Share of population living in urban areas in Barbados
Barbados: Share of population living in urban areas was 86.4% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of population living in urban areas in Barbados, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas in Barbados is 86.4%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Barbados peaked at 88.4% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 83.2%, in 2015.
Barbados ranks 45th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 87.1% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 87.9% | 87.7% | 88.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 88.3% | 88.3% | 88.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 87.4% | 87.2% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 1990s | 87.6% | 87.6% | 87.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 86.4% | 85.8% | 87.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 84.4% | 83.2% | 85.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 86.4% | 86.4% | 86.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
More reference data data for Barbados
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Consumer price index 146.53 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating 1 (2025)
- Free country 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in Barbados?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Barbados was 86.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 88.4% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 83.2% in 2015.
- How does Barbados rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Barbados ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.