Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados
Barbados: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 18.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados is 18.8%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.4% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados peaked at 20.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 1991.
Barbados ranks 121st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.8% | — |
| 1992 | 12.4% | +4.7% |
| 1993 | 13.2% | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 12.4% | -6.4% |
| 1995 | 12.5% | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 12.6% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 11.9% | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 12.1% | +1.7% |
| 1999 | 13.8% | +13.3% |
| 2000 | 12.5% | -9.0% |
| 2001 | 13.5% | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 13.7% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 14.1% | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 14.3% | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 14.4% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 14.6% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 14.8% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 15.5% | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 15.8% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 16.2% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 16.5% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 16.4% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 16.3% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 17.5% | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 18.8% | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 19.6% | +4.0% |
| 2019 | 20.0% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 19.7% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 18.9% | -3.9% |
| 2022 | 19.2% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 19.3% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 19.1% | -1.0% |
| 2025 | 18.8% | -1.4% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 18.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 2.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 18.8% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 26.1%, 72% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.5% | 11.8% | 13.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 14.1% | 12.5% | 15.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.2% | 15.5% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.2% | 18.8% | 19.7% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Barbados was 18.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 1991.
- How does Barbados rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Barbados ranks 121st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).