Demographics of Barbados

Demographics of Barbados
Barbados population pyramid in 2020
Population281,200[1][2]
Growth rate0.24% (2023 est.)[3]
Birth rate10.73 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)[3]
Death rate8.03 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)[3]
Life expectancy78.79 years
 • male76.04 years
 • female81.57 years (2023 est.)[3]
Fertility rate1.7 children born/woman (2023 est.)[3]
Infant mortality rate9.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)[3]
Net migration rate-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)[3]
Age structure
0–14 years16.78% (male 25,456/female 25,465)
15–64 years67.56% (male 100,884/female 104,114)
65 and over15.66% (male 19,967/female 27,545) (2023 est.)[3]
Sex ratio
Total0.93 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
At birth1.01 male(s)/female
Under 151 male(s)/female
15–64 years0.97 male(s)/female
65 and over0.72 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityBarbadians
Major ethnicAfrican descent 92.4% (2010 est.)[3]
Minor ethnicMixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)[3]
Language
OfficialEnglish (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)[3]

This is a demography of Barbados including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Population

Barbados' population (1960-2010).
Barbados' population pyramid, showing the population's age structure.

At the 2010 census Barbados had an estimated population of 277,821.[4] The tabulated population was only 226,193 due to a high undercount (estimated at 18%). The estimated population of 2021 is 281,200 (the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects[1][2]).

Race

Main article: Barbadians

The population of Barbados is predominantly black (91%) or mixed (4%).[4] 3.5% of the population is white and 1% South Asian. The remaining 0.5% of the population includes East Asians (0.1%).

Languages

English is the official language of Barbados, and is used for communications, administration, and public services all over the island. In its capacity as the official language of the country, the standard of English tends to conform to the vocabulary, pronunciations, spellings, and conventions akin to, but not exactly the same as, those of British English.

A regional variant of English referred to locally as Bajan is spoken by most Barbadians in everyday life especially in informal settings.[5] In its full-fledged form, Bajan sounds markedly different from the Standard English heard on the island. The degree of intelligibility between Bajan and general English depends on the level of creolised vocabulary and idioms. A Bajan speaker may be completely unintelligible to an English speaker from another country. Bajan is influenced by other Caribbean English dialects.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Barbados

According to the 2010 census, 75.6% of the population of Barbados are considered Christian, 2.6% have a non-Christian religion and 20.6% have no religion.[4][6]

Anglicanism constitutes the largest religious group, with 23.9% of the population. It is represented by the Church in the Province of the West Indies, within which the island belongs to the Diocese of Barbados. Pentecostals are the second largest group (19.5%).

The next largest group are Seventh-day Adventists, 5.9% of the population, followed by Methodists (4.2%). 3.8% of the population are Roman Catholics. Other Christians include Wesleyans (3.4%), Nazarenes (3.2%), Church of God (2.4%), Jehovah's Witnesses (2.0%), Baptists (1.8), Moravians (1.2%), Brethren Christian (0.5%), the Salvationists (0.4%) and Latter-day Saints ( 0.1%).

The number of non-Christians is small. 0.7% of the population are Muslims, most of whom are immigrants or descendants of Indian immigrants from the Indian state of Gujarat. There are three mosques and an Islamic centre. Other religious groups include the Rastafarians (1.0% of the population), which was introduced to Barbados in 1975,[7] Hindus (0.5%), Jews (0.05%), the Baháʼís (0.04%) and Buddhists.

Historical statistics

Census population and average annual growth rate
YearPop.±% p.a.
1844 122,198—    
1851 135,939+1.53%
1861152,727+1.17%
1871162,042+0.59%
1881171,860+0.59%
1891182,867+0.62%
1911172,337−0.30%
1921156,774−0.94%
1946192,800+0.83%
1960 232,327+1.34%
1970 236,891+0.19%
1980 247,129+0.42%
1990 260,491+0.53%
2000 268,792+0.31%
2010 277,821+0.33%
Source:[8]
Average population[9] Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Infant mortality rate[10] TFR
1934 166 000 5 380 4 176 1 204 32.4 25.2 7.3
1935 168 000 5 315 3 702 1 613 31.6 22.0 9.6 4.75
1936 170 000 5 933 3 459 2 474 34.9 20.3 14.6
1937 173 000 5 670 3 511 2 159 32.8 20.3 12.5 217.0
1938 175 000 5 327 3 743 1 584 30.4 21.4 9.1 222.0
1939 177 000 5 497 3 380 2 117 31.1 19.1 12.0
1940 179 000 5 784 3 305 2 479 32.3 18.5 13.8
1941 179 000 5 786 3 902 1 884 32.3 21.8 10.5
1942 180 000 5 586 3 275 2 311 31.0 18.2 12.8
1943 182 000 5 877 3 104 2 773 32.3 17.1 15.2
1944 183 000 5 928 3 341 2 587 32.4 18.3 14.1
1945 187 000 6 047 3 164 2 883 32.3 16.9 15.4 5.13
1946 193 000 6 175 3 289 2 886 32.0 17.0 15.0 160.0
1947 197 000 6 425 3 204 3 221 32.6 16.3 16.4 171.0
1948 202 000 6 517 3 141 3 376 32.3 15.5 16.7 154.0
1949 206 000 6 357 2 979 3 378 30.9 14.5 16.4 133.0
1950 211 000 6 432 2 688 3 744 30.5 12.7 17.7 125.0
1951 216 000 6 793 3 000 3 793 31.5 13.9 17.6 136.0
1952 220 000 7 291 3 186 4 105 33.2 14.5 18.7 145.0
1953 223 000 7 304 2 997 4 307 32.8 13.5 19.3 139.0
1954 225 000 7 576 2 544 5 032 33.6 11.3 22.3 109.0
1955 227 000 7 593 2 887 4 706 33.4 12.7 20.7 134.0 4.48
1956 228 000 7 082 2 430 4 652 31.0 10.6 20.4 97.0
1957 229 000 7 314 2 469 4 845 31.9 10.8 21.1 87.0
1958 230 000 7 115 2 298 4 817 31.0 10.0 21.0 82.0
1959 230 000 7 110 2 084 5 026 30.9 9.1 21.8 71.0
1960 231 000 7 833 2 127 5 706 33.9 9.2 24.7 60.0
1961 232 000 6 754 2 410 4 344 29.2 10.4 18.8 84.0
1962 233 000 6 881 2 116 4 765 29.6 9.1 20.5 54.0
1963 234 000 6 756 2 090 4 666 28.9 8.9 20.0 61.0
1964 234 000 6 506 2 127 4 379 27.7 9.1 18.7 53.0
1965 235 000 6 358 1 905 4 453 27.0 8.1 18.9 39.0 3.56
1966 236 000 6 319 2 012 4 307 26.8 8.5 18.3 48.0 3.52
1967 236 000 5 455 2 047 3 408 23.1 8.7 14.4 54.0 3.14
1968 237 000 5 474 2 045 3 429 23.1 8.6 14.5 46.0 3.15
1969 238 000 5 196 1 987 3 209 21.9 8.4 13.5 42.0 2.91
1970 239 000 4 883 2 064 2 819 20.5 8.6 11.8 45.0 2.77
1971 240 000 5 177 2 058 3 119 21.6 8.6 13.0 29.0 2.90
1972 241 000 5 303 2 045 3 258 22.0 8.5 13.5 35.0 3.04
1973 243 000 5 084 2 287 2 797 20.9 9.4 11.5 33.0 2.88
1974 244 000 4 851 2 107 2 744 19.8 8.6 11.2 31.0 2.71
1975 246 000 4 683 2 147 2 536 19.1 8.7 10.3 33.0 2.53
1976 247 000 4 593 2 266 2 327 18.6 9.2 9.4 28.0 2.40
1977 247 000 4 326 2 144 2 182 17.5 8.7 8.8 25.0 2.27
1978 248 000 4 304 2 087 2 217 17.4 8.4 9.0 27.0 2.04
1979 248 000 4 269 2 128 2 141 17.2 8.6 8.6 24.0 1.94
1980 249 000 4 148 2 012 2 136 16.7 8.1 8.6 24.5 1.83
1981 250 500 4 413 1 878 2 535 17.7 7.5 10.2 16.0 1.92
1982 251 200 4 499 2 003 2 496 17.9 8.0 10.0 21.3 1.94
1983 251 800 4 496 2 068 2 428 17.8 8.2 9.6 24.5 1.94
1984 255 800 4 214 1 976 2 238 16.6 7.8 8.8 18.4 1.85
1985 257 000 4 281 2 127 2 154 16.8 8.4 8.5 17.8 1.86
1986 258 000 4 043 2 160 1 883 15.8 8.5 7.4 19.0 1.81
1987 258 800 3 828 2 195 1 633 14.9 8.6 6.4 22.3 1.76
1988 259 400 3 745 2 233 1 512 14.5 8.7 5.9 19.5 1.74
1989 260 300 4 015 2 277 1 738 15.5 8.8 6.7 18.2 1.81
1990 260 800 4 313 2 232 2 081 16.6 8.6 8.0 15.5 1.85
1991 262 500 4 240 2 283 1 957 16.3 8.8 7.5 15.3 1.84
1992 263 100 4 185 2 361 1 824 16.0 9.0 7.0 13.8 1.82
1993 263 900 3 781 2 391 1 390 14.4 9.1 5.3 9.8 1.75
1994 264 300 3 547 2 295 1 252 13.5 8.7 4.8 8.5 1.70
1995 264 400 3 473 2 481 992 13.2 9.4 3.8 13.2 1.68
1996 264 600 3 519 2 400 1 119 13.3 9.1 4.2 14.2 1.69
1997 266 100 3 784 2 297 1 487 14.3 8.7 5.6 13.2 1.72
1998 266 800 3 612 2 471 1 141 13.6 9.3 4.3 7.8 1.66
1999 267 400 3 882 2 428 1 454 14.6 9.1 5.5 10.0 1.71
2000 268 800 3 642 2 444 1 198 14.0 9.1 5.0 17.0 1.70
2001 269 900 4 052 2 408 1 644 15.0 8.9 6.1 15.8 1.69
2002 270 800 3 828 2 300 1 528 14.1 8.5 5.6 14.4 1.69
2003 271 600 3 768 2 283 1 485 13.8 8.4 5.4 9.9 1.67
2004 272 400 3 474 2 435 1 039 12.7 8.9 3.8 18.4 1.60
2005 273 000 3 511 2 169 1 342 12.6 7.9 4.9 8.3 1.58
2006 273 400 3 415 2 296 1 119 12.4 8.5 3.9 11.1 1.56
2007 274 200 3 536 2 213 1 323 12.9 8.1 4.8 13.0 1.57
2008 274 800 3 546 2 475 1 071 12.9 9.0 3.9 18.3 1.57
2009 275 400 3 554 2 433 1 121 12.9 8.8 4.1 8.7 1.57
2010 277 800 3 443 2 198 1 245 12.2 8.0 4.2 10.1 1.54
2011 277 800 3 110 2 300 810 11.8 8.8 3.0 13.7 1.53
2012 277 700 3 175 2 321 854 11.5 8.7 2.8 11.0 1.51
2013 277 500 3 271 2 456 815 10.9 8.2 2.7 7.3 1.49
2014 277 100 2 907 2 590 317 10.5 9.3 1.2 10.0 1.47
2015 276 600 2 877 2 570 307 10.4 9.2 1.2 8.0 1.41
2016 275 900 2 546 2 584 -38 9.2 9.4 -0.2 13.5
2017 274 900 2 945 2 634 311 10.7 9.6 1.1 8.9
2018 273 800 2 416 2 388 28 8.7 8.7 0.0 9.1
2019 272 900 2 591 2 896 -305 9.5 10.6 -1.1 7.3
2020 271 400 2 356 2 713 -357 8.7 10.0 -1.3 6.4
2021 270 200 2 210 2 895 -685 8.2 10.7 -2.5 11.3
2022 268 700 2 279 3 354 -1 075 8.5 12.5 -4.0 9.2

Structure of the population

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 01.V.2010) (Data refers to resident population adjusted for the undercount of 18 per cent and including the institutional population.): [11]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 133 018 144 803 277 821 100
0-4 8 873 8 479 17 352 6.25
5-9 9 683 9 155 18 838 6.78
10-14 9 445 9 122 18 567 6.68
15-19 9 452 9 418 18 870 6.79
20-24 9 061 9 108 18 169 6.54
25-29 9 313 9 775 19 088 6.87
30-34 9 150 9 635 18 785 6.76
35-39 9 884 10 632 20 516 7.38
40-44 9 663 10 450 20 113 7.24
45-49 10 062 11 303 21 365 7.69
50-54 9 411 10 639 20 050 7.22
55-59 7 871 8 782 16 653 5.99
60-64 6 326 7 160 13 486 4.85
65-69 4 511 5 640 10 151 3.65
70-74 3 804 4 876 8 680 3.12
75-79 2 863 4 074 6 937 2.50
80-84 1 986 3 167 5 153 1.85
85+ 1 660 3 388 5 048 1.82
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0-14 28 001 26 756 54 757 19.71
15-64 90 193 96 902 187 095 67.34
65+ 14 824 21 145 35 969 12.95

Other demographics statistics

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.[12]

  • One birth every 180 minutes
  • One death every 206 minutes
  • One net migrant every Infinity minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 1440 minutes

Demographic statistics according to the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[13]

Nationality
noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Population
293,131 (July 2018 est.)
Ethnic groups
African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, white 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
Age structure
Population pyramid of Barbados in 2017
0-14 years: 17.8% (male 26,084 /female 26,090)
15-24 years: 12.53% (male 18,236 /female 18,479)
25-54 years: 43.69% (male 63,829 /female 64,249)
55-64 years: 13.62% (male 18,888 /female 21,043)
65 years and over: 12.36% (male 14,705 /female 21,528) (2018 est.)
Median age
total: 38.9 years. Country comparison to the world: 56th
male: 37.8 years
female: 40.1 years (2018 est.)
Birth rate
11.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 169th
Death rate
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 73rd
Total fertility rate
1.68 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 175th
Net migration rate
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 114th
Population growth rate
0.26% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 176th
Contraceptive prevalence rate
59.2% (2012)
Languages

English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)

Religions

Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)

Population distribution

most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one-third live in urban areas

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.7 years
male: 73.3 years
female: 78.1 years (2018 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 29.1 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 21.3 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.7 (2015 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 31.1% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.1% (2016). Country comparison to the world: 67th
Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2014 est.)

total population: 99.6%
male: 99%
female: 99.6% (2014)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 17 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15–24
total: 29.6%. Country comparison to the world: 32nd
male: 27.9%
female: 31.5% (2016 est.)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "World Population Prospects 2022". United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "World Population Prospects 2022: Demographic indicators by region, subregion and country, annually for 1950-2100" (XSLX) ("Total Population, as of 1 July (thousands)"). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barbados. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
  4. ^ a b c "2010 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS" (PDF). Barstats.gov.bb. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 18, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  5. ^ "Barbados". Ethnologue.com. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Barbados". United States Department of State. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Melton, J. Gordon; Baumann, Martin (September 21, 2010). Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes]: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598842043. Retrieved August 30, 2017 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "2000 ROUND OF POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS SUB-PROJECT : NATIONAL CENSUS REPORT BARBADOS" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "United Nations : Demographic Yearbooks". Unstats.un.org. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE: BARBADOS" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  11. ^ "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics". Unstats.un.org. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  12. ^ "Barbados Population 2019", World Population Review
  13. ^ "World Factbook CENTRAL AMERICA : BARBADOS", The World Factbook, July 12, 2018 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.