What is the population of Barbados in 2026?
Barbados has a population of 282,623 people (2025 estimate), which is 186th in the world and about 0.00% of the global total.
Population 2025
282,623
0.00% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
+0.06%
+155 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
657/km²
430 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
39.4 years
Life expectancy 76.3 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Barbados
With a population of 282,623 spread across 430 km², Barbados ranks 184th globally and has one of the highest population densities in the Caribbean region at 657 people per km². The median age of 39.4 years reflects an aging population, while the fertility rate of 1.7 births per woman and annual growth of just 0.1% indicate demographic stability. Life expectancy stands at 76.3 years.
The nation achieved independence in 1966 and operates as a unitary state with English as its official language. Bridgetown serves as the capital. Approximately 60% of the population is urbanized. With a GDP per capita of $28,365, Barbados ranks among the more developed economies in the region. The Barbadian dollar is the official currency.
This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Bridgetown
- Continent
- North America
- ISO codes
- BB · BRB
- Demonym
- Barbadian
- Currency
- Barbadian dollar (BBD $)
- Government
- Parliamentary republic, Unitary state
- State inception
- 1966
- Time zone
- UTC−04:00
- Driving side
- Left
- Calling code
- +1246
- Internet TLD
- .bb
- Land neighbours
- No land borders
Languages
- English
Demographics
Economy
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Not published for Barbados: Happiness Index.
Geography
Military
None of our sources publish these indicators for Barbados.
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 17.2%
- Age 15–64
- 66.2%
- Age 65+
- 16.6%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 1 | 8 |
| 95-99 | 26 | 113 |
| 90-94 | 203 | 573 |
| 85-89 | 805 | 1,645 |
| 80-84 | 1,905 | 3,057 |
| 75-79 | 3,763 | 5,075 |
| 70-74 | 5,589 | 7,157 |
| 65-69 | 7,533 | 9,298 |
| 60-64 | 8,714 | 10,458 |
| 55-59 | 8,883 | 10,177 |
| 50-54 | 9,315 | 10,265 |
| 45-49 | 8,852 | 9,610 |
| 40-44 | 9,081 | 9,755 |
| 35-39 | 8,941 | 9,237 |
| 30-34 | 9,313 | 9,518 |
| 25-29 | 8,978 | 8,976 |
| 20-24 | 9,524 | 9,214 |
| 15-19 | 9,243 | 8,962 |
| 10-14 | 8,589 | 8,299 |
| 5-9 | 8,183 | 7,919 |
| 0-4 | 7,982 | 7,729 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 209,917 |
| 1960 | 230,893 |
| 1970 | 249,387 |
| 1980 | 251,524 |
| 1990 | 258,582 |
| 2000 | 262,063 |
| 2010 | 275,243 |
| 2020 | 281,698 |
| 2030 | 282,490 |
| 2040 | 276,346 |
| 2050 | 264,216 |
| 2060 | 250,870 |
| 2070 | 237,282 |
| 2080 | 223,393 |
| 2090 | 208,992 |
| 2100 | 194,698 |
How Barbados Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
| Barbados | 283K |
Barbados Population FAQ
Is the population of Barbados growing or shrinking?
Barbados's population is growing at +0.06% per year, a change of roughly 155 people annually.
What is the capital of Barbados?
The capital of Barbados is Bridgetown.
How densely populated is Barbados?
Barbados has 657/km² across 430 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Barbados?
Life expectancy at birth in Barbados is 76.3 years (2024).
What is the median age in Barbados?
The median age in Barbados is 39.4 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Barbados in?
Barbados is in North America.