Unemployment rate in Barbados
Barbados: Unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Barbados, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Barbados is 6.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 33.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Barbados peaked at 24.5% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6.4%, in 2024.
Barbados ranks 69th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.3% | 10.6% | 24.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.3% | 7.4% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.1% | 8.2% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.1% | 6.4% | 11.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More work & labour data for Barbados
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 88.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 68.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.7% (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 61.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Barbados?
- Unemployment rate in Barbados was 6.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 24.5% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.4% in 2024.
- How does Barbados rank for unemployment rate?
- Barbados ranks 69th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.