Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados
Barbados: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 18.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Barbados recorded 18.5% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 2.4% on the previous year and down 36.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados peaked at 43.8% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 2007.
That places Barbados 60th 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.9% | — |
| 1992 | 42.1% | +2.8% |
| 1993 | 43.8% | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 42.0% | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 38.1% | -9.4% |
| 1996 | 28.1% | -26.2% |
| 1997 | 30.2% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 24.5% | -19.1% |
| 1999 | 22.5% | -8.2% |
| 2000 | 20.8% | -7.3% |
| 2001 | 22.9% | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 23.0% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 25.9% | +12.5% |
| 2004 | 22.6% | -12.6% |
| 2005 | 21.3% | -6.0% |
| 2006 | 20.6% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 17.5% | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 19.1% | +9.4% |
| 2009 | 23.7% | +24.1% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 26.8% | +5.8% |
| 2012 | 28.8% | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 29.1% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 33.1% | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 28.9% | -12.7% |
| 2016 | 26.2% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 26.2% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 24.2% | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 25.8% | +6.5% |
| 2020 | 30.0% | +16.5% |
| 2021 | 28.2% | -5.9% |
| 2022 | 21.0% | -25.6% |
| 2023 | 18.3% | -13.1% |
| 2024 | 18.0% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 18.5% | +2.4% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 18.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 18.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 14.0%, 1.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.7% | 22.5% | 43.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 21.7% | 17.5% | 25.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.4% | 24.2% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.3% | 18.0% | 30.0% | 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 unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados was 18.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 43.8% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 2007.
- How does Barbados rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Barbados ranks 60th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 36.0%. 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 total (% of total 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.