Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados
Barbados: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 17.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
17.6%
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
77th
of 187 countries
All-time high
49.8%
in 1994
All-time low
16.9%
in 2024
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Barbados recorded 17.6% for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 4.3% on the previous year and down 40.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados peaked at 49.8% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2024.
That places Barbados 77th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 46.2% | — |
| 1992 | 47.5% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 47.5% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.8% | +4.9% |
| 1995 | 42.6% | -14.4% |
| 1996 | 31.8% | -25.4% |
| 1997 | 34.7% | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 29.4% | -15.3% |
| 1999 | 27.2% | -7.3% |
| 2000 | 23.9% | -12.4% |
| 2001 | 25.6% | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 28.0% | +9.4% |
| 2004 | 23.9% | -14.8% |
| 2005 | 24.9% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 22.8% | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 19.8% | -13.3% |
| 2008 | 22.3% | +12.7% |
| 2009 | 23.5% | +5.4% |
| 2010 | 24.8% | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 31.2% | +25.7% |
| 2012 | 32.5% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 31.6% | -2.6% |
| 2014 | 37.5% | +18.4% |
| 2015 | 29.7% | -20.7% |
| 2016 | 27.7% | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 25.6% | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 24.1% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 21.1% | -12.4% |
| 2020 | 28.9% | +37.0% |
| 2021 | 31.3% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 25.7% | -17.9% |
| 2023 | 17.1% | -33.5% |
| 2024 | 16.9% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 17.6% | +4.3% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 17.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.1%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 17.6% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 16.9%, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.6% | 27.2% | 49.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.0% | 19.8% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.6% | 21.1% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.9% | 16.9% | 31.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 74 Croatia 17.8% compare
- 75 South Sudan 17.7% compare
- 76 Slovakia 17.6% compare
- 78 India 17.5% compare
- 79 Equatorial Guinea 17.1% compare
- 80 Dominican Republic 16.9% compare
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 unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados was 17.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 49.8% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2024.
- How does Barbados rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Barbados ranks 77th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.7%. 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 Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.