Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Barbados
Barbados: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 16,314 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
16,314
Change on year
down 5.2%
World rank
184th
of 218 countries
All-time high
39,006
in 1971
All-time low
16,314
in 2024
Years of data
42
1971–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Barbados, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Barbados stood at 16,314. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and down 22.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Barbados peaked at 39,006 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 16,314, in 2024.
That places Barbados 184th out of 218 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 39,006 | — |
| 1972 | 37,486 | -3.9% |
| 1973 | 36,712 | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 34,120 | -7.1% |
| 1975 | 34,138 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 32,884 | -3.7% |
| 1977 | 33,989 | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 34,324 | +1.0% |
| 1979 | 34,536 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 31,299 | -9.4% |
| 1981 | 31,147 | -0.5% |
| 1982 | 30,728 | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 30,337 | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 30,907 | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 30,161 | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 29,584 | -1.9% |
| 1990 | 28,516 | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 26,662 | -6.5% |
| 1999 | 24,792 | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 24,475 | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 24,225 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 23,394 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 23,074 | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 22,327 | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 22,249 | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 22,461 | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 22,584 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 22,849 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 22,727 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 22,659 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 22,509 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 21,171 | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 20,909 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 20,731 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 20,384 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 20,218 | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 19,895 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 19,242 | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 18,518 | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 17,794 | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 17,209 | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 16,314 | -5.2% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 16,314 is below the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 7% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 16,314 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 287,527, 6% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 35,244 | 32,884 | 39,006 | 9 |
| 1980s | 30,595 | 29,584 | 31,299 | 7 |
| 1990s | 26,657 | 24,792 | 28,516 | 3 |
| 2000s | 23,036 | 22,249 | 24,475 | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,060 | 19,895 | 22,659 | 8 |
| 2020s | 17,815 | 16,314 | 19,242 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 181 New Caledonia 22,308 compare
- 182 Kiribati 17,457 compare
- 183 French Guiana 17,006 compare
- 185 Tonga 15,644 compare
- 186 Guam 15,516 compare
- 187 United States Virgin Islands 14,544 compare
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 enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Barbados?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Barbados was 16,314 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 39,006 in 1971.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 16,314 in 2024.
- How does Barbados rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Barbados ranks 184th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release