Barbados: Urban population

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Barbados' urban population rose 0.3% on 2024 (from 168,180 to 168,725).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0% and a typical year strayed about 0.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 5.1% in 1974 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.4% in 2000. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 318.08 a year. A straight line explains 99% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 169,595 for 2028. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2023 to 2025 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 220.15, against 659.33 for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

In 2025, Barbados had the 179th highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Barbados in the 2025 ranking

• New Caledonia — 176th of 217: 201,334
• Belize — 177th of 217: 175,776
• French Polynesia — 178th of 217: 174,446
• São Tomé and Principe — 180th of 217: 166,189
• Guam — 181st of 217: 159,230
• Curaçao — 182nd of 217: 142,938

What this measures

Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Limitations: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 66 values

Urban population in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 22,924 (2025)
• Argentina — 42.34 million (2025)
• Aruba — 67,173 (2025)
• Bahamas, The — 327,790 (2025)
• Belize — 175,776 (2025)
• Bolivia — 9 million (2025)
• Brazil — 187.65 million (2025)
• British Virgin Islands — 22,804 (2025)
• Cayman Islands — 75,844 (2025)
• Chile — 17.71 million (2025)
• Colombia — 42.09 million (2025)
• Costa Rica — 4.11 million (2025)

More environment data for Barbados

• Rural population — 113,898 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 40.3% (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 59.7% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 5.5 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 723 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 728.5 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.34% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 0.32% (2025)
• Fertilizer consumption (kilograms per hectare of arable land) — 32.29 (2024)
• Agricultural land (sq. km)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Barbados's urban population?

168,725 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 80.74% from 93,351 in 1960 (0.91% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 168,725 in 2025 and the lowest 93,351 in 1960.

How does Barbados rank?

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SP.URB.TOTL, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, note: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects, National definitions, publisher: UN Population Division; Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), note: Wo… Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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