Urban population growth in Barbados
Barbados: Urban population growth was 0.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Barbados, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population growth in Barbados is 0.3%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 33.9% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Barbados peaked at 5.0% in 1974 and was at its lowest, -0.4%, in 2000.
That places Barbados 166th out of 215 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.9% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 3.6% | 1.7% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | -0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.1% | -0.4% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 163 Grenada 0.4% compare
- 164 Greece 0.4% compare
- 165 North Macedonia 0.3% compare
- 167 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.3% compare
- 168 France 0.3% compare
- 169 French Polynesia 0.3% compare
More climate change data for Barbados
- Population growth 0.1% (2025)
- Population, total 282,623 (2025)
- Urban population 168,725 (2025)
- Urban population 59.7% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 0.07 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 87.5% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 1.1% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 0.1% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 0.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Barbados?
- Urban population growth in Barbados was 0.3% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 5.0% in 1974.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.4% in 2000.
- How does Barbados rank for urban population growth?
- Barbados ranks 166th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.