Labor force, total in Barbados
Barbados: Labor force, total was 151,620 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Barbados, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Barbados stood at 151,620.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Barbados peaked at 152,318 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 134,200, in 1990.
That places Barbados 176th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 134,200 | — |
| 1991 | 134,474 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 134,536 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 136,388 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 138,085 | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 140,568 | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 139,437 | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 140,167 | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 140,921 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 141,586 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 141,943 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 142,669 | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 143,924 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 145,129 | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 147,603 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 148,476 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 149,367 | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 150,206 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 150,841 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 151,202 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 151,410 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 151,562 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 149,937 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 152,318 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 148,747 | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 147,528 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 149,786 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 150,789 | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 150,452 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 149,274 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 145,656 | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 144,514 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 151,781 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 151,472 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 151,889 | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 151,620 | -0.2% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 151,620 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 5% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 151,620 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 3.32 million, 5% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 138,036 | 134,200 | 141,586 | 10 |
| 2000s | 147,136 | 141,943 | 151,202 | 10 |
| 2010s | 150,180 | 147,528 | 152,318 | 10 |
| 2020s | 149,489 | 144,514 | 151,889 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 173 Brunei 237,763 compare
- 174 Cape Verde 226,448 compare
- 175 Belize 184,286 compare
- 177 New Caledonia 131,488 compare
- 178 Vanuatu 120,833 compare
- 179 French Polynesia 120,628 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 labor force, total in Barbados?
- Labor force, total in Barbados was 151,620 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 152,318 in 2013.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 134,200 in 1990.
- How does Barbados rank for labor force, total?
- Barbados ranks 176th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.