Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Barbados
Barbados: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 9.93 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Barbados, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Barbados recorded 9.93 years for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Barbados peaked at 9.93 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.37 years, in 1990.
Barbados ranks 98th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Barbados, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.37 years | — |
| 1991 | 8.5 years | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 8.63 years | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 8.76 years | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 8.89 years | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 9.02 years | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 9.01 years | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 9.01 years | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 9 years | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 9 years | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 8.99 years | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 9.1 years | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 9.2 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 9.31 years | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 9.41 years | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 9.52 years | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 9.55 years | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 9.57 years | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 9.6 years | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 9.63 years | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 9.65 years | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 9.66 years | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 9.67 years | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 9.68 years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 9.69 years | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 9.69 years | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 9.73 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 9.77 years | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 9.81 years | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 9.85 years | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 9.89 years | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 9.93 years | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 9.93 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 9.93 years | +0.0% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 9.93 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 80% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 9.93 years is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.68 years, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.82 years | 8.37 years | 9.02 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.39 years | 8.99 years | 9.63 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.72 years | 9.65 years | 9.85 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.92 years | 9.89 years | 9.93 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More education data for Barbados
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1,244 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 279 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2,255 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2,277 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 18,457 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16,314 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -5.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0578 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Barbados?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Barbados was 9.93 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 9.93 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.37 years in 1990.
- How does Barbados rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Barbados ranks 98th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.