Barbados birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Barbados has a birth rate of 11.2 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.71 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Barbados was 4.71 children per woman — 2.76 times higher than in 2023.

Barbados birth rate statistics:

Barbados is ranked 127/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 135/194 in 1960.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 27.7, a change from 26.6 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 135.1 in 1960 to 45.3 in 2023.
23.1% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 24.1% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Barbados by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.71	120
2022	1.71	118
2021	1.71	125
2020	1.71	123
2019	1.72	128
2018	1.72	133
2017	1.72	137
2016	1.72	142
2015	1.73	140
2014	1.73	145
2013	1.73	146
2012	1.73	145
2011	1.76	145
2010	1.79	147
2009	1.77	149
2008	1.76	149
2007	1.76	148
2006	1.7	152
2005	1.74	151
2004	1.8	145
2003	1.86	143
2002	1.86	142
2001	1.96	135
2000	1.93	140
1999	1.78	146
1998	1.62	162
1997	1.65	163
1996	1.67	161
1995	1.7	160
1994	1.73	159
1993	1.77	157
1992	1.8	158
1991	1.84	162
1990	1.84	167
1989	1.64	177
1988	1.58	181
1987	1.61	179
1986	1.69	175
1985	1.77	172
1984	1.75	175
1983	1.86	170
1982	1.86	173
1981	1.85	175
1980	1.78	179
1979	1.86	175
1978	1.84	179
1977	2.2	161
1976	2.24	162
1975	2.45	155
1974	2.65	152
1973	2.87	146
1972	3.15	143
1971	3.2	143
1970	3.08	146
1969	3.34	144
1968	3.57	145
1967	3.6	146
1966	4.14	139
1965	4.18	139
1964	4.21	140
1963	4.3	141
1962	4.3	142
1961	4.15	142
1960	4.71	136

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Barbados was 1.71 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1978. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.77 — a 3.45% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	158	3,154	2,996
2022	43	3,175	3,132
2021	415	3,184	2,769
2020	503	3,192	2,689
2019	542	3,218	2,676
2018	584	3,239	2,655
2017	616	3,257	2,641
2016	655	3,272	2,617
2015	690	3,291	2,601
2014	730	3,313	2,583
2013	772	3,340	2,568
2012	815	3,365	2,550
2011	897	3,440	2,543
2010	981	3,514	2,533
2009	1,000	3,496	2,496
2008	989	3,478	2,489
2007	1,028	3,486	2,458
2006	927	3,389	2,462
2005	1,018	3,469	2,451
2004	1,204	3,601	2,397
2003	1,321	3,732	2,411
2002	1,369	3,755	2,386
2001	1,578	3,950	2,372
2000	1,577	3,969	2,392
1999	1,351	3,712	2,361
1998	1,093	3,437	2,344
1997	1,172	3,549	2,377
1996	1,334	3,669	2,335
1995	1,467	3,795	2,328
1994	1,607	3,913	2,306
1993	1,765	4,037	2,272
1992	1,912	4,153	2,241
1991	2,055	4,260	2,205
1990	2,101	4,285	2,184
1989	1,719	3,832	2,113
1988	1,684	3,711	2,027
1987	1,841	3,788	1,947
1986	2,111	3,983	1,872
1985	2,356	4,160	1,804
1984	2,388	4,108	1,720
1983	2,656	4,322	1,666
1982	2,660	4,281	1,621
1981	2,605	4,180	1,575
1980	2,393	3,950	1,557
1979	2,485	4,077	1,592
1978	2,367	3,972	1,605
1977	2,988	4,636	1,648
1976	2,988	4,663	1,675
1975	3,321	5,011	1,690
1974	3,644	5,360	1,716
1973	3,996	5,726	1,730
1972	4,505	6,220	1,715
1971	4,530	6,259	1,729
1970	4,271	6,008	1,737
1969	4,710	6,448	1,738
1968	5,035	6,798	1,763
1967	4,984	6,764	1,780
1966	5,842	7,656	1,814
1965	5,762	7,606	1,844
1964	5,688	7,580	1,892
1963	5,706	7,635	1,929
1962	5,589	7,544	1,955
1961	5,208	7,223	2,015
1960	5,949	8,078	2,129

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Barbados (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.18% annually. On average, 493 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.06% — 158 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Barbados ranks 151/196 for absolute natural population change and 153/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Barbados compared to other countries

	Barbados	Rank
Fertility rate	1.71	120/196
Birth rate	11.2	127/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+158	151/196
Natural population change rate	+0.06%	153/196
Population growth	+0.05%	162/197
Average age at childbearing	27.7 years	170/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	45.6	74/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	84.9	115/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	12	175/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	23.1%	135/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	55.4%	54/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	98.4%	92/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.04%	110/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.69%	113/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.93%	117/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	1%	122/192
Life expectancy	76.6 years	77/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	21.1	45.6	84.9	12
2025	21.2	45	85.1	12.1
2024	21.3	45	85.2	12.3
2023	21.4	45.6	85.1	12.5
2022	21.6	45.7	85.2	12.6
2021	21.6	45.5	85	12.7
2020	21.7	45.6	84.9	12.7
2019	22	45.9	85.5	12.9
2018	22.1	45.9	85.9	13.1
2017	22.3	45.6	86.2	13.4
2016	22.4	45.9	85.7	13.6
2015	22.6	45.8	85.8	13.8
2014	22.8	45.9	85.8	14
2013	23	45.8	85.8	14.2
2012	23.3	46.2	86	14.3
2011	23.8	47.6	87.9	14.6
2010	24.4	48.6	89.4	15
2009	24.4	48	88.5	15.2
2008	24.4	47.2	87.5	15.4
2007	24.6	46.7	87.5	15.7
2006	24.1	45.1	85.5	15.5
2005	24.8	47	89.4	15.5
2004	25.8	50.3	92.3	16.2
2003	27	53.5	95.3	16.9
2002	27.3	55.6	94.9	17
2001	29	61.6	99.9	17.5
2000	29.1	61.2	99.6	17.3
1999	27.2	55.9	92.7	16.2
1998	25.2	53.1	83.6	15.2
1997	26	54.5	85.6	15.6
1996	26.9	55.5	87.5	16.1
1995	27.9	56.7	89.8	16.5
1994	28.9	57.4	91.9	16.9
1993	29.9	58.8	94.6	17.2
1992	30.8	59.9	97.1	17.5
1991	31.7	60.3	99.1	18
1990	32	60.1	98.9	18.1
1989	28.7	51.1	87.7	16.5
1988	27.8	46.3	86.5	15.6
1987	28.5	48.7	88.4	15.6
1986	30.1	53.1	93.8	15.9
1985	31.6	59.4	98.6	15.8
1984	31.4	63.8	96.6	15.2
1983	33.2	69.9	101.6	16.1
1982	33	69.2	102	16.1
1981	32.4	68.8	100.1	16.4
1980	30.7	63.2	97.2	16.4
1979	31.8	66.6	100.9	17.3
1978	30.9	67.1	98.6	17.1
1977	36	72.3	116.2	22
1976	36.3	71.7	120.1	21.7
1975	39	78.3	129.5	24.2
1974	41.8	84	138.9	26.7
1973	44.6	89.2	149.9	28.9
1972	48.6	94.2	165.8	31.9
1971	49	94.4	168.1	32.2
1970	46.9	92	163.9	30.1
1969	50.3	97.7	177.3	32.8
1968	53.1	102.3	188.7	35.6
1967	53.1	106.2	187.7	36
1966	60.5	120.5	213.1	42.4
1965	60.6	120.8	213.4	42.9
1964	60.9	122.2	214	43.5
1963	61.8	126.2	214.8	45.1
1962	61.6	126	215.4	44.8
1961	59.3	125.2	208.5	42.6
1960	66.8	137.5	235.4	49

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Barbados by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 13% will be to women under age 20, 49.7% to women ages 20-29, and 37.3% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 16.4%, 55.3%, and 28.3%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Barbados	World
2100	12.9%	16.5%
2099	12.9%	16.6%
2098	12.9%	16.6%
2097	13%	16.7%
2096	13%	16.8%
2095	13%	16.8%
2094	13%	16.9%
2093	13%	17%
2092	13.1%	17%
2091	13.1%	17.1%
2090	13.1%	17.2%
2089	13.1%	17.2%
2088	13.2%	17.3%
2087	13.2%	17.4%
2086	13.2%	17.4%
2085	13.2%	17.5%
2084	13.3%	17.5%
2083	13.3%	17.6%
2082	13.4%	17.7%
2081	13.4%	17.7%
2080	13.4%	17.8%
2079	13.5%	17.8%
2078	13.5%	17.9%
2077	13.6%	17.9%
2076	13.6%	18%
2075	13.7%	18%
2074	13.7%	18.1%
2073	13.7%	18.2%
2072	13.8%	18.2%
2071	13.8%	18.3%
2070	13.9%	18.3%
2069	13.9%	18.4%
2068	14%	18.5%
2067	14%	18.6%
2066	14.1%	18.6%
2065	14.1%	18.7%
2064	14.1%	18.8%
2063	14.2%	18.9%
2062	14.2%	19.1%
2061	14.3%	19.2%
2060	14.3%	19.3%
2059	14.4%	19.4%
2058	14.4%	19.5%
2057	14.5%	19.6%
2056	14.5%	19.8%
2055	14.6%	19.9%
2054	14.6%	20%
2053	14.7%	20.1%
2052	14.8%	20.2%
2051	14.8%	20.3%
2050	14.9%	20.4%
2049	15%	20.5%
2048	15%	20.6%
2047	15.1%	20.7%
2046	15.2%	20.8%
2045	15.3%	20.9%
2044	15.4%	20.9%
2043	15.5%	21%
2042	15.5%	21.1%
2041	15.6%	21.2%
2040	15.7%	21.2%
2039	15.8%	21.3%
2038	15.9%	21.4%
2037	16%	21.5%
2036	16.1%	21.6%
2035	16.1%	21.8%
2034	16.2%	22%
2033	16.3%	22.2%
2032	16.4%	22.4%
2031	16.5%	22.7%
2030	16.6%	23%
2029	16.7%	23.3%
2028	16.8%	23.6%
2027	16.9%	23.9%
2026	17%	24.2%
2025	17.1%	24.6%
2024	17.2%	24.7%
2023	17.5%	25%
2022	17.7%	25.3%
2021	17.9%	25.6%
2020	18.1%	25.8%
2019	18.2%	26%
2018	18.4%	26.2%
2017	18.7%	26.4%
2016	18.9%	26.5%
2015	19.2%	26.6%
2014	19.4%	26.8%
2013	19.7%	26.9%
2012	19.9%	27%
2011	20%	27.1%
2010	20.2%	27.3%
2009	20.2%	27.5%
2008	20.3%	27.6%
2007	20.5%	27.9%
2006	20.7%	28.1%
2005	21%	28.5%
2004	21.3%	28.8%
2003	21.5%	29.2%
2002	21.6%	29.6%
2001	21.7%	30%
2000	21.9%	30.4%
1999	22.1%	30.8%
1998	22.3%	31.1%
1997	22.6%	31.5%
1996	22.8%	31.8%
1995	23%	32.1%
1994	23.2%	32.3%
1993	23.4%	32.5%
1992	23.6%	32.7%
1991	23.9%	32.9%
1990	24.2%	33%
1989	24.5%	33.2%
1988	24.8%	33.4%
1987	25.1%	33.6%
1986	25.5%	33.8%
1985	25.8%	34%
1984	26.2%	34.3%
1983	26.7%	34.6%
1982	27.2%	34.9%
1981	28%	35.2%
1980	29%	35.5%
1979	30%	35.9%
1978	31.1%	36.3%
1977	32.1%	36.7%
1976	32.8%	36.9%
1975	33.6%	37.1%
1974	34.4%	37.2%
1973	34.9%	37.3%
1972	35.3%	37.5%
1971	35.7%	37.6%
1970	36%	37.7%
1969	36.4%	37.8%
1968	36.7%	37.9%
1967	36.9%	38%
1966	37.1%	38%
1965	37.1%	38%
1964	37.1%	38%
1963	37.1%	37.8%
1962	37.1%	37.6%
1961	37.2%	37.5%
1960	37.2%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Barbados was 37.2% in 1960, 23.6% in 1992, and 17.2% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Barbados.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Barbados	World
2023	35	197
2022	38	203
2021	38	242
2020	39	211
2019	36	207
2018	37	211
2017	37	215
2016	36	220
2015	37	228
2014	39	231
2013	40	235
2012	40	239
2011	41	247
2010	42	253
2009	42	258
2008	42	264
2007	42	269
2006	45	276
2005	44	283
2004	43	291
2003	45	301
2002	43	311
2001	46	321
2000	46	328
1999	44	340
1998	45	360
1997	51	358
1996	51	366
1995	52	371
1994	53	382
1993	55	389
1992	61	395
1991	60	395
1990	59	391
1989	57	401
1988	55	414
1987	57	429
1986	56	438
1985	55	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Barbados was 35 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.04% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 23.9% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Barbados	World
2023	1%	2.49%
2022	1.04%	2.59%
2021	1.07%	2.66%
2020	1.11%	2.75%
2019	1.14%	2.86%
2018	1.18%	2.97%
2017	1.21%	3.11%
2016	1.25%	3.22%
2015	1.28%	3.35%
2014	1.31%	3.48%
2013	1.33%	3.61%
2012	1.35%	3.77%
2011	1.37%	3.97%
2010	1.39%	4.11%
2009	1.41%	4.31%
2008	1.43%	4.5%
2007	1.45%	4.7%
2006	1.47%	4.92%
2005	1.48%	5.16%
2004	1.49%	5.43%
2003	1.48%	5.65%
2002	1.47%	5.94%
2001	1.45%	6.21%
2000	1.44%	6.48%
1999	1.42%	6.75%
1998	1.42%	7.05%
1997	1.43%	7.28%
1996	1.45%	7.52%
1995	1.49%	7.76%
1994	1.53%	7.98%
1993	1.59%	8.19%
1992	1.66%	8.46%
1991	1.73%	8.66%
1990	1.81%	8.81%
1989	1.89%	9.02%
1988	1.97%	9.31%
1987	2.05%	9.47%
1986	2.12%	9.81%
1985	2.19%	10.1%
1984	2.26%	10.4%
1983	2.34%	10.6%
1982	2.44%	10.8%
1981	2.55%	11%
1980	2.69%	11.4%
1979	2.86%	11.7%
1978	3.04%	12.2%
1977	3.23%	12.6%
1976	3.43%	13%
1975	3.64%	13.4%
1974	3.86%	13.8%
1973	4.08%	14.1%
1972	4.32%	14.5%
1971	4.55%	15.1%
1970	4.79%	15.2%
1969	5.03%	15.4%
1968	5.28%	15.6%
1967	5.52%	15.9%
1966	5.79%	16.1%
1965	6.1%	16.4%
1964	6.45%	16.6%
1963	6.86%	16.5%
1962	7.33%	16.7%
1961	7.86%	17%
1960	8.47%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/barbados | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Barbados was 10 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 1% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 14.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.