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

Human development is high, and essential health services reach most people.

Safety
Homicides
7.4per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$27,080national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 82% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 5% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$15K$30K$25,894 PPP$28,365Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $15,620 a person, $20,931 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $17,235 a person, $21,841 at PPP, inflation 4%2008, $17,566 a person, $22,285 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2009, $16,295 a person, $21,188 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2010, $19,723 a person, $19,633 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2011, $20,146 a person, $19,958 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2012, $19,811 a person, $18,669 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2013, $20,384 a person, $19,008 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2014, $20,424 a person, $18,808 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2015, $20,429 a person, $19,190 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2016, $20,311 a person, $19,191 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $20,871 a person, $18,970 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2018, $21,378 a person, $19,774 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2019, $21,929 a person, $19,987 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2020, $19,181 a person, $16,544 at PPP2021, $21,084 a person, $17,687 at PPP2022, $24,393 a person, $21,952 at PPP2023, $25,584 a person, $23,176 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2024, $26,897 a person, $24,540 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2025, $28,365 a person, $25,894 at PPP, inflation 0.8%$0$15K$30KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $15,620 a person, $20,931 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $17,235 a person, $21,841 at PPP, inflation 4%2008, $17,566 a person, $22,285 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2009, $16,295 a person, $21,188 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2010, $19,723 a person, $19,633 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2011, $20,146 a person, $19,958 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2012, $19,811 a person, $18,669 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2013, $20,384 a person, $19,008 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2014, $20,424 a person, $18,808 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2015, $20,429 a person, $19,190 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2016, $20,311 a person, $19,191 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2017, $20,871 a person, $18,970 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2018, $21,378 a person, $19,774 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2019, $21,929 a person, $19,987 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2020, $19,181 a person, $16,544 at PPP2021, $21,084 a person, $17,687 at PPP2022, $24,393 a person, $21,952 at PPP2023, $25,584 a person, $23,176 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2024, $26,897 a person, $24,540 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2025, $28,365 a person, $25,894 at PPP, inflation 0.8%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.3years, at birthHigh
#77 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
9.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
6.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$4,167 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
$2,000
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed, $1,000 each
  • Apply onlineYes
Official page
Idyllic beach scene in Bridgetown, Barbados with clear skies and turquoise sea.
How it changed

Barbados's Human Development Index

0.811Very high human development

69th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 8th of 23 in North America.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #68North Macedonia0.815
  2. #69Armenia0.811
  3. #69Barbados0.811
  4. #71Albania0.810
  5. #72Trinidad and Tobago0.807
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.730 in 1990 to 0.811 in 2023.

0.700.770.850.81119902000201020231990: 0.7301991: 0.7321992: 0.7321993: 0.7351994: 0.7401995: 0.7441996: 0.7481997: 0.7521998: 0.7541999: 0.7562000: 0.7622001: 0.7632002: 0.7672003: 0.7712004: 0.7752005: 0.7792006: 0.7832007: 0.7902008: 0.7942009: 0.7982010: 0.7972011: 0.7942012: 0.7972013: 0.7982014: 0.7992015: 0.8002016: 0.8032017: 0.8042018: 0.8062019: 0.8082020: 0.8032021: 0.8032022: 0.8072023: 0.8110.700.770.8519902000201020231990: 0.7301991: 0.7321992: 0.7321993: 0.7351994: 0.7401995: 0.7441996: 0.7481997: 0.7521998: 0.7541999: 0.7562000: 0.7622001: 0.7632002: 0.7672003: 0.7712004: 0.7752005: 0.7792006: 0.7832007: 0.7902008: 0.7942009: 0.7982010: 0.7972011: 0.7942012: 0.7972013: 0.7982014: 0.7992015: 0.8002016: 0.8032017: 0.8042018: 0.8062019: 0.8082020: 0.8032021: 0.8032022: 0.8072023: 0.811

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76.3 years2024at birthUp 1.4 years from 75 years in 2005
Internet users
70%2024of people onlineUp 15 points from 55% in 2006
Urban population
60%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 1 point from 60% in 2006
Births per woman
1.712024births per womanDown 0.03 from 1.74 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
6%2022of energy usedDown 3 points from 9% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
92024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 4 from 14 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2.5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 2.4 t in 2005
Forest area
15%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Sophisticated Caribbean island with the Welcome Stamp digital nomad visa, cricket, and rum. The case for living here is very high human development and wide access to essential health services.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBridgetown
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyBarbadian dollar (BBD)
  • Area430 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Barbados's Human Development Index?

Barbados's Human Development Index is 0.811 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #69 of 193 by UNDP.

What is life expectancy in Barbados?

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