Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados
Barbados: Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending was 41.6% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados is 41.6%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is down 7.5% on the previous year and down 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados peaked at 59.4% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 41.6%, in 2023.
Barbados ranks 133rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 51.9% | — |
| 2001 | 53.3% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 53.5% | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 56.3% | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 57.2% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 56.3% | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 54.5% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | 55.3% | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 54.6% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 53.4% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 48.5% | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 55.3% | +14.1% |
| 2013 | 51.4% | -7.1% |
| 2014 | 47.1% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 46.8% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 46.0% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 45.1% | -2.1% |
| 2018 | 45.5% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 44.9% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 49.4% | +10.0% |
| 2021 | 54.3% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 45.0% | -17.1% |
| 2023 | 41.6% | -7.5% |
Barbados compared with similar countries
- Barbados's 41.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 73.1%, 57% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Barbados's 41.6% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 59.0%, 71% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.2% | 51.9% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.4% | 44.9% | 55.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.6% | 41.6% | 54.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Barbados
- 130 Brazil 44.1% compare
- 131 Eswatini 42.7% compare
- 132 Philippines 42.4% compare
- 134 Palestine, State of 41.4% compare
- 135 Côte d'Ivoire 40.8% compare
- 136 Zambia 40.7% compare
More health data for Barbados
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2208 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,453 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5046 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0272 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.5262 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados?
- Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending in Barbados was 41.6% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Barbados?
- The highest recorded value was 59.4% in 2004.
- What is the lowest public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending recorded in Barbados?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.6% in 2023.
- How does Barbados rank for public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending?
- Barbados ranks 133rd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending rising or falling in Barbados?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Barbados data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Public spending on healthcare as percent of total healthcare spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic public sources for health.