School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Barbados
Barbados: School enrollment, primary (% gross) was 83.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
School enrollment, primary in Barbados, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
In 2024, school enrollment, primary in Barbados stood at 83.9%. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.6% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Barbados peaked at 117.5% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 83.9%, in 2024.
Barbados ranks 187th of 205 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 104.1% | — |
| 1972 | 101.1% | -2.9% |
| 1973 | 99.7% | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 94.1% | -5.6% |
| 1975 | 96.6% | +2.6% |
| 1976 | 96.2% | -0.4% |
| 1977 | 102.1% | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 106.1% | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 108.5% | +2.3% |
| 1980 | 101.7% | -6.3% |
| 1981 | 104.0% | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 105.3% | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 107.6% | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 114.9% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 115.8% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 117.5% | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 112.1% | -4.6% |
| 1992 | 106.9% | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 103.2% | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 102.6% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 104.4% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 103.5% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 104.5% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 102.4% | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 101.6% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 101.3% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 100.2% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 100.5% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 99.8% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 100.0% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 100.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 96.4% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 95.4% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 95.3% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 94.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 94.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 94.8% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 94.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 92.8% | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 90.2% | -2.8% |
| 2023 | 88.0% | -2.4% |
| 2024 | 83.9% | -4.6% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 83.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 99.8%, 84% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 83.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 99.5%, 84% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 100.9% | 94.1% | 108.5% | 9 |
| 1980s | 109.5% | 101.7% | 117.5% | 7 |
| 1990s | 107.4% | 103.2% | 112.1% | 3 |
| 2000s | 102.1% | 99.8% | 104.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 96.4% | 94.4% | 100.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 89.9% | 83.9% | 94.5% | 5 |
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 school enrollment, primary in Barbados?
- School enrollment, primary in Barbados was 83.9% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 117.5% in 1989.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.9% in 2024.
- How does Barbados rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Barbados ranks 187th out of 205 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.