Barbados: prices, money and public finance
Inflation is 0.8% (2025), 150th of 180 in the world and 25th of 31 in Latin America & Caribbean. GDP deflator is 2.7% (2025), 128th of 209 in the world and 24th of 40 in Latin America & Caribbean. Lending rate is 8.1% (2022), 77th of 136 in the world and 19th of 31 in Latin America & Caribbean.
Prices & public finance: Barbados in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InflationInflation, consumer prices, annual % | 0.8%2025 | 150/180 | 25/31 | 2.4% | 5.8% | 1.7%2019 | +2.0 ppsince 2015 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 3.0% | |
| GDP deflatorInflation, GDP deflator, annual % | 2.7%2025 | 128/209 | 24/40 | -1.3% | 32.2% | 6.1% | +1.7 ppsince 2015 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 3.3% | |
| Lending rateLending interest rate, % | 8.1%2022 | 77/136 | 19/31 | 10.2% | 8.7% | 8.1% | −0.6 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| Real interest rateReal interest rate, % | 8.2%2022 | 32/136 | 7/31 | 11.7% | -17.8% | 1.9% | +1.2 ppsince 2012 | — | — | — | |
| Exchange rateOfficial exchange rate, local currency per US$ | 2.002025 | 142/210 | 26/39 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | ±0.0%since 2015 | — | — | — | |
| Tax revenueTax revenue, % of GDP | 23.4%2016 | — | — | · | 20.6% | · | −1.9 ppsince 2006 | 14.7% | 15.3% | 13.9% | |
| Government revenueGovernment revenue excluding grants, % of GDP | 25.2%2016 | — | — | · | 22.2% | · | −1.1 ppsince 2006 | 22.8% | 26.3% | 24.0% | |
| Government expenseGovernment expense, % of GDP | 28.8%2016 | — | — | · | 28.7% | · | +1.9 ppsince 2006 | 27.6% | 30.1% | 28.5% | |
| Government debtCentral government debt, % of GDP | 125.0%2016 | 3/78 | 1/14 | · | 79.9% | · | +62.7 ppsince 2006 | 69.1% | — | — | |
| Private creditDomestic credit to private sector, % of GDP | 59.7%2023 | 53/169 | 7/31 | 47.9% | 82.8%2009 | 75.9% | −9.1 ppsince 2013 | 52.9% | 152.1% | 140.3% | |
| Broad moneyBroad money, % of GDP | 97.5%2023 | 24/146 | 3/31 | 65.3% | 122.5%2009 | 115.7% | +10.8 ppsince 2013 | 72.6% | 138.4% | 135.7% | |
| Reserves, months of importsTotal reserves in months of imports | 1.32017 | — | — | 3.5 | 4.0 | · | −66%since 2007 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 8.6 |
Better than ten years ago
No rated indicator improved over the decade.
Worse than ten years ago
- Inflation+2.0 pp0.8% in 2025
- Government debt+62.7 pp125.0% in 2016
- Reserves, months of imports−66%1.3 in 2017
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
Barbados and its nearest countries
Barbados has no land border; compared with the closest countries by distance between capitals. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Barbados | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Grenada | Dominica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation | 0.8%2025 | 2.0%2025 | 0.8%2025 | 0.6%2025 | 2.5%2025 |
| GDP deflator | 2.7%2025 | 2.6%2025 | 4.9%2025 | 0.7%2025 | 2.0%2025 |
| Lending rate | 8.1%2022 | 6.3%2025 | 7.1%2025 | 6.9%2025 | 5.8%2025 |
| Real interest rate | 8.2%2022 | 3.6%2025 | 2.0%2025 | 6.2%2025 | 3.7%2025 |
| Exchange rate | 2.002025 | 2.702025 | 2.702025 | 2.702025 | 2.702025 |
| Tax revenue | 23.4%2016 | 18.2%2017 | 23.8%2017 | — | — |
| Government revenue | 25.2%2016 | 19.4%2017 | 25.6%2017 | — | — |
| Government expense | 28.8%2016 | 17.6%2017 | 24.7%2017 | — | — |
| Government debt | 125.0%2016 | 45.9%2010 | 53.7%2009 | — | — |