Barium modified Co/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TPD and DRIFTS. The catalytic activity for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was measured in a continuously stirred tank reactor. It was found that small amounts of BaO (≤ 2 wt%) improved the cobalt reducibility, which led to more cobalt active sites on the catalyst surface, and then resulted in higher CO conversion and C5+ selectivity. However, for the catalysts with high BaO loadings negative effects on the catalytic activity and selectivity for high hydrocarbons were observed because of low cobalt reducibility.