Barbados: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 1.7% (2016), 78th of 151 in the world and 12th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $4.20/day is 3.2% (2016), 85th of 151 in the world and 15th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $8.30/day is 15.8% (2016), 92nd of 151 in the world and 16th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean.
Aid, poverty & equality: Barbados in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 1.7%2016 | 78/151 | 12/22 | · | · | · | — | 4.3% | 0.6% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 3.2%2016 | 85/151 | 15/22 | · | · | · | — | 8.0% | 0.7% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 15.8%2016 | 92/151 | 16/22 | · | · | · | — | 24.7% | 1.7% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 25.7%2016 | 54/145 | 10/23 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 34.12016 | 80/151 | 22/22 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 25.8%2016 | 89/151 | 22/22 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 6.9%2016 | 87/151 | 1/22 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 5.0%2024 | 81/167 | 13/28 | 6.8%2001 | 2.5% | 3.5% | +2.4 ppsince 2014 | 5.1% | 2.6% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 31.1%2022 | 62/155 | 12/28 | · | · | 31.1% | — | 25.2% | 7.9% | 28.0% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 26.7%2025 | 91/190 | 22/32 | 10.7% | 10.0% | 20.0% | +10.0 ppsince 2015 | 36.6% | 31.2% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $15.6m2010 | 138/145 | 30/32 | $1.8m | $15.6m | · | +766%since 2000 | $10.8bn | $761m | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 0.3%2010 | — | — | 0.1% | 0.3% | · | +0.2 ppsince 2000 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $56.62010 | 81/145 | 16/32 | $6.9 | $56.6 | · | +724%since 2000 | $16.4 | $0.54 | $32.2 |
Better than ten years ago
- Women in parliament+10.0 pp26.7% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
- Undernourishment+2.4 pp5.0% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
Barbados and its nearest countries
Barbados has no land border; compared with the closest countries by distance between capitals. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Barbados | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Grenada | Dominica |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 1.7%2016 | 0.1%2015 | — | 0.8%2018 | — |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 3.2%2016 | 0.3%2015 | — | 2.9%2018 | — |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 15.8%2016 | 7.8%2015 | — | 19.6%2018 | — |
| National poverty rate | 25.7%2016 | 25.0%2015 | — | 25.0%2018 | — |
| Gini index | 34.12016 | 43.72015 | — | 43.82018 | — |
| Top 10% income share | 25.8%2016 | 34.1%2015 | — | 33.7%2018 | — |
| Bottom 20% income share | 6.9%2016 | 5.5%2015 | — | 5.5%2018 | — |
| Undernourishment | 5.0%2024 | — | 4.0%2024 | — | 3.0%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 31.1%2022 | 22.2%2017 | 33.3%2019 | 16.5%2024 | 34.4%2022 |