Safest cities in Barbados
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in BarbadosAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Barbados, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- There have been incidents of violent crime, including:
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs penaltiesIt is illegal to possess drugs. There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack your luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.
- Camouflage clothingIt is illegal for anyone, including children, to wear camouflage clothing.
- LGBT+ travellersIn the Caribbean, attitudes towards the LGBT+ community are mostly conservative. It is uncommon for opposite or same-sex couples to show affection in public, for example, holding hands or kissing. Doing this may attract unwanted and negative attention. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Swimming safetyAlways take great care when swimming. Currents can be deceptively strong, including on some of the popular beaches on the south and west coasts. Some beaches do not have lifeguards or warning flags. Existing lifeguard stations are not manned 24hrs a day. Motorized water sports equipment, including jet skis, dive boats on snorkelling tours, and…
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Barbados, see information on driving abroad and Barbados driving tips.
- TaxisTaxis do not have meters. There are standard fares for most destinations. Agree the fare in Barbados dollars with the driver before you set off. Drivers do not always accept card payments, so carry cash with you.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- HurricanesThe hurricane season normally runs from June to November. Monitor local news and check World Meteorological Organization weather reports for Barbados and the National Hurricane Center.
- EarthquakesEarthquakes are a potential risk in Barbados, and there are occasional tremors. Follow the advice of the local authorities.
- Volcanic eruptionsCheck the alert level of the underwater volcano ‘Kick ‘em Jenny’, located 5 miles off the coast of Grenada. Observe any maritime exclusion zones and follow the advice of the local authorities if there is increased activity or an eruption.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Barbados, updated 2026-01-23 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 7.43 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 34.12016
- Human development
- HDI 0.8112023
- Income
- $24,840/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 8.2 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 88/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 69/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 68/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 1.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.81GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 10.9 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 3.0 doctors /1k6.4 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Cyclone
- 8.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 5.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 3.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Barbados (as of 2025).
How Barbados compares
| Measure | Barbados | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 7.4 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +5.1 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 34.1 | 35.2 | −1.1 — better for Barbados |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.811 | 0.763 | +0.048 — better for Barbados |
| Road deaths | 8.2 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −7.2 /100k — better for Barbados |
| Rule of law | 69/100 | 52/100 | +17/100 — better for Barbados |
| Corruption perceptions | 68/100 | 39/100 | +29/100 — better for Barbados |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.9 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −8.8 µg/m³ — better for Barbados |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.9/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.9/10 — better for Barbados |
| Measure | Barbados | North America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 7.4 /100k | 17 /100k | −9.5 /100k — better for Barbados |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 34.1 | 41.8 | −7.7 — better for Barbados |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.811 | 0.776 | +0.035 — better for Barbados |
| Road deaths | 8.2 /100k | 14.8 /100k | −6.6 /100k — better for Barbados |
| Rule of law | 69/100 | 52/100 | +18/100 — better for Barbados |
| Corruption perceptions | 68/100 | 37/100 | +31/100 — better for Barbados |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 10.9 µg/m³ | 15.4 µg/m³ | −4.5 µg/m³ — better for Barbados |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.9/10 | 4.0/10 | −2.1/10 — better for Barbados |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
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