Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados
Barbados: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 16.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados, 1983–2024
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados is 16.4%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.5% on the previous year and down 51.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados peaked at 42.2% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 16.4%, in 2024.
Barbados ranks 60th of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 30.6% | — |
| 1986 | 35.4% | +16.0% |
| 1987 | 36.5% | +3.0% |
| 1988 | 32.5% | -10.8% |
| 1989 | 25.5% | -21.5% |
| 1990 | 30.7% | +20.1% |
| 1991 | 33.5% | +9.1% |
| 1992 | 42.2% | +26.1% |
| 1993 | 41.3% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 41.8% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 37.8% | -9.6% |
| 1996 | 27.9% | -26.2% |
| 1997 | 30.0% | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 24.6% | -18.2% |
| 1999 | 22.3% | -9.4% |
| 2001 | 23.0% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 22.9% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 26.2% | +14.3% |
| 2009 | 24.4% | -6.9% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | +6.8% |
| 2013 | 29.6% | +13.6% |
| 2014 | 33.8% | +14.1% |
| 2015 | 29.3% | -13.4% |
| 2016 | 26.7% | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 26.5% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 24.6% | -7.4% |
| 2019 | 26.0% | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 28.4% | +8.9% |
| 2022 | 21.3% | -25.0% |
| 2023 | 18.7% | -12.0% |
| 2024 | 16.4% | -12.5% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 16.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.2× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 16.4% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 15.1%, 1.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 32.1% | 25.5% | 36.5% | 5 |
| 1990s | 33.2% | 22.3% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.1% | 22.9% | 26.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 27.8% | 24.6% | 33.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 21.2% | 16.4% | 28.4% | 4 |
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 16.4% in 2024, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 42.2% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.4% in 2024.
- How does Barbados rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Barbados ranks 60th out of 160 countries with data for 2024.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 51.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.