CapitalBridgetown
Population304,139
Area430 km²
GDP per capita$19,900
LanguagesEnglish , Bajan
CurrencyBarbadian dollars
Life Expectancy79.0 yr
Governmentparliamentary republic; a member of the Commonwealth
Introduction
Background
When the British settled Barbados in 1627, the island was devoid of inhabitants. Enslaved Africans were employed on the sugar plantations that were established, which initially led the Caribbean sugar sector. By the year 1720, however, Barbados had lost its leading position in the sugar trade, overtaken by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. The abolition of slavery occurred in 1834. For the majority of the 20th century, the Barbadian economy continued to rely heavily on the production of sugar, rum, and molasses. The social and political reforms that began in the 1940s and 1950s eventually culminated in the island's independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. During the 1990s, the tourism and manufacturing sectors eclipsed the sugar industry in terms of economic significance. In 2021, Barbados transitioned to a republic, with Sandra MASON, the former Governor-General, being elected as the inaugural president.
Geography
Area
land
430 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
430 sq km
Climate
tropical; wet season (June through October)
Terrain
mostly level; gradually elevates towards the central highlands
Land use
other
62.1% (2023 est.)
forest
14.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
23.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Location
Caribbean, an island situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, to the northeast of Venezuela
Coastline
97 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Mount Hillaby 336 m
Irrigated land
50 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
rare hurricanes; occasional landslides
Geography - note
farthest east island in the Caribbean
Natural resources
oil, seafood, natural gas
Area - comparative
2.5 times larger than Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
13 10 N, 59 32 W
Population distribution
the most densely populated nation in the eastern Caribbean; around one third of its population resides in urban regions
People & Society
Languages
English (official), Bajan (a creole language based on English, commonly used in casual conversations)
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.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.01 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.73 male(s)/female
Birth rate
8.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
40.3 years
total
42.2 years (2025 est.)
female
42.5 years
Population
male
146,587
total
304,139 (2024 est.)
female
157,552
Nationality
noun
Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective
Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Tobacco use
male
11.4% (2025 est.)
total
6.2% (2025 est.)
female
1.5% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
31.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Ethnic groups
92.4% of the population is of African descent, 3.1% mixed, 2.7% White, 1.3% East Indian, 0.2% other, and 0.3% unspecified (2010 estimate)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
49.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
24.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
4.1 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
24.4 (2024 est.)
Physician density
2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.42% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the country with the highest population density in the eastern Caribbean; around one third of its inhabitants reside in urban regions
Life expectancy at birth
male
76.3 years
female
81.8 years
total population
79 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
9.94 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.)
Major urban areas - population
89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.1% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.2% (2021 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; wet season (June through October)
Land use
other
62.1% (2023 est.)
forest
14.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
23.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
31.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
174,800 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.6% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
contamination of coastal waters due to waste disposal by vessels; soil degradation; unlawful solid waste management
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.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
1.348 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
64,000 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.)
Particulate matter emissions
9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
Government
Flag
description: three equal vertical stripes of ultramarine blue (on the left), gold, and ultramarine blue featuring a black trident head positioned centrally on the gold stripe
meaning: blue symbolizes the sea and sky, while gold signifies the beaches; the trident head embodies independence and a departure from the past
Capital
name
Bridgetown
etymology
initially called Indian Bridge in 1628 due to a bridge constructed near Carlisle Bay, later referred to as St. Michael's Town until the 19th century; currently named after a bridge spanning the Constitution River that flows through the city center
time difference
UTC-4 (one hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
13 06 N, 59 37 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
adopted on 22 November 1966, taking effect on 30 November 1966; the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the previous Order in Council
amendment process
proposed by Parliament; the approval of amendments to constitutional provisions regarding citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the structure and functions of government branches necessitates a two-thirds majority vote from both houses of Parliament; other amendments require only a simple majority vote from both houses
Country name
etymology
the name is the plural form of the Spanish term barbado, which translates to "the bearded ones," potentially alluding to the beard-like foliage of the island's fig trees or to the beards of the Carib people
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Barbados
Independence
30 November 1966 (from the UK)
Legal system
English common law; there is no judicial review of legislative actions
Government type
parliamentary republic; a member of the Commonwealth
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (comprises the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (includes the High Court chief justice, the court president, and 4 justices; the Caribbean Court of Justice serves as the final court of appeal
subordinate courts
Magistrates' Courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Supreme Court is appointed by the president based on the recommendations of the prime minister and the opposition leader of Parliament; other justices are appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission's chair, and presidential appointees suggested by the prime minister; justices serve until they reach mandatory retirement age of 65
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
chief of state
President Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC (since 30 November 2025)
election results
Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC elected as the country's second president
head of government
Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)
most recent election date
7 October 2025
election/appointment process
the president is elected by an electoral college comprised of both Houses of Parliament for a renewable term of 4 years; following legislative elections, the president typically appoints the leader of the majority party or coalition as prime minister; the prime minister subsequently recommends the deputy prime minister
expected date of next election
NA
National holiday
Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
National color(s)
blue, yellow, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison
Political parties
Alliance Party for Progress or APP
Barbados Labor Party or BLP
Democratic Labor Party or DLP
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parlement de Barbade (Parliament of Barbados)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"The National Anthem of Barbados"
history
adopted 1966
lyrics/music
Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
National symbol(s)
Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (commonly referred to as "Pride of Barbados")
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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Assembly
term in office
5 years
number of seats
30 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
1/19/2022
expected date of next election
January 2027
percentage of women in chamber
26.7%
parties elected and seats per party
Barbados Labour Party (BLP) (30)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
21 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/4/2022
expected date of next election
February 2027
percentage of women in chamber
33.3%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 332-7467
chancery
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 939-9200
chief of mission
Ambassador Victor Anthony FERNANDES (since 18 September 2024)
consulate(s) general
Miami, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(246) 431-0179
embassy
Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I.
telephone
(246) 227-4000
mailing address
3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3120
chief of mission
Ambassador (position currently vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Karin B. SULLIVAN (since January 2025); also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
email address and website
[email protected]
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$1.269 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures
$1.664 billion (2015 est.)
Exports
Exports 2015
$2.358 billion (2015 est.)
Exports 2016
$2.41 billion (2016 est.)
Exports 2017
$2.228 billion (2017 est.)
Imports
Imports 2016
$2.238 billion (2016 est.)
Imports 2017
$2.213 billion (2017 est.)
Imports 2021
$2.12 billion (2021 est.)
Industries
tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Labor force
147,200 (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
133.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
2 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
2 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
2 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
2 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
2 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income economy in the Eastern Caribbean; elevated standard of living compared to regional counterparts; significant GDP growth driven by key sectors such as tourism, construction, and finance; public debt remains very high but is declining, necessitating support from IMF programs; vulnerable to natural disasters and dependent on import partners
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
8.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
7.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
7.6% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 22%, Jamaica 17%, Trinidad & Tobago 8%, Canada 6%, Guyana 6% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 32%, Trinidad & Tobago 19%, Netherlands 6%, UK 6%, Guyana 5% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$18,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$19,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$19,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
17.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, tropical fruits, pulses (2023)
Exports - commodities
liquor, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, margarine, baked goods (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, plastic products, ships (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2015
-$98.732 million (2015 est.)
Current account balance 2016
-$452.39 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2017
-$296.396 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
24.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.165 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
75.6% (2022 est.)
government consumption
11.8% (2022 est.)
investment in inventories
0.2% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital
16.5% (2022 est.)
exports of goods and services
34.3% (2022 est.)
imports of goods and services
-42.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
4.1% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
9.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
-0.5% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-1.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.214 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.428 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.634 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
27.5% (2024 est.)
total
23.7% (2024 est.)
female
19.6% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.673 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$1.52 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$1.606 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
13.2% (2023 est.)
services
75.4% (2023 est.)
agriculture
1.9% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.5% (2016 est.)
highest 10%
25.8% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
34.1 (2016 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
4 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
57 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
1.978 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
1.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
320,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
64.586 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
24.636 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
7.957 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
32.593 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
113.267 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
68.293 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
91.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
80% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which is owned by the government, manages the sole terrestrial television station; in addition, CBC provides a multi-channel cable television subscription service; approximately twelve radio stations run by CBC function in conjunction with privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code
.bb
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
121,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
43 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
323,482 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
115 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
106,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
37 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
1
medium
0
key ports
Bridgetown
very small
0
total ports
1 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
1 (2025)
Heliports
1 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
272 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, others 28
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
8P
Military & Security
Military - note
Established in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) is tasked with safeguarding national security and may also be deployed to uphold internal public order during crises, emergencies, or specific situations, such as collaborative patrols with law enforcement; furthermore, it engages in humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts both within the nation and in the region; additional responsibilities include supporting national development, particularly through the education of the youth via the Barbados Cadet Corps units.
Since its inception in 1982, Barbados has been a participant in the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); member states (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) committed to formulating contingency strategies and providing assistance to each other upon request during national emergencies, as well as in the prevention of smuggling, search and rescue operations, immigration regulation, fisheries protection, customs and excise oversight, maritime law enforcement, safeguarding offshore facilities, pollution management, and addressing national disasters and security threats; the RSS's headquarters is located in Barbados (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Barbados Defense Force (BDF): The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Eligible age for voluntary active service begins at 18-25 at the commencement of recruit training; for reserves, the age limit extends from 18 to 30 (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The primary inventory of the BDF consists largely of equipment received as donations from China, the Netherlands, and the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 600 active BDF personnel (2025)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — Barbados failed to show significant improvements in its efforts to combat trafficking in comparison to the last reporting period, resulting in its downgrade to the Tier 2 Watch List; for additional information, please visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/barbados/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
13 (2024 est.)
