Barbados Social Condition Facts

Social conditions

Barbados falls into category two out of four when the United Nations ranks development in the world’s countries. It means a country of high development, and Barbados is also ranked highest among the countries of the Caribbean (and Central America). The Barbadians have well-developed health care and a high level of education. However, this does not prevent small pockets of poverty in the country.

Violence and drug trafficking are serious problems. The homicide rate is among the lowest in the Caribbean, but is still twice as high as in the United States. Another social problem is the widespread violence against women.

  • Countryaah Official Site: Official statistics for population in Barbados, including population growth, density, and estimation in next 50 years.

The social insurance system includes unemployment insurance, health insurance, parental benefit and old-age pension. Children have free medical and dental care. The retirement age was gradually increased from 65 to 67 years between 2006 and 2018.

barbados population

Gay acts are prohibited by law and can formally lead to life imprisonment. The law has not been applied in recent years, but the tolerance is low in society for LGBT people. However, according to a 2018 ruling in the Human Rights Court (IACHR) that belongs to the OAS regional organization, same-sex marriage must be approved by all countries that have signed the US Human Rights Convention, including Barbados.

FACTS – SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Infant Mortality: 11 per 1000 births (2018)

Percentage of HIV infected: 1.5 percent (2018)

Proportion of HIV infected among young women

0.2 percent (2018)

Proportion of HIV infected among young men: 0.3 percent (2018)

Proportion of population with access to clean water: 98.1 percent (2015)

Proportion of the population having access to toilets: 97.3 percent (2017)

Public expenditure on health care as a percentage of GDP: 7.5 percent (2015)

Public expenditure on health care per person: US $ 1,164 (2016)

Proportion of women in parliament: 20 percent (2018)