Barbados

Caribbean

A Caribbean nation with English as a main language, a 5-year citizenship path and a digital-nomad visa, but case-by-case immigration and tax rules.

Overall score

Good · 90% data coverage

Language

English

Currency

BBD

Citizenship

5 years

Personal tax

Up to 28.5%

Cost of living

$1,700 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

63Residence12%

72Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

59Salary and work12%

53Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

65Taxes7%

65Business8%

43Investment5%

Daily life

25%

74Quality of life18%

70Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

88Freedom6%

75Rule of law7%

Pros

English as a main language
A 5-year citizenship path
A digital-nomad visa

Cons

Case-by-case immigration and tax rules

Best for

Remote workersEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Moderate

Migrant stock12.5% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality0.44 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Good

Years required	5 years
Dual allowed	Yes
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 5 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Excellent

161 / 198

Mobility

#25

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free113
On arrival42
eTA6
Visa required37

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$43,410 PPP (2024)

Unemployment6.5% (2025)

Participation64.7% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$1,003 · $836 PPP (2016)

Tech (IT & comms)$1,596 · $1,330 PPP (2016)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Moderate

GNI / person$24,840 PPP (2025)

Price level132 (US = 100) (2021)

Income inequality34.1 Gini (2016)

Inflation0.8% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Low

Price level132 (US = 100) (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$1,700 / mo (single)
Cities	Bridgetown

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$8B (2025)

GDP / person$28,365 (2025)

GNI / person$24,840 PPP (2025)

GDP growth2.5% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation0.8% / yr (2025)

Unemployment6.5% (2025)

Output per worker$43,410 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture1.6% of GDP (2024)

Industry12.2% of GDP (2024)

Services75.8% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

TourismFinancial servicesRum & foodLight manufacturing

Top exports

RumTourism servicesSugarChemicals

Type	High-income, tourism- and services-led
Key sectors	Tourism, Offshore finance, Rum production
Summary	A high-income Caribbean economy resting on tourism, international financial services and rum.
Currency	Barbadian dollar (pegged to the US dollar)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Good

Personal	Up to 28.5%
Corporate	Generally 9%; special regimes vary
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Up to 28.5%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Good

Corporate	Generally 9%; special regimes vary
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Good

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality0.44 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Limited

Market cap51% of GDP (2020)

Private credit60% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Good

Investment

Limited

Tax friendliness

Good

Cost of living

Low

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Good

Personal safety

Homicide rate7.4 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption1.23 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability1.27 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Good

Outcomes

Life expectancy76.3 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality9.8 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians2.96 per 1,000 (2022)

Hospital beds6.40 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$1,153 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Moderate

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure10.9 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress87.5% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Good

Digital infrastructure

Internet use70.4% (2024)

Internet resilience50 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed74 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed69 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Air connectivity2,477 departures / million people (1991)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Good

Attainment

Expected schooling16.6 years (2023)

Mean schooling9.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment51% gross (2025)

Education spending3.6% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$4,000–15,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	English
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Excellent

HDI0.811 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy76.2 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling16.6 years (2023)

Mean schooling9.9 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025