Barbados: Youth unemployment

The latest value from 2025 is 18.48 percent, an increase from 18.05 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is 15.49 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Barbados from 1991 to 2025 is 26.8 percent. The minimum value, 17.46 percent, was reached in 2007 while the maximum of 43.8 percent was recorded in 1993. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.

We present the rate of youth unemployment for Barbados and other countries. Youth unemployment is the percent of 15-24 year olds who are part of the labor force but are unemployed. Recall that the labor force includes the employed and the unemployed people.

Definition: Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.