Caribbean

Barbados

Absolute number

Prevalence

4.1 thousand

Married by 15: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 15

8%
19.9 thousand

Married by 18: Number of girls and women (left) and percentage of women 20-24 years (right) married before age 18

29%

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Barbados
  • Caribbean
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Barbados and Caribbean from 1987 to 2024.

In Barbados, 14% of girls in 1987 married before age 18, compared with 29% in 2012, which is the latest available value.

In Caribbean, the prevalence was 30% in 1999 and was 24% in 2024.

Show data table
YearBarbadosCaribbean
198714.0%
199211.3%
19977.8%
199930.1%
200212.9%
200429.7%
200721.3%
200931.1%
201229.2%
201428.0%
201924.7%
202423.8%
Child marriage age
Compare with other countries

Barbados

Child Marriage
Prevalence

Residence

  • Rural
  • Urban
Show Residence data table
YearRuralUrban
201231.1%28.1%

Wealth

  • Poorest
  • Second
  • Middle
  • Fourth
  • Richest
Show Wealth data table
YearPoorestSecondMiddleFourthRichest
201220.7%39.3%26.7%22.2%37.6%

Education

  • No schooling
  • Primary education
  • Secondary or higher
Show Education data table
YearNo schoolingPrimary educationSecondary or higher
201229.3%
Child marriage age

Compare regions of Barbados

Understand differences inside the country

Touch the timeline to see how the child marriage affect differently each sub-region of Barbados in the last decades.

Levels of child marriage vary across different parts of Barbados. See the range of values within the country, and explore the map for details.

Prevalence of child marriage

Compare regions of Barbados

Understand differences
inside the country

18% 34% 34% 38% 34% 34% 38% 29% 34% 18% 38%
Child marriage age

Region with no data

2012

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Barbados in 2012

0%100%

Region with no data

2012

Prevalence of child marriage in each region of Barbados in 2012

0%100%

The map shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) across Barbados. Data refer to 2012, the latest year with available data.

The practice is most common in St. (38%), St. (38%), St. (38%), and St. (34%).

Show data table
YearChrist ChurchSt. AndrewSt. GeorgeSt. JamesSt. JohnSt. JosephSt. LucySt. MichaelSt. PeterSt. PhillipSt. Tomas
18.5%33.6%37.6%37.6%33.6%33.6%33.6%29.4%33.6%18.5%37.6%
Child marriage age

Compare countries

How does Barbados compare to other countries?

Prevalence of child marriage

  • Barbados
Child marriage age

The line chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) in Barbados from 1987 to 2012.

In Barbados, 14% of girls in 1987 married before age 18, compared with 29% in 2012, which is the latest available value.

Show data table
YearBarbados
198714.0%
199211.3%
19977.8%
200212.9%
200721.3%
201229.2%

Residence

Child marriage prevalence

Review the data to find if girls living in rural areas are more likely to marry in childhood than girls in urban areas

The bubble chart shows the prevalence of child marriage (before age 18) disaggregated by residence in Barbados. Data refer to the latest available year.

In Barbados, 29% of girls married before age 18. The prevalence is 31% of girls in rural areas, compared with 28% in urban areas.

Show data table
CountryRuralUrbanTotal
Barbados31.1%28.1%29.2%
Child marriage age

For more data related to child marriage, please see the child marriage country profiles available on the UNICEF Data website

UNICEF Data

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Where does child marriage occur?

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