Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Barbados
Barbados: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 78.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Barbados, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Barbados recorded 78.3% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Barbados peaked at 80.6% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 74.1%, in 2021.
That places Barbados 35th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 78.6% | — |
| 1991 | 78.1% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 77.5% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 78.3% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 79.0% | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 80.2% | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 79.6% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 79.8% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 79.9% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 80.0% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 80.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 80.0% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 79.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 80.6% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 80.3% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 80.0% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 79.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 79.5% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 79.3% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 79.1% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 78.8% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 77.8% | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 78.4% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 76.9% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 75.7% | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 76.3% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 76.8% | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 76.3% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 76.2% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 74.5% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 74.1% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 77.7% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 77.8% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 78.2% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 78.3% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.1% | 77.5% | 80.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 79.9% | 79.3% | 80.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.2% | 75.7% | 79.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.8% | 74.1% | 78.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More work & labour data for Barbados
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7079 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6853 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7302 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9854 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.8257 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 114.42 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 165.89 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 97.75 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 96.95 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 194.7 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Barbados?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Barbados was 78.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 80.6% in 2004.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.1% in 2021.
- How does Barbados rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Barbados ranks 35th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.