As of May 2026, the population of Barbados is 282.8 thousand. The number of inhabitants has increased by 186 in the last year, representing a growth of 0.08%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 37.5 years in 2016 to 40.5 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 78.3 years and population density is 657.7 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population growth rate of Barbados peaked in 1950, reaching around 2.52% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.07% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 5.31 thousand in 1950 to nearly 186 in 2026.
In Barbados, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 75.1 years in 2006 to 78.3 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 3 years over the past 2 decades.
The cities of Barbados are small, with the 5 most populated adding up to around 111.3 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Bridgetown, Saint Michael, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 98.5 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by White Hill, Saint Andrew with 5.1 thousand and Speightstown, Saint Peter with 3.6 thousand.
These are the 16 most populous cities in Barbados:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgetown, Saint Michael | 98,511 |
| 2 | White Hill, Saint Andrew | 5,139 |
| 3 | Speightstown, Saint Peter | 3,634 |
| 4 | Oistins, Christ Church | 2,285 |
| 5 | Bathsheba, Saint Joseph | 1,765 |
| 6 | Hastings, Christ Church | 1,500 |
| 7 | Mile and a Quarter, Saint Peter | 1,382 |
| 8 | Holetown, Saint James | 1,350 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Six Cross Roads, Christ Church | 1,005 |
| 10 | Crane, Saint Philip | 935 |
| 11 | Crab Hill, Saint Lucy | 727 |
| 12 | Blackmans, Saint Joseph | 623 |
| 13 | Greenland, Saint Andrew | 623 |
| 14 | Checker Hall, Saint Lucy | |
| 15 | Four Cross Roads, Saint John | |
| 16 | Welchman Hall, Saint Thomas |