Moving to China from Barbados

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Barbados to China — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Barbados to China, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Barbados and China stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BB
15.3
CN
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BB
10.0
CN
17.4

Barbados generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BB
$1,153
CN
$1,487
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BB
29.7
CN
25.2

Barbados generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BB
19.0
CN
64.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BB
2.5t
CN
9.3t

Barbados performs better than China across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BB
37.6
CN
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BB
87.5%
CN
41.5%

China generally does better on infrastructure, though Barbados leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BB
8.0%
CN
4.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BB
$17,400
CN
$22,100

China generally does better on employment & economy, though Barbados leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BB
78.5 yrs
CN
76.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BB
9.6
CN
6.8

Barbados generally does better on family life, though China leads in infant mortality.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Barbados, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Barbados and China. To live, work, or study long-term in China, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check China's immigration authority.

Barbados passport

Barbados passport holder visiting China

Visa Free
Barbados passport holders can enter China without a visa.
China passport

China passport holder visiting Barbados

Visa Free
China passport holders can enter Barbados without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from China?

With 41.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, China can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Barbados and China.

Is China safe for expats?

Barbados generally does better on safety, though China leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in China is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 15.3 in Barbados.

How is healthcare in China compared to Barbados?

Barbados generally does better on health & wellbeing, though China leads in health coverage index. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in China, compared to 29.7 in Barbados. China scores 81 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Barbados: 77).

What language do they speak in China?

The official language in China is Chinese. In Barbados, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BB CN
Population 302,674 1,410,539,758
Currency Barbadian Dollar (BBD) Chinese Yuan (CN¥)
Languages English Chinese
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1246 +86
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110