Barbados

Country in Americas

In brief

Primary school enrolment: 83.9% (2024). World rank 176 of 191; in Americas, 39 of 42. Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 6.4 (2023). World rank 14 of 150 (1 = best); in Americas, 1 of 35. Access to clean cooking fuels: 100% (2024). World rank 1 of 192 (1 = best); in Americas, 1 of 35. From 2015 to 2025: higher education enrolment 57.3% → 50.8%.

Education

Adult literacy: 99.3% 1970
Primary school enrolment: 83.9% 2024
Secondary school enrolment: 104% 2024
Higher education enrolment: 50.8% 2025
Public spending on education, share of GDP: 3.6% 2024

Healthcare

Health spending, share of GDP: 5.4% 2023
Health spending per person: $1,286 2023
Out-of-pocket health spending, share of total: 49.5% 2023
Doctors per 1,000 people: 3 2022
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 people: 3.7 2023
Hospital beds per 1,000 people: 6.4 2023
Children vaccinated against measles: 88% 2024

Public health

Infant deaths per 1,000 births: 9.1 2024
Deaths under age 5 per 1,000 births: 9.8 2024
Maternal deaths per 100,000 births: 35 2023
HIV prevalence, ages 15–49: 1% 2024
Diabetes prevalence, ages 20–79: 13.2% 2024
Overweight adults: 67.2% 2022
Adults who use tobacco: No data

Living conditions

Access to safe drinking water: 99.2% 2024
Access to basic sanitation: 98.1% 2024
Access to clean cooking fuels: 100% 2024