Examine long-term changes in Barbados’s age structure and male and female population distribution.
Review the age and gender distribution of Barbados's population and compare demographic changes over time.
As of 2025, Barbados's population stands at approximately 282,623 people. Over the past five years it has grown by +0.33%, and over the past ten years by +1.30%.
Barbados ranks 179th of 217 countries by total population, and 169th by five-year population growth. Growth momentum is currently decelerating (+0.19% → +0.07% per year).
By gender, female residents make up the larger share of the population, at 52.1% (52.1% female vs 47.9% male).
By broad age group, the working-age (15-64) group accounts for the largest share of the population: 17.1% are under 15, 65.8% are aged 15-64, and 17.1% are aged 65 and above.
The share of the population under 15 is currently falling, and peaked at 37.2% in 1960.
The share of the population aged 60 and above has been rising, from 7.3% in 1960 to 23.8% in 2025.
Population of Barbados by Year: Total, Gender and Broad Age Groups
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Population, total (SP.POP.TOTL); population by gender (SP.POP.TOTL.MA.IN, SP.POP.TOTL.FE.IN); population by broad age group (SP.POP.0014.TO, SP.POP.1564.TO, SP.POP.65UP.TO). License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
Barbados Population by Five-Year Age Cohorts and Gender
Data source: World Bank, World Development Indicators — Population by five-year age groups and sex (SP.POP.0004.MA … SP.POP.80UP.FE). License: CC BY-4.0. Retrieved 2026-07-10.