Photo: Berit Watkin , derivative work (crop) by Globe-trotter · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 09 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Barbados: Democracy & Civil Liberties
Do people choose their rulers, and can they speak freely?
Barbados is placed joint 38th of 198 countries on democracy & civil liberties in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Rule of Law 0.72 (2025); Civic Space Ratings 89.85 (2025).
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Democracy & Civil Liberties
joint38th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.72Rule of Law, 2025Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
- 89.85Civic Space Ratings, 2025Civic space score (0–100)
- 0.797V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index, 2025Electoral democracy index (0–1)
- 60.65Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Index, 2025Electoral Integrity Index (0–100; higher = greater electoral integrity)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Barbados on democracy & civil liberties — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
0.72
Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)
Higher is better
Barbados: 0.72. Across the 211 countries in this edition, values run from -2.199 (Venezuela) to 2.012 (Finland); the world median is -0.102.
- World median
- -0.102
- Best in Caribbean
- 1.226 Aruba
89.85
Civic space score (0–100)
Higher is better
Barbados: 89.85. Across the 198 countries in this edition, values run from 2.17 (North Korea) to 100 (Kiribati); the world median is 50.46.
- World median
- 50.46
- Best in Caribbean
- 89.85 Barbados
Key 3 of 4
V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.797
Electoral democracy index (0–1)
Higher is better
Barbados: 0.797. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.016 (Saudi Arabia) to 0.913 (Denmark); the world median is 0.497.
- World median
- 0.497
- Best in Caribbean
- 0.805 Jamaica
Key 4 of 4
Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Index
Electoral Integrity Project (EIP)
Latest reading per country, 2015–2025 · Barbados’s is from 2022 · CC BY 4.0
60.65
Electoral Integrity Index (0–100; higher = greater electoral integrity)
Higher is better
Barbados: 60.65. Across the 171 countries at their latest reading, values run from 12.86 (Iraq) to 88.61 (Sweden); the world median is 54.78.
- World median
- 54.78
- Best in Caribbean
- 68.09 Grenada
02Over time
Which way Barbados is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Rule of Law
Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados fell from 1.387 in 2000 to 0.72 in 2025; the world median went from -0.175 to -0.102.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2025 0.720 -0.10240 2024 0.710 -0.10722 2023 0.715 -0.10312 2022 0.697 -0.12950 2021 0.675 -0.13640 2020 0.689 -0.14164 2019 0.759 -0.13092 2018 0.815 -0.13830 2017 0.965 -0.15682 2016 1.060 -0.15385 2015 1.087 -0.18731 2014 1.048 -0.20216 2013 1.112 -0.21236 2012 1.137 -0.20061 2011 1.174 -0.25960 2010 1.155 -0.21447 2009 1.139 -0.15524 2008 1.428 -0.16368 2007 1.392 -0.15051 2006 1.295 -0.11143 2005 1.423 -0.08498 2004 1.258 -0.14158 2003 1.396 -0.15770 2002 1.397 -0.13265 2000 1.387 -0.17518 V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index
Electoral democracy index (0–1) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados rose from 0.769 in 2000 to 0.797 in 2025; the world median went from 0.478 to 0.497.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2025 0.797 0.4975 2024 0.802 0.4970 2023 0.802 0.5070 2022 0.802 0.5130 2021 0.807 0.5290 2020 0.811 0.5305 2019 0.792 0.5280 2018 0.776 0.5290 2017 0.773 0.5395 2016 0.776 0.5360 2015 0.776 0.5360 2014 0.780 0.5295 2013 0.781 0.5205 2012 0.784 0.5180 2011 0.784 0.5215 2010 0.784 0.5250 2009 0.784 0.5170 2008 0.783 0.5120 2007 0.766 0.5220 2006 0.766 0.5420 2005 0.766 0.5200 2004 0.766 0.5270 2003 0.767 0.5290 2002 0.769 0.5060 2001 0.769 0.4940 2000 0.769 0.4780
03In context
Barbados beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on democracy & civil liberties, never a place within the region.
Barbados and Caribbean
Barbados has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Rule of LawRule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5) | Civic Space RatingsCivic space score (0–100) | V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexElectoral democracy index (0–1) | Perceptions of Electoral Integrity IndexElectoral Integrity Index (0–100; higher = greater electoral integrity) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 34th | 0.58 | 89.68 | — | — |
| Barbados | =38th | 0.72 | 89.85 | 0.797 | 60.65 |
 Grenada | =38th | 0.581 | 89 | — | 68.09 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 42nd | 0.578 | 87.62 | — | — |
 Saint Lucia | =47th | 0.568 | 81.43 | — | — |
 Jamaica | 51st | -0.03 | 83.94 | 0.805 | 62.57 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 54th | -0.349 | 83.96 | 0.786 | 66.5 |
 Bahamas | 59th | 0.229 | 88 | — | 58.26 |
 Dominica | =62nd | 0.425 | 70.09 | — | — |
 Dominican Republic | 69th | -0.123 | 73.95 | 0.735 | 59.6 |
 Antigua and Barbuda | 91st | 0.569 | 71.12 | — | 41.42 |
 Haiti | 161st | -1.617 | 34.24 | 0.238 | 37.25 |
 Cuba | 179th | -1.081 | 13.15 | 0.176 | — |
 Anguilla | not placed | 0.641 | — | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | 1.226 | — | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | 0.964 | — | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Puerto Rico | not placed | 0.566 | — | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 United States Virgin Islands | not placed | 0.57 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
- Saint Kitts and Nevis34th
- Barbados=38th
- Grenada=38th
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines42nd
- Saint Lucia=47th
- Jamaica51st
- Trinidad and Tobago54th
- Bahamas59th
- Dominica=62nd
- Dominican Republic69th
- Antigua and Barbuda91st
- Haiti161st
- Cuba179th
- Anguillanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Puerto Riconot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
- United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on democracy & civil liberties
The countries immediately above and below Barbados in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Barbados is ahead of the world, and behind
21 more statistics filed under democracy & civil liberties, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median21
Statistics on which Barbados does better than the middle country measured.
Government Internet ShutdownsV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.0232.0041.023No real change since 2015
Barbados: 2.004 · world median 1.023 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4 to +2); higher = fewer shutdowns. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.547 to 2.081; higher is better.
Position 2nd of 176 · derived.
Freedom of Foreign MovementV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.22.3691.2▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 2.369 · world median 1.2 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +2.9); higher = freer movement. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.642 to 2.727; higher is better.
Position 8th of 176 · derived.
Freedom of ReligionV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.2962.411.296▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 2.41 · world median 1.296 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.5 to +3); higher = more religious freedom. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.294 to 2.792; higher is better.
Position 11th of 176 · derived.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.9040.619▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.904 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 17th of 176 · derived.
Deliberative Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3390.7120.339▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.712 · world median 0.339 · Deliberative democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 0.867; higher is better.
Position 20th of 176 · derived.
Government Censorship of the MediaV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5652.0640.565▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 2.064 · world median 0.565 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3 to +3.5); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.017 to 3.489; higher is better.
Position 24th of 176 · derived.
Freedom of Expression and Alternative Sources of Information IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6930.9110.693▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.911 · world median 0.693 · Freedom of expression index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.013 to 0.98; higher is better.
Position 25th of 176 · derived.
Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6760.930.676No real change since 2015
Barbados: 0.93 · world median 0.676 · Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.988; higher is better.
Position 25th of 175 · derived.
Egalitarian Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3210.6760.321▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.676 · world median 0.321 · Egalitarian democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.876; higher is better.
Position 28th of 176 · derived.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0221.086-0.022No real change since 2015
Barbados: 1.086 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 33rd of 206 · derived.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.1090.413▲ Improved since 2013
Barbados: 0.109 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 146th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neopatrimonial Rule IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4450.1090.445▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.109 · world median 0.445 · Neopatrimonial rule index (0–1; higher = more personalised rule). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.989; lower is better.
Position 147th of 176 · derived, 1st = worst.
Women's Political Empowerment IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.7720.8950.772▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.895 · world median 0.772 · Women's political empowerment index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.028 to 0.954; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 176 · derived.
Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.6790.353▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.679 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 176 · derived.
Government Dissemination of False Information (Domestic)V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median -0.1141.252-0.114No real change since 2015
Barbados: 1.252 · world median -0.114 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +3.2); higher = less disinformation. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.392 to 2.93; higher is better.
Position 36th of 176 · derived.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.541.61No real change since 2015
Barbados: 0.54 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Physical Violence IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.790.9380.79▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.938 · world median 0.79 · Freedom from political killings and torture (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.053 to 0.989; higher is better.
Position 38th of 176 · derived.
Military Dimension IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.100.1▼ Worsened since 2015
Barbados: 0 · world median 0.1 · Military dimension index (0–1; higher = larger military role). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; lower is better.
Equal Protection IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6510.7550.651▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.755 · world median 0.651 · Equal protection index (0–1); higher = rights and freedoms protected more equally across social groups and classes. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.027 to 0.986; higher is better.
Position 50th of 176 · derived.
Government Social Media CensorshipV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5051.3170.505▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 1.317 · world median 0.505 · Original latent estimate (≈ −4.5 to +2.4); higher = less censorship. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.721 to 2.295; higher is better.
Position 55th of 176 · derived.
Participatory Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.2980.3470.298▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.347 · world median 0.298 · Participatory democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.008 to 0.785; higher is better.
Position 74th of 176 · derived.
No current reading for Barbados
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly (last 2024), Mass Mobilization (last 2024), Political Polarization (last 2024) and Social Institutions and Gender Index. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Democracy & Civil Liberties among Barbados’s 16 topics
Democracy & Civil Liberties is Barbados’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Securityjoint 7th of 1772/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience30th of 1933/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 38th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions45th of 1944/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 54th of 1824/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture58th of 1844/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing78th of 2002/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital79th of 1963/3 keys
- Gender & Equality82nd of 1833/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality76th of 1592/3 keys
- Education & Knowledge107th of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation96th of 1762/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 128th of 1773/4 keys
- Energy130th of 1652/3 keys
- Digital & Technology157th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability174th of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on democracy & civil liberties
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Barbados can most readily be measured against.
1
NorwayNorthern Europe
1st of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
DenmarkNorthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
LiechtensteinWestern Europe
3rd of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Guido Radig,Inkey · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada=15th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Saint Kitts and Nevis34th2/4 keysThis page
Barbados=38th4/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Barbados and democracy & civil liberties
08Questions
Barbados on democracy & civil liberties: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Barbados rank on democracy & civil liberties?
Barbados is placed joint 38th of 198 countries on Democracy & Civil Liberties in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Rule of Law, Civic Space Ratings, V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index and Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Rule of Law figure for Barbados?
0.72 in 2025 (rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was -0.102.
What is the latest Civic Space Ratings figure for Barbados?
89.85 in 2025 (civic space score (0–100)), according to CIVICUS. The world median in the same edition was 50.46.
How have Barbados’s democracy & civil liberties figures changed?
Rule of Law fell from 1.387 in 2000 to 0.72 in 2025; V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index rose from 0.769 in 2000 to 0.797 in 2025.
Which democracy & civil liberties statistics are missing for Barbados?
No current reading is published for Barbados on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, Mass Mobilization, Political Polarization and Social Institutions and Gender Index. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This topic does not judge whether a government is competent or honest — that is Governance & Institutions — and it does not measure economic freedom. It also cannot capture everything about a political system in a single place in a list, which is why every key behind it links to the publisher's full edition.
How the Democracy & Civil Liberties standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The democracy & civil liberties method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Rule of Law — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Civic Space Ratings — CIVICUS, CC BY-SA 4.0
- V-Dem Electoral Democracy Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Index — Electoral Integrity Project (EIP), CC BY 4.0
The other 21 statistics on this page come from 3 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Barbados’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Barbados (banner) — Berit Watkin , derivative work (crop) by Globe-trotter, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Liechtenstein — Guido Radig,Inkey, CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Barbados: Democracy & Civil Liberties — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/barbados/democracy