Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados

Barbados: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 62.8% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
62.8%
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
99th
of 199 countries
All-time high
69.7%
in 2004
All-time low
38.0%
in 1966
Years of data
34
1960–2024

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados, 1960–2024

02040601960199220241960: 39.71966: 381970: 61.21978: 41.31980: 64.31983: 641986: 65.51987: 66.51988: 67.41989: 68.61990: 67.31991: 65.21992: 66.11994: 67.51995: 68.21996: 671997: 67.72003: 69.32004: 69.72009: 672010: 66.62011: 67.62012: 66.22013: 66.72014: 63.92015: 642016: 65.42017: 64.42018: 63.62019: 62.32021: 59.82022: 62.32023: 61.52024: 62.8

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados is 62.8%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados peaked at 69.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 38.0%, in 1966.

Barbados ranks 99th of 199 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.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate) in Barbados, 1960 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1960 39.7%
1966 38.0% -4.2%
1970 61.2% +60.8%
1978 41.3% -32.4%
1980 64.3% +55.6%
1983 64.0% -0.4%
1986 65.5% +2.2%
1987 66.5% +1.6%
1988 67.4% +1.4%
1989 68.6% +1.7%
1990 67.3% -1.8%
1991 65.2% -3.2%
1992 66.1% +1.4%
1994 67.5% +2.0%
1995 68.2% +1.0%
1996 67.0% -1.7%
1997 67.7% +1.1%
2003 69.3% +2.3%
2004 69.7% +0.6%
2009 67.0% -3.8%
2010 66.6% -0.6%
2011 67.6% +1.5%
2012 66.2% -2.1%
2013 66.7% +0.8%
2014 63.9% -4.2%
2015 64.0% +0.1%
2016 65.4% +2.3%
2017 64.4% -1.6%
2018 63.6% -1.3%
2019 62.3% -2.0%
2021 59.8% -4.0%
2022 62.3% +4.1%
2023 61.5% -1.2%
2024 62.8% +2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 38.9% 38.0% 39.7% 2
1970s 51.2% 41.3% 61.2% 2
1980s 66.1% 64.0% 68.6% 6
1990s 67.0% 65.2% 68.2% 7
2000s 68.6% 67.0% 69.7% 3
2010s 65.1% 62.3% 67.6% 10
2020s 61.6% 59.8% 62.8% 4

Countries ranked near Barbados

  1. 96 Lithuania 63.1% compare
  2. 97 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 62.8% compare
  3. 98 Russian Federation 62.8% compare
  4. 100 Guam 62.6% compare
  5. 101 Panama 62.5% compare
  6. 102 Chile 62.5% compare

See the full ranking of 232 places →

More work & labour data for Barbados

All data for Barbados →

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 62.8% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 69.7% in 2004.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Barbados?
The lowest recorded value was 38.0% in 1966.
How does Barbados rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Barbados ranks 99th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Barbados?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Barbados data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Barbados. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-national-estimate/barbados/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
232 places, 5,713 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

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.