Barbados · Americas
How many people die in Barbados every day?
In Barbados, about 7 people die every day, roughly one death every 4 hours. That is about 2,400 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 168th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 77.6 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
7
Deaths per year
2,400
Life expectancy
77.6 years
Population
281,995
Death rate
8.5 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Barbados
77.6
World avg
72.8
+4.8 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Barbados
8.5
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Barbados by time period
| Per hour | 0.3 |
| Per day | 6.6 |
| Per week | 46 |
| Per month | 200 |
| Per year | 2,400 |
What people die of in Barbados
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Barbados in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 9.3% of all deaths, about under 1 a day. It was followed by stroke and diabetes.
Deaths from bowel (colorectal) cancer have risen by 80% since 2000, from about 51 to 92 a year. Deaths from stroke have fallen by 34% since 2000, from about 288 to 190 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 203 | under 1 | 9.3% | -26% |
| 2 | Stroke | 190 | under 1 | 8.7% | -34% |
| 3 | Diabetes | 190 | under 1 | 8.7% | -25% |
| 4 | Prostate cancer | 120 | under 1 | 5.5% | +45% |
| 5 | Kidney diseases | 96 | under 1 | 4.4% | +25% |
| 6 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 96 | under 1 | 4.4% | -23% |
| 7 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer | 92 | under 1 | 4.2% | +80% |
| 8 | Breast cancer | 82 | under 1 | 3.8% | +55% |
| 9 | Skin diseases | 73 | under 1 | 3.3% | +14% |
| 10 | HIV/AIDS | 71 | under 1 | 3.3% | -26% |
Deaths in Barbados since 2000
WHO estimates that about 2,181 people died in Barbados in 2023, 5% fewer than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 2,289 deaths |
| 2010 | 2,328 deaths |
| 2019 | 2,514 deaths |
| 2023 | 2,181 deaths |
Life expectancy in Barbados since 1950
A baby born in Barbados in 1950 could expect to live about 53.6 years. By 2023 that had risen to 76.2, a gain of 22.6 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 53.6 years |
| 1980 | 72.1 years |
| 2000 | 74.6 years |
| 2010 | 75.5 years |
| 2019 | 76.5 years |
| 2023 | 76.2 years |
Barbados compared with similar countries in Americas
Among the 24 countries in Americas on this site, Barbados ranks 0th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 7 | 77.6 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 33 | 73.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Jamaica | 55 | 75.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Uruguay | 90 | 77.9 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Panama | 60 | 78.5 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Costa Rica | 71 | 80.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Barbados every day?
In Barbados, about 7 people die every day, or roughly one death every 4 hours. That adds up to about 2,400 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Barbados?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Barbados. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put heart disease (ischaemic) first in 2023, with 9.3% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Barbados?
Life expectancy at birth in Barbados is 77.6 years, 4.8 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 49th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Barbados high?
Barbados records about 8.5 deaths per 1,000 people each year, above the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.