Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Barbados
Barbados: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 6.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Barbados, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Barbados recorded 6.1% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Barbados peaked at 21.7% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 6.1%, in 2024.
That places Barbados 69th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Barbados, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.0% | — |
| 1992 | 20.5% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 21.7% | +5.8% |
| 1994 | 18.5% | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 16.7% | -9.3% |
| 1996 | 11.8% | -29.4% |
| 1997 | 11.4% | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 8.6% | -25.3% |
| 1999 | 7.9% | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 7.4% | -6.2% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 9.5% | +11.5% |
| 2004 | 8.7% | -8.4% |
| 2005 | 7.4% | -14.8% |
| 2006 | 7.7% | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 6.4% | -16.4% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 10.1% | +48.0% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 9.8% | -10.2% |
| 2012 | 10.9% | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 11.7% | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 11.7% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 10.6% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | -26.2% |
| 2017 | 8.5% | +7.9% |
| 2018 | 8.1% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | +17.5% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | +16.2% |
| 2021 | 10.5% | -5.4% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | -33.5% |
| 2023 | 6.2% | -11.1% |
| 2024 | 6.1% | -1.5% |
| 2025 | 6.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.2% | 7.9% | 21.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 6.4% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 7.8% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.8% | 6.1% | 11.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 66 Luxembourg 6.2% compare
- 67 Costa Rica 6.2% compare
- 68 Belgium 6.1% compare
- 70 Mozambique 6.0% compare
- 71 Austria 5.9% compare
- 72 Sudan 5.9% 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Barbados?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Barbados was 6.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 21.7% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.1% in 2024.
- How does Barbados rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Barbados ranks 69th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.