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Barbados vs Suriname
Side-by-side comparison of Barbados and Suriname 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
Suriname
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 51 years
In short
Barbados scores 50.6 in the NationsTree Index (86th in the world) and Suriname scores 37.8 (137th), a gap of 12.8 points. Their trees are 1.6 m and 2.1 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Suriname has 2.3 times the population of Barbados. Suriname is 380 times larger than Barbados by land area. The economy of Suriname is 98% larger than that of Barbados (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Barbados 282,623 and Suriname 639,850 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $25,894 in Barbados and $22,652 in Suriname (2025, international dollars). People in Barbados live on average 2.6 years longer (76.3 vs 73.8 years).
Of 31 indicators reported by both countries, Barbados ranks higher in the world on 27 and Suriname on 4. Barbados is clearly stronger in tourism, trade and society & health. Suriname is clearly stronger in main industries, natural resources and environment & energy.
As a nation, Barbados is the older of the two (statehood since 1623, 403 years), compared with Suriname (since 1975). Over the last five years Suriname improved faster (direction score 76 vs 43 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Barbados and Suriname.
Barbados
283
162nd of 183
Surinamebetter
158,867
3rd of 183
Government budget balanceEconomy
Barbadosbetter
-0.2%
40th of 192
Suriname
-8.3%
180th of 192
InflationEconomy
Barbadosbetter
0.8%
31st of 180
Suriname
9.2%
158th of 180
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Barbadosbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Suriname
99.0%
135th of 215
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Barbadosbetter
94%
66th of 193
Suriname
69%
172nd of 193
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Barbados overtook Suriname in GDP per person (PPP) in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Suriname overtook Barbados in GDP (PPP) in 2004 and has stayed ahead since.
Barbados has been ahead of Suriname in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Barbados has been ahead of Suriname in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Suriname has been ahead of Barbados in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BarbadosSuriname 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 | Suriname |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 431195th/216 · 2024 | 163,82091st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 431194th/216 · 2024 | 160,50891st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 282,623179th/217 · 2025 | 639,850168th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.06%167th/217 · 2025 | 0.85%110th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 655.414th/216 · 2024 | 4.0210th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 59.7%126th/217 · 2025 | 65.8%104th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 17.1%153rd/217 · 2025 | 25.3%93rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 17.1%56th/217 · 2025 | 8.2%116th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $8.02 bn159th/210 · 2025 | $4.52 bn171st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.32 bn166th/199 · 2025 | $14.49 bn159th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.25 bn166th/199 · 2025 | $12.39 bn159th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $28,36561st/210 · 2025 | $7,070120th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $25,89489th/199 · 2025 | $22,65297th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $27,08053rd/201 · 2025 | $6,140119th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.7%127th/210 · 2025 | 1.8%152nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.8%31st/180 · 2025 | 9.2%158th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 6.5%119th/187 · 2025 | 7.8%132nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 125.0%2016 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 96.2%162nd/189 · 2025 | 96.9%165th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.2%40th/192 · 2025 | -8.3%180th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.6%156th/197 · 2024 | 6.8%93rd/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 12.2%172nd/200 · 2024 | 35.1%32nd/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 4.9%153rd/192 · 2024 | 19.8%21st/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 75.8%17th/200 · 2024 | 50.8%142nd/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | — | $2.30 bn2010 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | — | $1.68 bn2010 |
| Exports % of GDP | — | 52.5%2010 |
| Imports % of GDP | — | 38.4%2010 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | — | 91.0%2010 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 4.8%76th/170 · 2025 | 0.0%157th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 41.2%73rd/171 · 2025 | 2.2%160th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 43.7%36th/171 · 2025 | 2.4%149th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 8.5%43rd/171 · 2025 | 0.6%146th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 19.9%32nd/168 · 2024 | 10.4%62nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -5.9%149th/191 · 2025 | -53.3%191st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.4%64th/196 · 2025 | 45.4%2nd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%142nd/209 · 2021 | 9.6%47th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.31%61st/197 · 2021 | 7.93%21st/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%86th/197 · 2021 | 0.01%80th/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 | 1.65%41st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 16.2%67th/206 · 2024 | 0.3%199th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 283162nd/183 · 2022 | 158,8673rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 966,00099th/194 · 2019 | 279,000146th/194 · 2017 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $1.07 bn70th/175 · 2016 | $19.0 m164th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 44.4%19th/168 · 2016 | 0.8%157th/168 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.396th/217 · 2024 | 73.8118th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 9.874th/196 · 2024 | 15.8104th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.9660th/174 · 2022 | 1.3696th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 6.413th/145 · 2023 | 2.963rd/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 69%172nd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 78.1%2000 | 50.0%114th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 104.4%43rd/173 · 2024 | 76.1%134th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 25.9%56th/217 · 2025 | 12.3%115th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.4%121st/193 · 2023 | 5.4%120th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 92.9%2012 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 50.8%78th/150 · 2025 | 2.6%150th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.81169th/193 · 2023 | 0.722114th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 34.12016 | 39.281st/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.7%2016 | 2.2%62nd/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 99.0%135th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 55.8%106th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 25.1%118th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 70.4%122nd/186 · 2024 | 87.4%73rd/186 · 2023 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 115107th/210 · 2022 | 14236th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 37.535th/208 · 2022 | 18.891st/208 · 2024 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 01991 | 149,672132nd/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.52100th/203 · 2024 | 4.06136th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 5.5%166th/212 · 2022 | 14.5%126th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 10.953rd/200 · 2023 | 15.788th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 14.6%144th/214 · 2024 | 91.5%2nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,4782007 | 1,68868th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 64.960th/205 · 2025 | 52.1108th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 72.826th/207 · 2025 | 40.3124th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 70.551st/207 · 2025 | 55.0113th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 88.017th/207 · 2025 | 76.171st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 62.363rd/205 · 2025 | 41.8164th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 77.633rd/205 · 2025 | 62.186th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 7.4110th/145 · 2023 | 6.5104th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.69%95th/168 · 2020 | 0.85%82nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 10.0 m2009 | 12.0 m103rd/163 · 2024 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2022 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 57150th/197 · 2023 | 26169th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Barbados or Suriname?
Suriname has the larger population: 639,850 (2025) compared with 282,623 for Barbados (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Barbados or Suriname?
Suriname is larger: 163,820 km² (2024) compared with 431 km² for Barbados (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Barbados or Suriname?
Suriname has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $14.49 bn intl. (2025) compared with $7.32 bn intl. for Barbados (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Barbados or Suriname?
Barbados has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $25,894 intl. (2025) compared with $22,652 intl. for Suriname (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Barbados or Suriname?
Barbados has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.3 years (2024) compared with 73.8 years for Suriname (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Barbados or Suriname?
Barbados: 50.6 points (86th in the world); Suriname: 37.8 points (137th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Aruba
Bahamas
Belize
Cayman Islands
US Virgin IslandsSources
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 Suriname — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/barbados-vs-suriname. Data as of 26 October 2026.