Barbados is not rated by the RSF index; Freedom House classifies it as Free with a total score of 94/100. Context: pop 287K, GDP $5.21B.
2023 Press Freedom Scorecard
Overall score and global position
Barbados is not currently rated by Reporters Without Borders. The closest available press-freedom indicator is the V-Dem Freedom of Expression index, which scores Barbados at 0.91 out of 1.0 for 2025 — a comparative signal drawn from the Varieties of Democracy academic dataset. Of the 25 Freedom House indicators, Barbados earns 19 at the maximum 4/4 and 0 at 0/4; its strongest category is Electoral Process (12/12) and its weakest is Government Functioning (10/12).
Composite index comparison
Elections, political pluralism, government functioning.
Freedom of expression, association, rule of law, personal autonomy.
Academic press-freedom index from the Varieties of Democracy project (0–1 rescaled to 0–100).
Full socio-economic dashboard
Demographics & geography
Economy & labour
Health
Education
Administration
All socio-economic indicators from the World Bank country dataset (2023 snapshot).
Democratic Rights & Civil Liberties
Freedom status explained
Freedom House classifies Barbados as Free with a 2024 aggregate score of 94/100 — meaning national institutions reliably protect political rights and civil liberties.
Within Freedom House's Americas region (35 countries), Barbados ranks #3 on the latest aggregate score — the 94th percentile. The region leaders are Canada, Uruguay, Barbados.
Political Rights vs Civil Liberties
Rating 1 of 7 (1 = best)
Rating 1 of 7 (1 = best)
Political rights and civil liberties are rated in similar territory, a sign that formal political channels and everyday personal freedoms move together in this country.
Twelve-year Freedom House trend
Between 2013 and 2024, Freedom House moved Barbados from Free (Free, 99/100) to Free (Free, 94/100).
Indicator trajectory (A–G over 12 years)
Of the 25 Freedom House indicators tracked for Barbados, 5 moved at least one point across the available Freedom House history. The eight with the largest absolute change appear below.
| Code | Indicator | Earliest | Latest | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2 | Opposition can gain power | 4/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| C2 | Anti-corruption safeguards | 4/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| C3 | Government transparency | 4/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| F3 | Protection from force | 4/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
| F4 | Equal treatment | 4/4 (2013) | 3/4 (2024) | ▼ -1 |
Latest A–G indicator scorecard
Electoral Process
PR
-
A1Free and fair head-of-government elections
4/4
-
A2Free and fair legislative elections
4/4
-
A3Electoral laws and framework
4/4
Political Pluralism & Participation
PR
-
B1Right to organise in political parties
4/4
-
B2Opposition can realistically gain power
3/4
-
B3Free political choice without domination
4/4
-
B4Political rights of minorities
4/4
Functioning of Government
PR
-
C1Elected officials determine government policy
4/4
-
C2Safeguards against corruption
3/4
-
C3Transparency of government
3/4
Freedom of Expression & Belief
CL
-
D1Free and independent media
4/4
-
D2Freedom of religious expression
4/4
-
D3Academic freedom
4/4
-
D4Free private discussion
4/4
Associational & Organisational Rights
CL
-
E1Freedom of assembly
4/4
-
E2Freedom for NGOs
4/4
-
E3Free trade unions
4/4
Rule of Law
CL
-
F1Independent judiciary
4/4
-
F2Due process in civil and criminal matters
4/4
-
F3Protection from illegitimate force
3/4
-
F4Equal treatment under the law
3/4
Personal Autonomy & Individual Rights
CL
-
G1Freedom of movement
4/4
-
G2Property rights
4/4
-
G3Personal social freedoms
3/4
-
G4Equality of opportunity
4/4
Each indicator is scored 0–4 by Freedom House analysts; category subtotals combine into the Political Rights (A + B + C = 0–40) and Civil Liberties (D + E + F + G = 0–60) aggregates shown above. 2024 edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Freedom House indicator moved most in Barbados?
Indicator B2 (Opposition can gain power) changed by -1 points, moving from 4/4 to 3/4 across the available history — the biggest indicator-level movement of the 25 Freedom House sub-scores for Barbados.
How does Barbados rank within its Freedom House region?
Barbados holds position #3 of 35 in the Americas region on the latest Freedom House aggregate score. The region's top country is Canada (97/100).
What is Barbados's economic context for its press freedom score?
Barbados has a GDP of $5.21B across a population of 287K, giving a per-capita GDP of about $18,148. Its capital is Bridgetown; the official language is English.