GeoRealityMatch
Downtown Bridgetown waterfront with iconic architecture on a sunny day.Idyllic beach scene in Bridgetown, Barbados with clear skies and turquoise sea.

Barbados

North America · Caribbean

Very High Development
HDI0.809#61 / 191Very High
GDP / Capita$28K#47 / 190High
Population283K175th
PPP / Capita$26KModerate

Sophisticated Caribbean island with the Welcome Stamp digital nomad visa, cricket, and rum.

At a Glance

69
LowEqualityGender equality, higher is more equal
5
Very ExpensivePrice Level IndexHigher is cheaper to live in
60
HighLife ExpectancyLife expectancy at birth
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Barbados's Human Development Index

0.809

Very High human development

#61 of 191 countries worldwide, #8 of 23 in North America.

Higher than 68% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.

Closest indicators in this dataset

Life expectancy at birth76.3 yrs (2024)
GNI per capita$27,080 (2025)

World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.

Nearest countries by HDI

#59Georgia0.814#60Trinidad and Tobago0.814
#61Barbados0.809
#62Malaysia0.807#63Costa Rica0.806
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →
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Barbados

Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands, with a distinctly British colonial heritage, immaculate beaches on the west coast, and a vibrant local culture centred on cricket, rum, and Crop Over festival. The island is well-developed, safe, and friendly, which makes it one of the more approachable Caribbean destinations. Those looking for raw wilderness or budget travel may find it polished to a fault.

  • Oldest parliament in the Caribbean — continuous since 1639.
  • Rihanna was declared a National Hero — the first in the country's history.
  • Rum was invented here — the word 'rum' first appeared in a Barbadian document from 1651.
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Quick Facts

Capital

Bridgetown

Language

English

Currency

$ BBD

Area

430 km²

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Nomad Hub

PlugType A/B
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Digital Nomad Visa

Min. Income

$4,167/mo

Duration

12 months

Renewable

Yes

Application Fee

~$2,000

Application difficultyMedium
Tax treatmentExempt
Processing time—
Health insuranceRequired
DependentsYes (+$1,000)
Apply onlineYes
Path to residency—
Official page

GDP / Capita

i

$28K

High

PPP / Capita

i

$26K

High

Inflation

i

0.8%

Low

Unemployment

i

6.5%

Moderate

Innovation (GII)

i

25.1

Below Avg

GNI / Capita

i

$27K

High

FDI Inflows

i

4.0%

Education Spend

i

3.6%

Price Level Index

i

1st pct

Very Expensive

20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast

Income & inflation over time

i
+82% nominal-5% real
$13K$26K$40K5%10%200620102015202020252028
GDPPPPInflationIMF forecast

HDI since 1990

0.728 → 0.809 (+0.081)Year by year →
1990: 0.7281991: 0.7291992: 0.7291993: 0.7331994: 0.7381995: 0.7421996: 0.7461997: 0.7501998: 0.7511999: 0.7532000: 0.7602001: 0.7612002: 0.7652003: 0.7692004: 0.7742005: 0.7792006: 0.7842007: 0.7892008: 0.7922009: 0.7942010: 0.7922011: 0.7902012: 0.7932013: 0.7932014: 0.7952015: 0.7982016: 0.8012017: 0.8032018: 0.8042019: 0.8062020: 0.8032021: 0.8032022: 0.809

UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.

Twenty years here

Year by year →The world report →
Life expectancy at birth75 → 76.3 (+1.4)
Internet users55 → 70 (+15)
Urban population60 → 60 (-1)
Births per woman1.74 → 1.71 (-0.03)
Renewable share of energy9 → 6 (-3)
Access to electricity100 → 100 (+0)
Infant mortality14 → 9 (-4)
CO2 emissions per person2.4 → 2.5 (+0.1)
Forest area15 → 15 (0)

World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).

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Quick answers

What is Barbados's Human Development Index?

Barbados's Human Development Index is 0.809 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #61 of 191 countries.

What is life expectancy in Barbados?

Life expectancy at birth in Barbados is 76.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #77 of 195 countries.