Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados
Barbados: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 64.7% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados is 64.7%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados peaked at 70.2% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 62.4%, in 2021.
Barbados ranks 66th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 68.5% | — |
| 1991 | 68.1% | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 67.7% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 68.2% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 68.7% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 69.7% | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 68.9% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 69.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 69.2% | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 69.2% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 69.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 69.5% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 69.5% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 69.5% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 70.2% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 70.0% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 69.8% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 69.6% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 69.4% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 69.2% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 68.9% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 68.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 67.6% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 68.3% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 66.3% | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 65.4% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 66.1% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 66.2% | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 65.7% | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 64.9% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 63.1% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 62.4% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 65.3% | +4.7% |
| 2023 | 65.0% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 65.0% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 64.7% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.7% | 67.7% | 69.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.6% | 69.2% | 70.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.8% | 64.9% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.3% | 62.4% | 65.3% | 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 15+) in Barbados?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados was 64.7% 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 15+) recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 70.2% in 2004.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.4% in 2021.
- How does Barbados rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Barbados ranks 66th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.