Barbados
Last updated February 1, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Emerging readiness
Barbados demonstrates early-stage readiness (52nd percentile worldwide). Investments are generating initial gains, yet substantial gaps persist in several dimensions. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.
- Global percentile
- 52nd
- Global rank
- Not ranked (microstate)
- Regional rank
- Not ranked (microstate)
- Viewing data for
Country profile
Barbados trails global peers in Innovation (27, 19th percentile). A coordinated reform effort is needed to strengthen education futures readiness.
Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination.
Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.
School Access and Gender Parity presents a near-term leapfrog opportunity: performance is just below the global average, backed by enough observed data to support forward planning. Regionally, Barbados leads most clearly in Governance, sitting well above the peer average.
Note: Several indicators use imputed values. Policymakers and planners should validate results further before committing to major initiatives.
Key insights
- Scores range from Governance (70.3) to Innovation (27.4), reflecting variation across dimensions.
- Leads regional peers most clearly in Governance.
Regional peers: Latin America & Caribbean
Composite GEFRI score
| Global rank | Regional rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 1 | Chile | 69.50 |
| 42 | 2 | Argentina | 63.66 |
| 45 | 3 | Costa Rica | 62.89 |
| 47 | 4 | Uruguay | 62.23 |
| — | — | Cayman IslandsMicrostate | 60.38 |
| — | — | Antigua and BarbudaMicrostate | 57.67 |
| 63 | 5 | Peru | 57.45 |
| — | — | St. Kitts and NevisMicrostate | 56.38 |
| — | — | GrenadaMicrostate | 56.28 |
| — | — | Turks and Caicos IslandsMicrostate | 55.09 |
| 76 | 6 | Colombia | 55.01 |
| 77 | 7 | Mexico | 54.66 |
| 79 | 8 | Brazil | 54.12 |
| 83 | 9 | Cuba | 52.99 |
| 85 | 10 | Puerto Rico (US) | 52.67 |
| — | — | BarbadosMicrostate | 52.47 |
| — | — | DominicaMicrostate | 52.34 |
| — | — | CuracaoMicrostate | 52.11 |
| 89 | 11 | Ecuador | 50.85 |
| — | — | St. LuciaMicrostate | 50.63 |
| 91 | 12 | Dominican Republic | 50.59 |
| 94 | 13 | Bolivia | 50.07 |
| 98 | 14 | Bahamas, The | 48.94 |
| — | — | ArubaMicrostate | 47.65 |
| — | — | Sint Maarten (Dutch part)Microstate | 47.32 |
| 101 | 15 | Jamaica | 47.03 |
| — | — | St. Vincent and the GrenadinesMicrostate | 46.98 |
| 102 | 16 | Belize | 46.55 |
| — | — | St. Martin (French part)Microstate | 46.35 |
| 103 | 17 | Panama | 46.27 |
| — | — | Virgin Islands (U.S.)Microstate | 46.26 |
| — | — | British Virgin IslandsMicrostate | 45.57 |
| 106 | 18 | Paraguay | 44.53 |
| 109 | 19 | Trinidad and Tobago | 42.48 |
| 114 | 20 | Venezuela, RBFCS | 39.06 |
| 120 | 21 | El Salvador | 37.18 |
| 121 | 22 | Suriname | 36.88 |
| 123 | 23 | Guyana | 36.78 |
| 133 | 24 | Honduras | 32.94 |
| 135 | 25 | Guatemala | 31.74 |
| 145 | 26 | Nicaragua | 28.87 |
| 165 | 27 | HaitiFCS | 21.75 |