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Barbados vs Belize
Side-by-side comparison of Barbados and Belize from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Barbados
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 403 years
Belize
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 45 years
In short
Barbados scores 50.6 in the NationsTree Index (86th in the world) and Belize scores 40.2 (128th), a gap of 10.4 points. Their trees are 1.6 m and 1.4 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Belize has 50% more people than Barbados. Belize is 53 times larger than Barbados by land area. The economy of Barbados is 16% larger than that of Belize (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Barbados 282,623 and Belize 422,924 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $25,894 in Barbados and $14,966 in Belize (2025, international dollars). People in Barbados live on average 2.6 years longer (76.3 vs 73.7 years).
Of 30 indicators reported by both countries, Barbados ranks higher in the world on 24 and Belize on 6. Barbados is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, tourism and society & health. Belize is clearly stronger in environment & energy and natural resources.
As a nation, Barbados is the older of the two (statehood since 1623, 403 years), compared with Belize (since 1981). Over the last five years Belize improved faster (direction score 69 vs 43 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Barbados and Belize.
Barbados
283
162nd of 183
Belizebetter
37,891
14th of 183
High-tech exportsTrade
Barbadosbetter
19.9%
32nd of 168
Belize
0.0%
165th of 168
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Barbadosbetter
6.4
13th of 145
Belize
1.0
118th of 145
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Barbadosbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Belize
99.6%
130th of 215
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Barbados
5.5%
166th of 212
Belizebetter
30.8%
78th of 212
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Belize overtook Barbados in population in 2004 and has stayed ahead since.
Barbados has been ahead of Belize in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Barbados has been ahead of Belize in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BarbadosBelize All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Barbados | Belize |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 431195th/216 · 2024 | 22,966148th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 431194th/216 · 2024 | 22,810148th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 282,623179th/217 · 2025 | 422,924174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.06%167th/217 · 2025 | 1.39%75th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 655.414th/216 · 2024 | 18.3192nd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 59.7%126th/217 · 2025 | 41.6%169th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 17.1%153rd/217 · 2025 | 26.3%88th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 17.1%56th/217 · 2025 | 5.2%145th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $8.02 bn159th/210 · 2025 | $3.33 bn179th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.32 bn166th/199 · 2025 | $6.33 bn172nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.25 bn166th/199 · 2025 | $5.41 bn172nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $28,36561st/210 · 2025 | $7,865115th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $25,89489th/199 · 2025 | $14,966123rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $27,08053rd/201 · 2025 | $7,530107th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.7%127th/210 · 2025 | 2.7%124th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.8%31st/180 · 2025 | 1.1%38th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.5%119th/187 · 2025 | 8.9%141st/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 125.0%2016 | 61.0%2014 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 96.2%162nd/189 · 2025 | 66.9%131st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.2%40th/192 · 2025 | -1.0%54th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.6%156th/197 · 2024 | 7.9%84th/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 12.2%172nd/200 · 2024 | 14.6%162nd/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 4.9%153rd/192 · 2024 | 6.6%138th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 75.8%17th/200 · 2024 | 62.4%70th/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | — | $1.77 bn151st/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | — | $1.72 bn160th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | — | 55.2%41st/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | — | 53.7%67th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | — | 109.0%49th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 4.8%76th/170 · 2025 | 0.0%152nd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 41.2%73rd/171 · 2025 | 3.2%157th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 43.7%36th/171 · 2025 | 95.3%4th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 8.5%43rd/171 · 2025 | 0.6%150th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 19.9%32nd/168 · 2024 | 0.0%165th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.9%149th/191 · 2025 | -2.8%112th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.4%64th/196 · 2025 | 0.0%177th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%142nd/209 · 2021 | 0.5%131st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.31%61st/197 · 2021 | 0.28%66th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%86th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%92nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%152nd/209 · 2021 | 0.24%88th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 16.2%67th/206 · 2024 | 4.6%139th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 283162nd/183 · 2022 | 37,89114th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 966,00099th/194 · 2019 | 487,000124th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.07 bn70th/175 · 2016 | $101.0 m1998 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 44.4%19th/168 · 2016 | 30.9%1998 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.396th/217 · 2024 | 73.7120th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 9.874th/196 · 2024 | 12.788th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.9660th/174 · 2022 | 1.092018 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 6.413th/145 · 2023 | 1.0118th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 88%117th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 78.1%2000 | 52.2%113th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.4%43rd/173 · 2024 | 86.5%114th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 39.4%2009 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 25.9%56th/217 · 2025 | 7.6%148th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.4%121st/193 · 2023 | 4.1%152nd/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 87.9%58th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 50.8%78th/150 · 2025 | 24.8%112th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.81169th/193 · 2023 | 0.721115th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 34.12016 | 39.92018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.7%2016 | 1.0%2018 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 99.6%130th/215 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 70.4%122nd/186 · 2024 | 80.0%102nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 115107th/210 · 2022 | 67184th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 37.535th/208 · 2022 | 9.8121st/208 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 01991 | 776,198105th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.52100th/203 · 2024 | 0.9362nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 5.5%166th/212 · 2022 | 30.8%78th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 10.953rd/200 · 2023 | 16.899th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 14.6%144th/214 · 2024 | 58.0%36th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,4782007 | 6012007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 64.960th/205 · 2025 | 48.6122nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 72.826th/207 · 2025 | 45.2100th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 70.551st/207 · 2025 | 52.5123rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 88.017th/207 · 2025 | 79.856th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 62.363rd/205 · 2025 | 46.1139th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 77.633rd/205 · 2025 | 61.690th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 7.4110th/145 · 2023 | 28.1134th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $33.3 m147th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 1.0%115th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 3.7%117th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.69%95th/168 · 2020 | 1.32%50th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 10.0 m2009 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2023 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2022 | 12006 |
| Scientific articles articles | 57150th/197 · 2023 | 18175th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Barbados or Belize?
Belize has the larger population: 422,924 (2025) compared with 282,623 for Barbados (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Barbados or Belize?
Belize is larger: 22,966 km² (2024) compared with 431 km² for Barbados (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Barbados or Belize?
Barbados has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.32 bn intl. (2025) compared with $6.33 bn intl. for Belize (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Barbados or Belize?
Barbados has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $25,894 intl. (2025) compared with $14,966 intl. for Belize (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Barbados or Belize?
Barbados has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.3 years (2024) compared with 73.7 years for Belize (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Barbados or Belize?
Barbados: 50.6 points (86th in the world); Belize: 40.2 points (128th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Aruba
Bahamas
Cayman Islands
Suriname
US Virgin Islands
Curaçao
Saint LuciaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Barbados vs Belize — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/barbados-vs-belize. Data as of 26 October 2026.