Barbados’ debt-to-GDP ratio has fallen significantly, Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn announced today during the presentation of the Annual Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement today in the House of Assembly.
The ratio, which stood at 178.9% in 2017, has now dropped to 93.3%. It stood at 99.8 at the end of October 2025.
Straughn described the improvement as a turning point for the nation’s finances, saying Barbados is now “financially stable enough to meet our obligations without constantly borrowing more”.
He noted it was the first Budget presented by this Government outside of an International Monetary Fund programme, though the organisation remained on stand-by.
The Minister also added that Barbados was no longer on any international watchlists and now met global standards for transparency and financial regulation.
