(Source: Central Bank, page: 11)

GDP at constant prices has been fluctuating since 2005. GDP at constant prices for the year 2010 was BDS 8.1 billion as compared to BDS 7.8 billion in 2009 reflecting an increase of 3.85%.

GDP Growth Rate

(Source: Central Bank, page: 10)

The GDP growth rate was moderate from 2005 to 2007. Further, from 2007 to 2009 the growth rate declined from 3.8% to -4.7%. However, in 2010, the growth rate increased to -0.4%.

GNI Per Capita

GNI per capita of the country was USD 12,196 during 2010.

(Source: news.bbc)

Income Tax Rate

The income tax rate in Barbados is 20% to 35%.

(Source: worldwide-tax)

Corporate Tax Rate

The corporate tax rate in Barbados is 25%. VAT rate is 15%.

(Source: taxrates.cc)

Inflation Rate

 (Sources: Central Bank, page: 10)

Inflation rates in Barbados have fluctuated since 2005. During 2010, the inflation rate was 5.4%.

FDI Inflow

The FDI inflow in Barbados was on a steady rise from 2005 to 2009, increasing at a CAGR of 48.15%. Further, in 2010, the FDI inflow witnessed a marginal decline and amounted to USD 289.5 million. 

 (Source: heritage.org, worldbank.org)

Reserves  

 (Source: Central Bank, page: 10)

Foreign exchange reserves in 2010 amounted to BDS 1,450.90 million, a decreases of 2.30% from 2009 which was BDS 1,485.10 million.

Banking Sector Assets

(Source: Central Bank, page: 13)

Total expenditure increased from 2004 to 2009 and declined in 2010. The total expenditure in 2010 registered at BDS 3,012.70 million, a decrease of 4.77% from BDS 3,163.50 million in 2009.

Official Exchange Rate

(Source: Central Bank)

The BDS per US dollar rate for the year 2011 (till Feb) was registered at 1.98 (buying rate) and 2.04 (selling rate).  The exchange rate has been constant since 2007.

Government finances

Fiscal Balance

 (Source: Central Bank, page: 13)

Total Revenue

(Source: Central Bank, page: 13)

The Total Revenue for 2010 was recorded at BDS 2,298.30 million, a decrease of 5.41% from 2009 which was BDS 2,429.80 million. Total Revenue increased from 2004 to 2008 and thereafter decreased continuously.

Tax revenue

(Source: Central Bank, page: 13)

In 2010, the total tax revenue collected in Barbados amounted to BDS 2,135.60 million, a decrease of 3.11% from 2009 value of BDS 2,204.10 million.

Total Grants

(Source: Central Bank, page: 13)

Total Grants for the year 2010 is valued at BDS 52.5 million.

Current Account Balance

(Source: Central Bank, page: 12)

Barbados has registered a Current Account deficit from 2005 to 2010. In 2010, the current account balance registered a deficit of BDS 601.2 million.

Balance of Payments

(Source: Central Bank)

External Debt

(Source: Central Bank, page: 14)

The total external debt increased steadily from 2005. Total external debt in 2010 was BDS 2,517.10 million, an increase of 12.03% from BDS 2,246.90 million in 2009.

The Economic Freedom score of Barbados is 68.5, making its economy the 42^nd freest in the 2011 Index. The country ranks 6^th out of 29 countries in the South and Central America/Caribbean region, and its overall score remains well above global and regional averages.

Corruption Perception

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is a survey to measure the perceived level of corruption across countries worldwide. Barbados is ranked 17^th with a score of 7.8 during 2010, indicating the corruption in the country across the government department is low.

(Source: transparency.org, page: 3)

Freedom of Information

The country name is not available in the Press Freedom Index 2010.

(Source: rsf.org)

Newspapers

• Barbados Advocate
• The Nation
• Caribbean Week
• Broad Street Journal

(Source: news.bbc)

Judicial System

Barbados' legal system is derived from British common law and statutes and the courts administer the laws of Barbados, consisting of local legislation. The Attorney General is responsible for the administration of the legal and judicial system.

(Source: totallybarbados.com)

There are four courts/ departments in Barbados who are primarily responsible for servicing, these are the Supreme Court (comprising the Court of Appeal and the High Court), the Magistrates’ Court, the Court Process Office and the Records Branch.

The Court of Appeal was constituted in 1992. It exercises criminal and civil jurisdiction, and hears appeals from the decisions of the High Court and the Magistrates' Courts. Matters are heard by a 'Full Court' comprising three Justices of Appeal, or by a single Justice of Appeal sitting in Chambers.

The High Court is divided into three divisions. The divisions are Civil Division, Criminal Division and Family Division.

The Court Process Office carries service documents required by any court or by any law to seize goods for sale to repay debts.

(Source: lawcourts.gov)

(Source: National Statistics, IMF)

In 2010, 44.5% population was classified as urban.

(Source: undp.org)

The population aged between 0-14 years was 17.3% during 2009. The population aged 60+ years comprised of 17.4% of women and 12.3% of  men during 2009.

(Source: data.un.org)

Gender Balance

The sex Ratio for the year 2010 was 103.4 male births per 100 female births where previously during 1990, it was 102.8 male births per 100 female births.

Median Age

The median age of the population increased from 28.4 years in 1990 to 37.8 years in 2010, this is primarily due to increasing life expectancy.

(Source: data.un.org, page: 184)

Life Expectancy

In Barbados, Life Expectancy at birth for the year 2010 was registered at 77.7 years and for 2009, it was 77.5 years.

Mortality Rate

The mortality rate of infants was recorded at 10.1 per 1,000 live births during 2010.

(Source: dataun.org)

Death Rate and Birth rate

In 2009, the crude death rate and birth rate was 8 per 1,000 population and 11 per 1,000 population respectively.

(Source: unicef.org)

Migration and Urbanisation

International migrant stock till mid-2010 was recorded at 28,100 people. This was approximately 11% of the entire population.

In the period 2005-2010, the urban and rural population grew at an annual average rate of 1.5% and -0.5% respectively.

(Source: data.un.org)

Ethnic Groups

Ethnic groups include African decent, white and Asian or mixed. Religions are Protestant, Roman Catholic and other.

(Source: state.gov)

Human Development Index

Barbados is ranked 42^nd with a score of 0.788 on UNDP (United Nations Development Program)’s Human Development Index (HDI) 2010. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

(Source: undp.org)

(Source: ITU)

During 2009, Fixed Telephone Line Subscribers were 135,700 people, a decrease of 9.53% from the 2008 value of 150,000 people.

(Source: ITU)

During 2009 the number of Mobile Cellular Subscribers was 337,061, an increase of 16.77% from the 2008 value of 288,662 people.