About Us
Welcome to the Barbados Statistical Service!
Our website incorporates user-friendly navigation to reflect the dynamic electronic environment in which we now operate. It makes available reliable and timely official statistics for Barbados that you can use for information, analysis, research, decision-making, or development planning.
On this website, you can find economic statistics, social and demographic statistics and information about our various surveys.
I encourage all respondents that are included in our various surveys to fully cooperate with our staff, because your input facilitates the production of reliable national statistics for the benefit of all users.
Visit our website frequently to see the latest statistical indicators and national statistics, as soon as they are approved for release to the public.
You may be aware that statistics are produced from 2 main sources:
- administrative records; and
- surveys or censuses.
Surveys and censuses can be expensive to conduct, especially in difficult economic times when financial resources are scarce. For this reason, we do our best to make maximum use of available administrative records.
Administrative records refer to information collected by government or private sector organizations as part of their ongoing operations. Examples of administrative records include registers of births, deaths, and taxation records. Using administrative records gives us the ability to improve data quality and reduce data collection costs. It also reduces the response burden on respondents to surveys.
Our aim is to present the reliable official statistics for Barbados through this platform as soon as they are available.
Your feedback on the improvement of our website would be appreciated. Visit our Contact Us page.
– Aubrey Browne
The mandate of the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) is to provide reliable and timely key economic and social statistics which decision makers and other users need. BSS is a department in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment.
Our Vision
To be the leading provider of adequate, timely and reliable statistics in the Caribbean Region.
Our Values
- Professionalism
- Integrity
- Quality Service
- Accountability
- Team Spirit
Privacy
The Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) is bound by law and currently the Statistics Act 1958 (Cap. 192). Work is at an advanced stage in the preparation of new statistics legislation to govern how we operate in this modern environment. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Open License Agreement.
Code of Practice
BSS operates according to regional and international best practices. These practices help to ensure that BSS is operating at internationally accepted professional and ethical standards.
Our Mission
To provide reliable and timely key economic and social statistics which decision makers and other users need.
Director of Statistical Services
Mr. Aubrey V. Browne has over 35 years’ experience working in the public service. He joined the staff of the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) as a Statistician in January 1985, after graduating from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill campus) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Accounting. He holds a Master of Science degree in Social Statistics from the University of Southampton, England and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Sector Management from the UWI (Cave Hill campus).
During his tenure at the BSS, he has acquired experience working in establishment and household surveys, as well as in the production of social statistics. He rose through the ranks of Senior Statistician, Deputy Director, and took over the role of Director in August 2010.
He has worked in three (3) Population and Housing Censuses (1990, 2000 and 2010). His experience was developed by attending various training courses and workshops on statistics, management, leadership, finance and project management. He also participated in various regional and international seminars and meetings, such as the CARICOM Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) and the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC).
Email: director@barstats.gov.bb
Deputy Director
Miss Carla Parris joined the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) in September 1999 as a Statistician. She graduated from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus) with a Bachelor of Science degree with Upper Second Class Honours. She also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Surrey.
During her tenure with the Department, her working experience has mainly been the area of Labour Force Statistics and the Household Surveys. She rose through the ranks as Senior Statistician and later the role of Deputy Director (ag.) in December 2017. Ms. Parris has attended various training courses including Coaching and Leadership skills.
First Home
- The department was established in 1956 through a technical assistance programme of the United Nations by Dudley Seers, Professor of Economics at Sussex University. The first issue of the Abstract of Statistics was compiled and published. The recruiting office was on the site now occupied by the Treasury Building.
- The initial staff complement was twenty (20) persons.
- The first home was at Government Headquarters on Bay Street. Mr. George Ashby served as acting Government Statistician until his untimely death in 1957 when Mr. Charles Alleyne took up the post.
- Population & Social, Trade & Financial, Industrial & Labour, National Income & Expenditure, and Meteorological Statistics were published.
Moving On
- In 1957, the department was relocated to The Garrison. By 1958, The Statistics Act was passed. Mr. Christopher Springer acted as Government Statistician in 1959 and was later appointed. He was succeeded by Mr. Alleyne who was appointed in 1964.
- In 1958, the Statistics Act, Cap 192, was passed.
- In 1966, Mr. Charles Alleyne was appointed to the new post of Director.
Previous Home
- Starting in 1975, BSS’ home was the 3rd floor of the N.I.S. Building on Fairchild Street.
- In 1977, Mr. Alleyne retired and Mr. Keith Padmore acted as Director.
- In 1980, Mr. Eric Straughn was appointed to the post of Director.
- In 2000, Mrs. Angela Hunte was appointed Director.
Present Home
- Today, BSS home is on the 5th Floor of Baobab Tower in Warrens, St. Michael.
- In 2010, Mr. Aubrey Browne began acting as Director on Mrs. Hunte’s retirement.
Role of Division
The Business Surveys Division is responsible for the collection & compilation of the Index of Industrial Production. We also administer the National Accounts Survey & calculate the Retail Price Index. The Producers Price Index and the Business Register are currently being develop.
Tasks of Division
- Survey of Production and Sales – This survey seeks to obtain monthly information on the industrial sector regarding the level of production and the value of sales.
Its main uses are as follows:
- Production quantity data, collected by the survey, is used in the compilation of a monthly index of industrial production.
- Aggregated production information on selected products is made available to data users and the general public on request.
- Monthly sales data, aggregated for the year, is used by the National Accounts section as a basis for making estimates for National Accounts.
- Nature of Business Survey – This is a short questionnaire which is used as required, to obtain information for updating the Business Register.
- Producer Price Index – This is conducted monthly among the manufacturing industry.
Publications Produced
- Index of Industrial Production
- Index of Industrial Production is a measure of output of the industrial sector of the economy. The industrial sector includes manufacturing, mining, and utilities. These Sectors are highly sensitive to interest rates and consumer demand.
- Retail Price Index
- The Retail Price Index is a measure of changes in the general level of retail prices (inclusive of VAT) of a fixed ‘basket’ of goods and services, or a mix of consumer goods and services, purchased by the average household.
- Producer Price Index
- The Producer Price Index is a price index that measures the average change in price received by domestic producers for their output.
Role of Division
Trade
The Trade Section is responsible for the compilation of international trade statistics according to internationally – accepted standards. These statistics are prepared according to both the General and Special systems of compilation, and are available in both Harmonised System (HS) and Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) order.
National Accounts
The National Accounts section is responsible for the compilation of Gross Domestic Product at both Current and Constant Prices. GDP at Constant Prices is compiled quarterly and annually and is used for internal analysis. GDP at Current Prices is compiled annually using both the production and expenditure approaches, and is published in the Barbados Economic and Social Report. GDP of the economy is tabulated by combining the contribution of each of the twelve industries of the economy.
Tasks of Division
Trade
- The collection of “raw” trade data from the Customs Department.
- The collection of petroleum trade data from the agencies importing and exporting petroleum and petroleum-related products.
- The collection of data on sugar shipments.
- The production of a monthly Trade Bulletin.
- The provision of international trade data to users.
National Accounts
- The distribution, collection and analysis of the Annual Survey of National Accounts estimates.
- Provision of data on Constant and Current Price estimates to various users.
- Provision of National Accounts estimates tables to other publications of the department.
- Provision of Current Prices estimates, Percentages Change tables, and special industry breakdowns to the Ministry of Economic Affairs to be published in the annual Barbados Economic and Social Report.
Collection of data from various data sources within each sector of the economy. These sectors are:
- Agriculture and Fishing
- Mining and Quarrying
- Manufacturing
- Electricity, Gas & Water Supply
- Construction
- Wholesale & Retail Trade
- Transportation and Storage
- Accommodation and Food Services
- Information & Communications
- Financial & Insurance
- Real Estate
- Business Services
- Public Administration, Defence & Social Security
- Public Education
- Public Health
- Personal & Other Services Incl. of Private Edu. & Health
Publications Produced
The Division produces a number of publications:
- A monthly Trade Bulletin.
- An annual Trade Report.
- Export/Import Price Index Quarterly Bulletin
The Division also responds to requests for international merchandise trade statistics.
Role of Division
The Social and Demographic Statistics Division is responsible for the collection, collation and publication of Statistics related to the:
- Labour Market
- Tourist Arrivals
- Population and
- Vital Events
This aids in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies that can assist government and other policy makers in the elimination of a number of societal issues.
Tasks of Division
- Survey design including questionnaire formulation, household listing and sampling
- Primary data collection through household surveys- – Continuous Labour Force Sample Survey
- Secondary data collection through administrative data – Births and Deaths, Divorces and Marriages collected through the Registration Department
- Estimation and derivation of social and demographic statistical indicators
- Data analysis
- Publication and dissemination of data, analytical reports and other statistical products and
- Training and coordination of the national damage assessment exercise
Publications Produced
- Continuous Labour Force Sample Survey: Statistical Bulletin (Quarterly and Annually)
- Visitor Arrivals: Statistical Bulletin (Monthly)
- Tourism Report (Annually)
- Births and Deaths: Statistical Bulletin (Quarterly)
- Marriage and Divorce Summary Report
- Vital Statistics Summary Report
This is a newly created Division (from April 2017), which is responsible for the provision of support services to other Divisions and the entire Department. These support services include the Information Technology (IT) network system, the Geographic Information System (GIS), Accounts and Finance, and Human Relations (HR)/personnel matters.
Currently, the Division consists of two IT Officers, who provide the data processing services, software and web development, guidance and support, to all units of the Department. The GIS unit is currently being developed by a GIS Technician, to develop and produce spatial data – for the benefit of internal and external users.