Barbados
Last updated April 1, 2026
Composite GEFRI Score
Progressing readiness
Barbados shows progressing readiness (73rd percentile worldwide). Reforms are translating into broader capability, though uneven performance continues to slow system-wide alignment. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.
- Global percentile
- 73rd
- Global rank
- Not ranked (microstate)
- Regional rank
- Not ranked (microstate)
- Viewing data for
Country profile
Barbados shows strong future-readiness momentum, with clear strengths in School Access and Gender Parity (88, 90th percentile).
Wide gaps between dimensions reveal structural weaknesses that slow coordinated progress.
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.
Challenges: Innovation (27, 19th percentile). Closing these gaps will be key to sustaining progress.
Areas with room to grow: Infrastructure (68, 48th percentile) and Human Capital (54, 62nd percentile). These dimensions sit close to global norms and could accelerate quickly with targeted investment.
Note: Several indicators use imputed values. Policymakers and planners should validate results further before committing to major initiatives.
Key insights
- Sits above the global median at the 73rd percentile.
- Scores range from Access & Parity (87.5) to Innovation (27.4), reflecting variation across dimensions.
- Leads regional peers most clearly in Access & Parity.
Regional peers: Latin America & Caribbean
Composite GEFRI score
| Global rank | Regional rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 1 | Chile | 69.22 |
| 41 | 2 | Argentina | 63.46 |
| 45 | 3 | Uruguay | 61.84 |
| — | — | BarbadosMicrostate | 61.53 |
| — | — | Cayman IslandsMicrostate | 60.64 |
| — | — | St. Kitts and NevisMicrostate | 59.49 |
| — | — | Antigua and BarbudaMicrostate | 58.12 |
| 61 | 4 | Peru | 57.90 |
| — | — | GrenadaMicrostate | 56.27 |
| — | — | Turks and Caicos IslandsMicrostate | 55.44 |
| 73 | 5 | Colombia | 55.23 |
| 75 | 6 | Mexico | 54.99 |
| 79 | 7 | Cuba | 53.32 |
| 81 | 8 | Puerto Rico (US) | 53.10 |
| 86 | 9 | Dominican Republic | 51.42 |
| — | — | DominicaMicrostate | 51.11 |
| 88 | 10 | Ecuador | 51.07 |
| 89 | 11 | Brazil | 51.03 |
| — | — | St. LuciaMicrostate | 50.66 |
| 93 | 12 | Bolivia | 50.30 |
| 94 | 13 | Costa Rica | 50.00 |
| — | — | St. Vincent and the GrenadinesMicrostate | 49.59 |
| — | — | ArubaMicrostate | 48.98 |
| — | — | British Virgin IslandsMicrostate | 48.56 |
| — | — | St. Martin (French part)Microstate | 47.36 |
| 100 | 14 | Jamaica | 46.92 |
| — | — | CuracaoMicrostate | 46.80 |
| — | — | Sint Maarten (Dutch part)Microstate | 46.76 |
| — | — | Virgin Islands (U.S.)Microstate | 46.46 |
| 101 | 15 | Panama | 46.26 |
| 102 | 16 | Bahamas, The | 46.13 |
| 103 | 17 | Belize | 44.33 |
| 104 | 18 | Trinidad and Tobago | 43.67 |
| 105 | 19 | Paraguay | 43.39 |
| 111 | 20 | Venezuela, RBFCS | 39.80 |
| 118 | 21 | El Salvador | 37.88 |
| 120 | 22 | Guyana | 37.09 |
| 123 | 23 | Suriname | 35.94 |
| 130 | 24 | Honduras | 33.08 |
| 133 | 25 | Guatemala | 32.18 |
| 139 | 26 | Nicaragua | 30.15 |
| 161 | 27 | HaitiFCS | 22.72 |