Photo: Berit Watkin , derivative work (crop) by Globe-trotter · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 01 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Barbados: Governance & Institutions
How well is the state actually run?
Barbados is placed 45th of 194 countries on governance & institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Government Effectiveness 0.611 (2025); Statistical Performance Indicators 61.74 (2024).
Governance & Institutions
45th
of 194 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 0.611Government Effectiveness, 2025Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
- 61.74Statistical Performance Indicators, 2024SPI overall score (0–100)
- 68Corruption Perceptions Index, 2025CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
- 0.93Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index, 2025Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Barbados on governance & institutions — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Government Effectiveness
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: The quality of public services and the civil service that delivers them, and the credibility of a government's commitment to its own policies. Where the Corruption Perceptions Index asks whether a state is honest, this asks whether it is competent.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
0.611
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)
Higher is better
Barbados: 0.611. Across the 209 countries in this edition, values run from -2.251 (South Sudan) to 2.092 (Singapore); the world median is 0.101.
- World median
- 0.101
- Best in Caribbean
- 1.103 Anguilla
Each grey tick is one of 209 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 4
Statistical Performance Indicators
World Bank Group
Why it is a key: Whether a state can measure its own country. Nothing else here tests the capacity of the statistical system itself.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
61.74
SPI overall score (0–100)
Higher is better
Barbados: 61.74. Across the 188 countries in this edition, values run from 27.12 (South Sudan) to 94.14 (Norway); the world median is 69.3.
- World median
- 69.3
- Best in Caribbean
- 75.22 Dominican Republic
Each grey tick is one of 188 countries in the 2024 edition.
Key 3 of 4
Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International
Why it is a key: How much corruption the people who actually deal with a government perceive — an outcome, where the other keys measure the state’s capacity and the limits the law puts on it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
68
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean)
Higher is better
Ranked 24th of 181 by Transparency International
Barbados: 68. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 9 (Somalia) to 89 (Denmark); the world median is 39.
- World median
- 39
- Best in Caribbean
- 68 Barbados
Each grey tick is one of 182 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 4 of 4
Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg
Why it is a key: Whether the executive respects the constitution and obeys the courts, and whether the courts can rule against it freely — the law binding those who write it.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.93
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1)
Higher is better
Barbados: 0.93. Across the 176 countries in this edition, values run from 0.003 (Nicaragua) to 0.988 (Australia); the world median is 0.676.
- World median
- 0.676
- Best in Caribbean
- 0.93 Barbados
Each grey tick is one of 176 countries in the 2025 edition.
02Over time
Which way Barbados is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Government Effectiveness
Governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados fell from 0.71 in 2000 to 0.611 in 2025; the world median went from -0.397 to 0.101.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2025 0.61103 0.1006 2024 0.48262 0.0098 2023 0.48256 -0.0408 2022 0.57183 -0.0305 2021 0.61077 -0.0158 2020 0.56685 -0.0171 2019 0.72065 0.0150 2018 0.89152 0.0159 2017 0.89097 0.0158 2016 0.89124 0.0225 2015 1.04992 0.0038 2014 1.05046 0.0194 2013 1.09024 -0.0758 2012 1.16015 -0.0839 2011 1.14772 -0.1221 2010 1.10243 -0.1145 2009 1.20925 -0.1609 2008 1.52615 -0.2134 2007 1.33080 -0.3260 2006 1.41059 -0.3310 2005 1.33723 -0.3706 2004 0.59220 -0.3140 2003 0.71344 -0.4369 2002 0.71727 -0.3366 2000 0.71046 -0.3969 Statistical Performance Indicators
SPI overall score (0–100) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados rose from 60.7 in 2022 to 61.74 in 2024; the world median went from 67.99 to 69.3.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2024 62 69.30 2023 63 68.86 2022 61 67.99 2021 — 69.96 2020 — 62.91 2019 — 61.19 2018 — 61.17 2017 — 59.55 2016 — 56.25 Corruption Perceptions Index
CPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados fell from 76 in 2012 to 68 in 2025; the world median went from 37 to 39.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2025 68 39.0 2024 68 40.0 2023 69 40.0 2022 65 39.5 2021 65 39.0 2020 64 40.0 2019 62 39.5 2018 68 38.0 2017 68 38.5 2016 61 38.0 2015 — 37.0 2014 74 38.0 2013 75 38.0 2012 76 37.0 Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index
Judicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) · higher is better
BarbadosWorld median
Barbados rose from 0.912 in 2000 to 0.93 in 2025; the world median went from 0.647 to 0.676.
Every year’s figures
Year Barbados World median 2025 0.930 0.6760 2024 0.930 0.6645 2023 0.930 0.6590 2022 0.926 0.6600 2021 0.926 0.6580 2020 0.926 0.6645 2019 0.926 0.6560 2018 0.926 0.6485 2017 0.926 0.6550 2016 0.912 0.6520 2015 0.912 0.6700 2014 0.912 0.6515 2013 0.912 0.6550 2012 0.912 0.6750 2011 0.912 0.6680 2010 0.912 0.6640 2009 0.912 0.6580 2008 0.912 0.6590 2007 0.912 0.6630 2006 0.912 0.6590 2005 0.912 0.6580 2004 0.912 0.6480 2003 0.912 0.6480 2002 0.912 0.6470 2001 0.912 0.6530 2000 0.912 0.6465
03In context
Barbados beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 194 countries on governance & institutions, never a place within the region.
Barbados and Caribbean
Barbados has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. The standing is each country’s place among all 194 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Government EffectivenessGovernance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong) | Statistical Performance IndicatorsSPI overall score (0–100) | Corruption Perceptions IndexCPI score (0–100, where 100 is very clean) | Judicial Constraints on the Executive IndexJudicial constraints on the executive index (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 45th | 0.611 | 61.74 | 68 | 0.93 |
 Jamaica | 56th | 0.189 | 73.47 | 44 | 0.88 |
 Saint Lucia | 66th | 0.32 | 64.17 | 59 | — |
 Bahamas | 69th | 0.649 | 51.26 | 64 | — |
 Trinidad and Tobago | 77th | 0.234 | 59.38 | 41 | 0.827 |
 Dominican Republic | =79th | 0.043 | 75.22 | 37 | 0.749 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 82nd | 0.222 | 51.96 | 63 | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | =84th | 0.441 | 63.21 | — | — |
 Dominica | 100th | 0.16 | 40.71 | 60 | — |
 Grenada | =106th | 0.005 | 50.81 | 56 | — |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | =127th | 0.699 | 42.66 | — | — |
 Cuba | 145th | -0.399 | — | 40 | 0.089 |
 Haiti | 184th | -2.041 | 38.74 | 16 | 0.226 |
 Anguilla | not placed | 1.103 | — | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | 0.905 | — | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | 1.062 | — | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Puerto Rico | not placed | -0.424 | — | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 United States Virgin Islands | not placed | 0.355 | — | — | — |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 194.
- Barbados45th
- Jamaica56th
- Saint Lucia66th
- Bahamas69th
- Trinidad and Tobago77th
- Dominican Republic=79th
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines82nd
- Antigua and Barbuda=84th
- Dominica100th
- Grenada=106th
- Saint Kitts and Nevis=127th
- Cuba145th
- Haiti184th
- Anguillanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Puerto Riconot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
- United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on governance & institutions
The countries immediately above and below Barbados in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Barbados is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under governance & institutions, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median16
Statistics on which Barbados does better than the middle country measured.
Civic Space RatingsCIVICUS · 2025 · world median 50.4689.8550.46No earlier reading
Barbados: 89.85 · world median 50.46 · Civic space score (0–100). CIVICUS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.17 to 100; higher is better.
Position 8th of 198 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
State Authority over TerritoryV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 95.310095.3▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 100 · world median 95.3 · Territory under effective state control (% of official territory). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 47.56 to 100; higher is better.
Agriculture Orientation IndexFAO · 2024 · world median 0.3051.310.305▼ Worsened since 2014
Barbados: 1.31 · world median 0.305 · Agriculture orientation index (1.0 = spending matches sector size). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.03 to 5.38; higher is better.
Position 11th of 132 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Control of CorruptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1971.228-0.197No real change since 2015
Barbados: 1.228 · world median -0.197 · Control of Corruption (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.096 to 2.259; higher is better.
Position 26th of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Political Corruption IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.5180.0730.518▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.073 · world median 0.518 · Political corruption index (0–1; higher = more corrupt). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.004 to 0.968; lower is better.
Position 153rd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Voice and AccountabilityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0221.086-0.022No real change since 2015
Barbados: 1.086 · world median -0.022 · Voice and Accountability estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.348 to 1.825; higher is better.
Position 33rd of 206 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
V-Dem Electoral Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.4970.7970.497▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.797 · world median 0.497 · Electoral democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.016 to 0.913; higher is better.
Position 29th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8122.5417.81▲ Improved since 2016
Barbados: 22.54 · world median 17.81 · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 3.771 to 34.57; higher is better.
Position 13th of 68 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Liberal Democracy IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.3530.6790.353▲ Improved since 2015
Barbados: 0.679 · world median 0.353 · Liberal democracy index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.009 to 0.884; higher is better.
Position 32nd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Climate Readiness (ND-GAIN)Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame · 2024 · world median 0.3870.5690.387▲ Improved since 2014
Barbados: 0.569 · world median 0.387 · ND-GAIN Readiness (0–1, where 1 is the most ready). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.137 to 0.749; higher is better.
Ranked 38th of 192 by Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN), University of Notre Dame.
Rule of LawWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.1020.72-0.102▼ Worsened since 2015
Barbados: 0.72 · world median -0.102 · Rule of Law estimate (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.199 to 2.012; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 211 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0930.394-0.093No real change since 2015
Barbados: 0.394 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 65th of 209 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Operational EfficiencyWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 65.8266.5565.82No earlier reading
Barbados: 66.55 · world median 65.82 · Operational efficiency score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 40.36 to 87.33; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Social Protection CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 52.156.752.1No earlier reading
Barbados: 56.7 · world median 52.1 · Population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.498.798.4No earlier reading
Barbados: 98.7 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Government Spending on EducationUIS · 2023 · world median 3.7093.7753.709▼ Worsened since 2013
Barbados: 3.775 · world median 3.709 · Government expenditure on education (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 16.39; higher is better.
Position 60th of 123 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median5
Statistics on which Barbados does worse than the middle country measured.
Women, Business and the LawWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 81.258081.25▲ Improved since 2014
Barbados: 80 · world median 81.25 · WBL Index (0–100, where 100 is full legal parity). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.25 to 100; higher is better.
Position 101st of 190 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Business Ready: Public ServicesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 50.1346.450.13No earlier reading
Barbados: 46.4 · world median 50.13 · Public services score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 18.35 to 73.31; higher is better.
Position 31st of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1923.3340.19▼ Worsened since 2020
Barbados: 23.33 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 155th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Business Ready: Regulatory FrameworkWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 66.858.7766.8No earlier reading
Barbados: 58.77 · world median 66.8 · Regulatory framework score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 46.21 to 78.34; higher is better.
Position 40th of 50 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
GovTech Maturity IndexWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 0.630.3180.63▼ Worsened since 2022
Barbados: 0.318 · world median 0.63 · GTMI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.01 to 0.997; higher is better.
Position 161st of 196 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Central Bank Independence IndexAna Carolina Garriga, University of Essex · 2023 · world median 0.6080.7370.608Moved since 2013
Barbados: 0.737 · world median 0.608 · CBI index (0–1, where 1 is the most statutory independence). Ana Carolina Garriga, University of Essex, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 0.974.
Public Sector Wage BillWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 7.9758.27.975Moved since 2012
Barbados: 8.2 · world median 7.975 · Public sector wage bill (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0.977 to 42.65.
Position 79th of 168 — derived here by ordering the published values, counted from the highest value. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No current reading for Barbados
Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption, Open Data Inventory, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Governance & Institutions among Barbados’s 16 topics
Governance & Institutions is Barbados’s 4th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Peace & Securityjoint 7th of 1772/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties31st of 1983/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience32nd of 1923/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions45th of 1944/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 45th of 1753/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 54th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing77th of 2002/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital79th of 1963/3 keys
- Gender & Equality82nd of 1833/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 74th of 1592/2 keys
- Education & Knowledge84th of 1713/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation96th of 1762/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade104th of 1472/3 keys
- Energy153rd of 1932/3 keys
- Digital & Technology164th of 1982/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability166th of 1813/3 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on governance & institutions
The three countries placed highest of 194, and the leaders Barbados can most readily be measured against.
1
DenmarkNorthern Europe
1st of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
New ZealandAustralia and New Zealand
2nd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Karora derivative work: Inkey · Public domain, greyscale
3
SwedenNorthern Europe
3rd of 194 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Pieter Kuiper · Public domain, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada8th4/4 keysHighest in Caribbean
Barbados45th4/4 keys
Positions out of 194 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Barbados and governance & institutions
08Questions
Barbados on governance & institutions: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Barbados rank on governance & institutions?
Barbados is placed 45th of 194 countries on Governance & Institutions in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Government Effectiveness, Statistical Performance Indicators, Corruption Perceptions Index and Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Government Effectiveness figure for Barbados?
0.611 in 2025 (governance estimate (−2.5 weak to 2.5 strong)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.101.
What is the latest Statistical Performance Indicators figure for Barbados?
61.74 in 2024 (sPI overall score (0–100)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 69.3.
How have Barbados’s governance & institutions figures changed?
Government Effectiveness fell from 0.71 in 2000 to 0.611 in 2025; Statistical Performance Indicators rose from 60.7 in 2022 to 61.74 in 2024; Corruption Perceptions Index fell from 76 in 2012 to 68 in 2025; Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index rose from 0.912 in 2000 to 0.93 in 2025.
Which governance & institutions statistics are missing for Barbados?
No current reading is published for Barbados on Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Debt Service on External Debt, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption, Open Data Inventory, Public Sector Employment and Trade Union Density. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Keep reading
Explore further
Barbados, topic by topic
- Economy & Innovation96th of 176
- Work & Labour=54th of 182
- Education & Knowledge84th of 171
- Health & Wellbeing77th of 200
- Development & Human Capital79th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability166th of 181
- Gender & Equality82nd of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties31st of 198
- Peace & Security=7th of 177
- Risk & Resilience32nd of 192
- Mobility & Trade104th of 147
- Food & Agriculture=45th of 175
- Poverty & Inequality=74th of 159
- Energy153rd of 193
- Digital & Technology164th of 198
- The full Barbados profile
Nearby, on governance & institutions
The key statistics, for every country
10Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Governance is not democracy. Free elections, civil liberties and press freedom belong to the Democracy & Civil Liberties topic, and a country can place well on one and poorly on the other. How openly official data is published sits here as context, beside the statistical capacity that is a key. Nor does this topic measure the size of government or how much it spends — the share of the economy run by the state is published on this page as context, with no better end.
How the Governance & Institutions standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 30 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2024 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 194 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Government Effectiveness — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Statistical Performance Indicators — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Corruption Perceptions Index — Transparency International, CC BY 4.0 (the data), CC BY-ND 4.0 (the website and report)
- Judicial Constraints on the Executive Index — V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Barbados’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Barbados (banner) — Berit Watkin , derivative work (crop) by Globe-trotter, CC BY 2.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
- New Zealand — Karora derivative work: Inkey, Public domain
- Sweden — User:Pieter Kuiper, Public domain
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Barbados: Governance & Institutions — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/barbados/governance