Barbados Tax Revenue
Tax revenue as % of GDP GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS
Barbados's tax revenue was 23.40% in 2016, ranked 123rd globally. This represents a 11.4% increase from 2015. Data from World Bank, covering 2003–2016.
Overview
Barbados's tax revenue stood at 23.40% in 2016, a rise of +2.39% from 2015. Barbados ranked 123rd globally.
Barbados’ tax revenue as a share of GDP fell from 25.24 percent in 2003 to a low of 19.04 percent in 2013, marking the all‑time trough during the post‑global‑financial‑crisis period, before rebounding to 23.40 percent in 2016, the latest figure reported by the World Bank and placing the country 123rd globally. The peak of 26.73 percent recorded in 2005 reflects a pre‑crisis fiscal environment in which tax collections were buoyed by strong tourism and offshore financial services. Over the 14‑year span, the downward swing of more than seven percentage points underscores the vulnerability of a small open economy to external shocks and domestic revenue‑raising constraints. By comparison, France posted a similar tax‑to‑GDP ratio of 23.15 percent in 2016, while Cyprus stood at 23.52 percent, illustrating that Barbados now aligns with mid‑range OECD and European peers. Continued diversification of the tax base and reforms to improve compliance could sustain the modest upward trajectory observed since the 2013 trough.
Data & projection
| Year | Tax Revenue | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 23.40% | +2.39% | #123 |
| 2015 | 21.01% | +1.36% | #109 |
| 2014 | 19.65% | +0.61% | #97 |
| 2013 | 19.04% | −0.54% | #89 |
| 2012 | 19.58% | −1.76% | #94 |
| 2011 | 21.34% | +1.61% | #101 |
| 2010 | 19.73% | −4.97% | #92 |
| 2009 | 24.71% | −0.69% | #110 |
| 2008 | 25.40% | −0.55% | #105 |
| 2007 | 25.95% | +0.66% | #99 |
| 2006 | 25.29% | −1.45% | #94 |
| 2005 | 26.73% | +0.96% | #100 |
| 2004 | 25.77% | +0.53% | #99 |
| 2003 | 25.24% | – | #96 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Barbados matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2011. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw tax revenue improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Barbados's tax revenue was 23.40% in 2016. Ranked 123rd globally. This represents a 11.4% increase from the previous year.
Barbados's tax revenue peaked at 26.73% in 2005.
The lowest tax revenue in Barbados was 19.04% in 2013.
Barbados ranks 123rd globally in tax revenue as of 2016.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The tax revenue of Barbados in 2016 was 23.40%. This ranks 123rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_barbados_tax-revenue,
title = {Barbados Tax Revenue},
url = {https://historysaid.com/barbados/tax-revenue/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}