Barbados Population Pyramid (2026)
Barbados has a population of 282,724 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 174th-largest population in the world and less than 0.01% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 16.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 17.6%, with 92.1 males for every 100 females.
Barbados Demographics
Barbados has 282,724 people in 2026, up 13.4% from 249,387 in 1970.
Births outnumber deaths by 170 (UN projection for 2026).
Median age 39.7 — the 45th-highest of 194 countries.
65+ share 17.6% — the 45th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen X — 21.2% (59,874)
All generations in Barbados →Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Barbados's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
Page Navigation(Quick jump to sections)
Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Barbados has 92.1 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 11,562 (4.1% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:135,581
- Percentage:48.0%
Female Statistics
- Population:147,143
- Percentage:52.0%
- Ratio Format:1:1.085
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Barbados indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 3,107 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,184 | 11.3 | 1.71 | estimate |
| 2022 | 3,176 | 11.2 | 1.71 | estimate |
| 2023 | 3,155 | 11.2 | 1.71 | estimate |
| 2024 | 3,140 | 11.1 | 1.71 | projection |
| 2025 | 3,121 | 11.0 | 1.71 | projection |
| 2026 | 3,107 | 11.0 | 1.71 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (3,107 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Barbados's median age is 39.7 years
Half the population is younger than 39.7 years, half is older — indicating a middle-aged society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 15,550 | 5.5% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 15,913 | 5.6% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 16,397 | 5.8% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 18,054 | 6.4% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 18,027 | 6.4% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 18,572 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 18,098 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 18,323 | 6.5% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 19,030 | 6.7% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 18,021 | 6.4% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 19,225 | 6.8% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 18,722 | 6.6% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 18,965 | 6.7% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 17,470 | 6.2% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 13,949 | 4.9% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 9,579 | 3.4% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 5,427 | 1.9% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 2,446 | 0.9% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 797 | 0.3% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 145 | 0.1% | Senior |
| 100+ | 10 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 4 (low birth and death rates): fertility is below the replacement level of 2.1 (1.71 children per woman), and births still exceed deaths (11.0 vs 10.4 per 1,000). Read more about Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Barbados Total Fertility Rate: 1.71 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.71 | 11.3 | |
| 2022 | 1.71 | 11.2 | 0.00 |
| 2023 | 1.71 | 11.2 | 0.00 |
| 2024 | 1.71 | 11.1 | 0.00 |
| 2025 | 1.71 | 11.0 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 1.71 | 11.0 | 0.00 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.70
Barbados's total fertility rate is 1.71 children per woman in 2026 (below replacement), below the replacement level of 2.1. Barbados ranks 119 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the middle third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −61.7% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Barbados's population has increased by 34.7%.
The median age has increased from 21.7 in 1950 to 39.7 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Barbados's Demographics
Barbados has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 16.9% of the population and people aged 65 and over 17.6%.
The largest five-year age band is 50–54, at 6.8% of the population, compared with 5.5% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Barbados's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Barbados's working-age share peaked in 2008 at 68.2% and is 65.4% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Barbados is in a period of below replacement, with a total fertility rate of 1.71 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Barbados's median age changed by +2.5 years from 2016 to 2026, slower than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 282,724 |
| Male Population | 135,581(48.0%) |
| Female Population | 147,143(52.0%) |
| Median Age | 39.7 years |
| Sex Ratio | 92.1 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 47,860(16.9%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 185,041(65.4%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 49,823(17.6%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 52.8 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 25.9 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 26.9 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Barbados
How long the average person in Barbados is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Barbados is projected to shrink to 264,215 people by 2050 (−6.5% from 2026).
The median age rises from 39.7 in 2026 to 44.3 by 2050.
Barbados's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population remained stable, growing from 0.2 million in 1970 to 0.3 million by 1980
The median age increased by 3.0 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 7.0 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 1.5 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 249K to 252K
- • Growth rate of 0.9% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 21.3 to 24.3 years (+3.0y)
- • 65+ share changed by +1.5 points; under-15 share by −7.0 points
Frequently Asked Questions About Barbados
How does Barbados rank globally by population?
Barbados ranks 174th in the world by population with 282,724 people as of 2026.
What does Barbados's age structure reveal about its development?
Barbados's age structure — 16.9% under 15, 65.4% working-age (15–64) and 17.6% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 4 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 39.7 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Barbados?
Barbados has 52.8 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Barbados experiencing a demographic dividend?
Barbados has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Barbados's working-age share peaked in 2008 at 68.2% and is 65.4% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Barbados's population?
Barbados has more females than males, with 92.1 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Barbados Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/barbados
View UN World Population Prospects Data →