Female labor force participation rate in Barbados
Barbados: Female labor force participation rate was 59.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Barbados, 1960–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Barbados is 59.2%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 3.2% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Barbados peaked at 64.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 29.8%, in 1966.
Barbados ranks 64th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 30.2% | 29.8% | 30.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 40.2% | 35.6% | 44.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 57.5% | 52.5% | 61.3% | 6 |
| 1990s | 60.7% | 58.2% | 62.8% | 7 |
| 2000s | 63.5% | 62.2% | 64.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 61.0% | 59.0% | 63.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.7% | 56.2% | 59.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More work & labour data for Barbados
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 78.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 48.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 48.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 48.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 76.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 80.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 61.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Barbados?
- Female labor force participation rate in Barbados was 59.2% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 64.4% in 2004.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.8% in 1966.
- How does Barbados rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Barbados ranks 64th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.