Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number) (school both) in Barbados
Barbados: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number) (school both) was 36,390 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Barbados, 1998–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2025, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Barbados stood at 36,390. That is the lowest value across all 28 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Barbados peaked at 44,223 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 36,390, in 2025.
That places Barbados 166th out of 197 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number) (school both) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 44,223 | — |
| 1999 | 43,944 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 43,389 | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 42,473 | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 41,955 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 41,625 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 41,522 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 41,590 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 41,510 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 41,354 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 41,077 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 40,842 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 40,759 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 40,729 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 40,706 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 40,788 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 40,998 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 40,913 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 40,556 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 40,042 | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 39,486 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 39,020 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 38,604 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 38,227 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 37,919 | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 37,615 | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 37,120 | -1.3% |
| 2025 | 36,390 | -2.0% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 36,390 is below the median for high income countries, which is 607,680, 6% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 36,390 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 381,770, 10% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44,084 | 43,944 | 44,223 | 2 |
| 2000s | 41,734 | 40,842 | 43,389 | 10 |
| 2010s | 40,400 | 39,020 | 40,998 | 10 |
| 2020s | 37,646 | 36,390 | 38,604 | 6 |
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 population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Barbados?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Barbados was 36,390 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 44,223 in 1998.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 36,390 in 2025.
- How does Barbados rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Barbados ranks 166th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. 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 Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release