.