Photo: Berit Watkin , derivative work (crop) by Globe-trotter · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Barbados: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Barbados is placed 79th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 56.7 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 34.88 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
79th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Barbados on development & human capital — 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.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
34.88
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Barbados: 34.88. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Caribbean
- 11.03 Puerto Rico
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.811
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 69th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Barbados: 0.811. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Caribbean
- 0.851 Antigua and Barbuda
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.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados fell from 45.66 in 2000 to 34.88 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2023 34.88 46.7 2022 37.94 53.0 2021 38.49 76.6 2020 38.65 56.0 2019 36.50 48.4 2018 36.71 49.3 2017 36.58 47.2 2016 36.26 50.6 2015 37.02 51.9 2014 38.55 52.8 2013 39.66 53.3 2012 39.53 54.6 2011 41.18 55.0 2010 41.71 56.1 2009 41.77 56.3 2008 41.50 55.8 2007 41.90 56.8 2006 44.62 58.1 2005 43.72 60.1 2004 42.72 63.0 2003 44.65 66.8 2002 43.19 66.0 2001 45.84 68.1 2000 45.66 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados rose from 0.762 in 2000 to 0.811 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2023 0.811 0.7620 2022 0.807 0.7610 2021 0.803 0.7450 2020 0.803 0.7425 2019 0.808 0.7515 2018 0.806 0.7520 2017 0.804 0.7480 2016 0.803 0.7500 2015 0.800 0.7430 2014 0.799 0.7410 2013 0.798 0.7390 2012 0.797 0.7350 2011 0.794 0.7250 2010 0.797 0.7250 2009 0.798 0.7220 2008 0.794 0.7180 2007 0.790 0.7100 2006 0.783 0.7045 2005 0.779 0.6960 2004 0.775 0.6960 2003 0.771 0.6910 2002 0.767 0.6845 2001 0.763 0.6770 2000 0.762 0.6720
03In context
Barbados beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, 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 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Puerto Rico | 63rd | 58.9 | 11.03 | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | 66th | 65.4 | 34.57 | 0.851 |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 67th | 90.2 | 73.52 | 0.84 |
| Barbados | 79th | 56.7 | 34.88 | 0.811 |
 Cuba | 83rd | 63.9 | 34.79 | 0.762 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | =85th | 57.2 | 54.08 | 0.807 |
 Grenada | 92nd | 54.3 | 48.25 | 0.791 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 95th | 52 | 55.84 | 0.798 |
 Dominica | 96th | 53.2 | 35.55 | 0.761 |
 Bahamas | 99th | 49.1 | 75.95 | 0.82 |
 Dominican Republic | =106th | 61 | 124.47 | 0.776 |
 Saint Lucia | =110th | 40.1 | 43.96 | 0.748 |
 Jamaica | 132nd | 32.6 | 130.14 | 0.72 |
 Haiti | 177th | 6.6 | 327.56 | 0.554 |
 Anguilla | not placed | 68.9 | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | 94.3 | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | 78.3 | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | 94.2 | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | 47.9 | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | 81.2 | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | 52.1 | — | — |
 United States Virgin Islands | not placed | 66.7 | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
- Puerto Rico63rd
- Antigua and Barbuda66th
- Saint Kitts and Nevis67th
- Barbados79th
- Cuba83rd
- Trinidad and Tobago=85th
- Grenada92nd
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines95th
- Dominica96th
- Bahamas99th
- Dominican Republic=106th
- Saint Lucia=110th
- Jamaica132nd
- Haiti177th
- Anguillanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
- United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Barbados in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Barbados is ahead of the world, and behind
33 more statistics filed under development & human capital, 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 median20
Statistics on which Barbados does better than the middle country measured.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 0880No earlier reading
Barbados: 88 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3416.6313.34No real change since 2013
Barbados: 16.63 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 33rd of 195 · derived.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2520.6594.252No earlier reading
Barbados: 0.659 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 129th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6755.6146.67▼ Worsened since 2012
Barbados: 55.61 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 195 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.532.858No real change since 2014
Barbados: 1.53 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 146th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1634.338.163No real change since 2013
Barbados: 4.33 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 145th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.87.70813.8No earlier reading
Barbados: 7.708 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 115th of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.976.745.9No earlier reading
Barbados: 76.7 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.898.480.8No earlier reading
Barbados: 98.4 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.549.76414.54No real change since 2014
Barbados: 9.764 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 125th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.965.643.9No earlier reading
Barbados: 65.6 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.269.05512.26No real change since 2014
Barbados: 9.055 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 121st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,26522,12717,265No real change since 2015
Barbados: 22,127 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 78th of 185 · derived.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1346.6298.134▲ Improved since 2014
Barbados: 6.629 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 115th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6376.1874.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Barbados: 76.18 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 96th of 222 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.2970.351No real change since 2013
Barbados: 0.297 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 76th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.11.532.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Barbados: 1.53 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.498.798.4No earlier reading
Barbados: 98.7 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.620.609▼ Worsened since 2013
Barbados: 0.62 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 169 · derived.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9711.0350.971▼ Worsened since 2013
Barbados: 1.035 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 95th of 184 · derived.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Barbados does worse than the middle country measured.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9339.9289.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Barbados: 9.928 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 98th of 193 · derived.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0722,7973,072No real change since 2013
Barbados: 2,797 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 179 · derived.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908990▼ Worsened since 2015
Barbados: 89 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,89011,54612,890▼ Worsened since 2012
Barbados: 11,546 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 89th of 166 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0520.5917.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Barbados: 20.59 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 70th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7513.123.75No earlier reading
Barbados: 13.1 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918591▼ Worsened since 2015
Barbados: 85 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.361.7469.3No real change since 2022
Barbados: 61.74 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 127th of 188 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5466.773.546No earlier reading
Barbados: 6.77 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 42nd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.129.217.1No earlier reading
Barbados: 29.2 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 36th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7419.740.74No earlier reading
Barbados: 19.7 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 122nd of 136 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Barbados: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Barbados: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
No current reading for Barbados
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Children with Functional Difficulties, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Foundational ID Ownership, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (last 2024), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Net Official Development Assistance Received (last 2010), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2016), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2016), Prosperity Gap (last 2016) and Violent Discipline of Children. 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
Development & Human Capital among Barbados’s 16 topics
Development & Human Capital is Barbados’s 8th 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 development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Barbados can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada=27th3/3 keysHighest in Caribbean
Puerto Rico63rd2/3 keysThis page
Barbados79th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 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 development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Barbados on development & human capital: 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 development & human capital?
Barbados is placed 79th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Barbados?
56.7 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Barbados?
34.88 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Barbados’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 45.66 in 2000 to 34.88 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.762 in 2000 to 0.811 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Barbados?
No current reading is published for Barbados on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour Benefits, Children with Functional Difficulties, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Foundational ID Ownership, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Human Capital Index, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Net Official Development Assistance Received, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap and Violent Discipline of Children. 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
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 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 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 33 statistics on this page come from 11 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
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Barbados: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/barbados/development