Barbados: official statistics and sources
13 official bodies for Barbados, from Barbados Statistical Service to Barbados Land Registry, with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: English. Capital: Bridgetown.
Who holds power in Barbados
- Head of state: Dame Sandra Mason (President of Barbados)
- Head of government: Mia Amor Mottley (Prime Minister, Minister for Economic Affairs and Development, and Minister for National Security of Barbados)
- Foreign minister: Kerrie D. Symmonds (Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados)
Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.
Unitary parliamentary republic (since 2021). How local power works in Barbados: 2 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.
Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.
Government, regions and cities
- Government and power in Barbados: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
Key figures
What the figures show
The World Bank puts Barbados's population at 282,623 in 2025, up from 278,990 in 2015. Of the 33 UN members in the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region, 26 have more people; worldwide it comes 173rd.
GDP for 2025 was $8.0 billion at current dollar prices, according to the World Bank. That works out at $28,365 a head; the regional median is $10,989.
Real GDP grew by 2.7% in 2025, World Bank figures show. For 2026 the IMF expects 1.8%.
Across 2025 the annual rate was 0.8%. The IMF forecasts 2.6% for 2026.
The ILO's modelled unemployment rate for 2025 is 6.5%; the national statistics office may publish a different figure from its own survey.
The IMF records general government gross debt of 96.2% of GDP for 2025, compared with a median of 65.6% across the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region; its 2026 projection is 93.8%.
Life expectancy at birth: 76.3 years (2024).
- Annual inflation since 2015: highest 4.7% (2017), lowest -1.1% (2015).
- Debt ratio 2015: 122.5%; 2025: 96.2%.
- GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +39%.
Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.
Official sources in Barbados
Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output
- Barbados Statistical Service
Census results, retail price index, labour force survey and trade statistics for Barbados.
Central bank interest rates and money
- Central Bank of Barbados
Economic reviews, monetary and financial statistics, financial stability reports and exchange control notices.
Parliament debates, votes, bills
- Barbados Parliament (House of Assembly and Senate)
Bills, Acts, order papers, Hansard and tabled reports, including Auditor General reports.
Government
- Government of Barbados
Official portal with ministry information, government services and public notices.
Laws and the official gazette the text of laws
- Statutes of Barbados (Barbados Judicial System)
Consolidated statutes, subsidiary legislation, annual Acts and statutory instruments of Barbados.
Courts judgments
- Supreme Court of Barbados (Barbados Judicial System)
Judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal, court lists and practice directions.
- Caribbean Court of Justice
Appellate and original-jurisdiction judgments, case summaries, court rules and annual reports; it is the final court of appeal for this state.
Public audit how public money was spent
- Barbados Audit Office
Annual reports of the Auditor General on government accounts, ministries and statutory bodies.
Elections results and rules
- Electoral and Boundaries Commission
Voter registration information, constituency boundaries and election results.
Regulators
- Financial Services Commission
Regulation notices, licensee lists and reports covering insurance, securities, pensions and credit unions.
- Fair Trading Commission
Utility rate decisions, competition and consumer protection rulings for Barbados.
Public registers companies, land, charities
- Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office
Registers companies, business names, charities and intellectual property, with online filing and search of the register.
- Barbados Land Registry
Records registered land titles, deeds and charges, and provides land search services.
Freedom of information in Barbados
No general access-to-information law for Barbados was found in the official sources checked on 2026-10-13. No freedom of information act could be identified when checked on 2026-10-13. The Government Information Service (gisbarbados.gov.bb) has reported on a draft Freedom of Information Bill circulated for comment, but no enacted law could be confirmed.
What Barbados does not have
- No data protection commissioner website could be reached (dataprotection.gov.bb did not connect on 2026-10-13).
- No dedicated public procurement portal could be reached (procurement.gov.bb did not connect).
Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.
Barbados by subject
- Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
- Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
- Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
- Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
- Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
- Housing homes, cities, water and power
- Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
- Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
- Education schools, universities and literacy
- Environment emissions, air, forests and water
Power in Barbados, from local government up to the G20
The global bodies above national governments, and the levels of power inside Barbados. How the ten levels work.
Level 3: Local councils
- Local government in Barbados how councils, regions and municipalities work
Level 6: National government
- Barbados: national government this page
- Government and power in Barbados who leads, the parliament and the courts
- World leaders every country's head of state and government
Level 10: G7, G20, Davos and global forums
Common questions
What is the population of Barbados?
282,623 (2025, World Bank). National figures: Barbados Statistical Service.
What is the inflation rate in Barbados?
0.8% (2025, World Bank). Official index: Barbados Statistical Service.
What is Barbados's GDP?
$8.0 billion (2025, World Bank).
How much government debt does Barbados have?
96.2% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).
Who publishes official statistics in Barbados?
Barbados Statistical Service: https://stats.gov.bb/
What is the central bank of Barbados?
Central Bank of Barbados: https://www.centralbank.org.bb/
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