Barbados: health and care

Is the population of Barbados falling?

Barbados recorded 8.48 births and 12.48 deaths per 1,000 people in 2022, a natural decrease of 4 per 1,000, according to the Barbados Statistical Service's vital statistics indicators. The end-of-year population was estimated at 267,800, and the population fell 0.6% that year.

2022 is the latest year shown. Infant mortality was 9.23 per 1,000 births in 2022, up from 6.4 in 2020. With deaths above births, the population shrinks unless more people move to Barbados than leave.

Official sources: Barbados Statistical Service: vital statistics indicators

Is healthcare free in Barbados?

Public health services in Barbados are in many cases free at the point of service for Barbadian citizens and permanent residents, according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness's health financing page. The Ministry is funded by annual provisions voted by Parliament.

Alongside public services, private care is paid through health insurance, fees and other out-of-pocket payments. Since October 2018, employees and employers have paid a health service contribution of 2.5% of insurable earnings, according to the National Insurance contribution rates page.

Official sources: Ministry of Health and Wellness: Health Financing · NIS: Contribution Rates

How many polyclinics are there in Barbados?

Barbados delivers primary health care through nine polyclinics and two satellite clinics, according to the Ministry of Health and Wellness's primary health care page.

Polyclinics provide general practice, maternal and child care, immunisation, family planning, dental and eye care, environmental health, disease control, pharmacy, nutrition counselling and HIV testing, and are placed along the main roads in each catchment area. Hospital and emergency care are separate, listed on the Ministry's acute and tertiary care pages. The Ministry's healthcare locator lists facilities.

Official sources: Ministry of Health and Wellness: Primary Health Care · Ministry of Health and Wellness: Healthcare Locator

What care is there for the elderly in Barbados?

The Ministry of Health and Wellness provides long-term in-patient care for older people through the Geriatric Hospital and the St. Philip, St. Lucy and Gordon Cummins District Hospitals, according to its care of the elderly page. The Geriatric Hospital also runs an adult day-care programme.

Under the Alternative Care of the Elderly programme, the Ministry places and pays for some older people in private care homes. The page lists elderly care facilities and marks those in the programme. It gives no count of residents or waiting lists.

Official sources: Ministry of Health and Wellness: Care of the Elderly

What is the life expectancy in Barbados?

Life expectancy at birth in Barbados was 76.3 years in 2024, according to the World Bank's World Development Indicators, which draw on UN population estimates.

This is the number of years a newborn would live if death rates stayed as they were that year. The Barbados Statistical Service publishes the births, deaths and infant mortality behind such estimates in its vital statistics indicators. The World Bank also reports 2.96 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022 (physicians per 1,000).

Official sources: World Bank API: life expectancy, Barbados · Barbados Statistical Service: vital statistics indicators · World Bank API: physicians per 1,000, Barbados

What is life expectancy in Barbados?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Barbados was 76.3 years in 2024. The peak was 76.6 years in 2020 and the low 75.0 years in 2005. It is 11th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 74.0 years. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 75th highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Barbados?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Barbados at 9.1 per 1,000 in 2024. No year since 2005 has been lower. Latin America & Caribbean median: 12.1 per 1,000; Barbados is 26th highest of 33. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 116th highest.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Barbados?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in Barbados was 35.0 per 100,000, according to the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 55.0 per 100,000, and Barbados placed 27th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 110th of 192.

What is Barbados' health spending?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 5.4% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from 5.4% of GDP (2007) to 7.4% of GDP (2021). Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.8% of GDP; Barbados is 23rd highest of 33. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 119th highest.

How much do people in Barbados pay for health care themselves?

In 2023, out-of-pocket health spending in Barbados was 49.5%, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 29.3%, and Barbados placed 4th highest of 33. Worldwide: 33rd of 191.

How many doctors per person does Barbados have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2022, is 3.0 per 1,000. That compares with 1.8 per 1,000 in 2005. It is 5th highest of 12 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.6 per 1,000. Worldwide: 50th of 125.

What is hospital capacity in Barbados?

6.4 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Barbados for 2023, according to the WHO. Since 2010 it has ranged from 5.6 per 1,000 (2020) to 6.9 per 1,000 (2010). It is 1st highest of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.1 per 1,000. Worldwide: 6th of 73.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Barbados?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Barbados at 88.0% in 2024. The peak was 96.0% in 2015 and the low 75.0% in 2007. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 89.5%, and Barbados placed 19th highest of 32. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 111th highest.