Barbados - Economy
How is the economy of Barbados? Based on the information we have, Barbados has a largest Eastern Caribbean economy; dependent on US imports and currency strength; high Human Development Index; key tourism and financial sectors; declining but still very high public debt; cost-of-living and cost competitiveness vulnerabilities. Key agricultural products in this country include: sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, cantaloupes/melons, tropical fruits (2022).
More about the economy of Barbados
Labor force 146,000 (2023 est.)
Industrial production growth rate 3.64% (2023 est.)
Industries tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Population below poverty line
Taxes and other revenues 27.39% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Fiscal year
Exchange rates
Currency Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2023 2 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022 2 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021 2 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020 2 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2019 2 (2019 est.)
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.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020 $1.358 billion (2020 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2017 -$296.396 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance 2016 -$452.39 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance 2015 -$98.732 million (2015 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016 146.46% of GDP (2016 est.)
Budget
Revenues $1.269 billion (2015 est.)
Expenditures $1.664 billion (2015 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
Remittances
Remittances 2023 1.33% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022 1.46% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021 1.72% of GDP (2021 est.)
Imports
Imports 2021 $2.12 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2017 $2.213 billion (2017 est.)
Imports 2016 $2.238 billion (2016 est.)
Imports (partners) US 43%, China 8%, Trinidad and Tobago 7%, UK 5%, Netherlands 3% (2022)
Comodities Imports force refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine (2022)
Exports
Imports 2021 $2.12 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2017 $2.213 billion (2017 est.)
Imports 2016 $2.238 billion (2016 est.)
Exports (partners) US 23%, Jamaica 11%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, Guyana 8%, Poland 6% (2022)
Comodities Exports force liquor, packaged medicine, ships, paper labels, baked goods (2022)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023 $4.92 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022 $4.708 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021 $4.148 billion (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate) $6.394 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP Per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023 $17,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022 $16,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2021 $14,800 (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture 1.4% (2023 est.)
Industry 13.1% (2023 est.)
Services 72.3% (2023 est.)
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.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023 7.95% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022 8.49% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2021 9.42% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Total 24.9% (2023 est.)
Male 28.9% (2023 est.)
Female 20.3% (2023 est.)
All Important Facts about Barbados

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Barbados is found in Caribbean