Barbados Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Quality RQ.EST
Barbados's regulatory quality was 0.57 in 2025, ranked 58th globally. This represents a 12.6% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Barbados's regulatory quality stood at 0.57 in 2025, a rise of +0.06 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.57 by 2025. Barbados ranked 58th globally.
Barbados’ regulatory quality score, measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, fell from an all‑time peak of 1.29 in 1996 to a trough of 0.34 in 2014 before rising modestly to 0.57 in 2025, placing the island nation 58th globally. The 26‑year series shows a long‑term decline, with the sharpest deterioration occurring in the early 2010s, a period that coincided with fiscal strain and public‑sector reforms that weakened perceived regulatory effectiveness. By contrast, peer countries such as Botswana (0.59) and Poland (0.60) have maintained higher scores, reflecting more consistent implementation of transparent rules and stronger enforcement mechanisms. Recent modest improvement to 0.57 suggests that recent institutional reforms, including the adoption of digital licensing platforms and enhanced anti‑corruption measures, are beginning to restore confidence. Continued commitment to regulatory modernization and capacity‑building will be essential for Barbados to sustain upward momentum and close the gap with its higher‑ranking peers.
Data & projection
| Year | Regulatory Quality | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.59 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.57 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.57 | +0.06 | #58 |
| 2023 | 0.50 | +0.03 | #64 |
| 2022 | 0.48 | −0.07 | #63 |
| 2021 | 0.55 | +0.08 | #55 |
| 2020 | 0.47 | +0.07 | #66 |
| 2019 | 0.40 | −0.13 | #68 |
| 2018 | 0.53 | +0.05 | #57 |
| 2017 | 0.48 | +0.01 | #57 |
| 2016 | 0.47 | −0.08 | #64 |
| 2015 | 0.55 | +0.21 | #61 |
| 2014 | 0.34 | −0.12 | #69 |
| 2013 | 0.45 | +0.00 | #65 |
| 2012 | 0.45 | −0.19 | #66 |
| 2011 | 0.64 | +0.14 | #51 |
| 2010 | 0.51 | −0.08 | #64 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Barbados matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2011. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw regulatory quality improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Barbados's regulatory quality was 0.57 in 2025. Ranked 58th globally. This represents a 12.6% increase from the previous year.
Barbados's regulatory quality peaked at 1.29 in 1996.
The lowest regulatory quality in Barbados was 0.34 in 2014.
Barbados ranks 58th globally in regulatory quality as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RQ.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Barbados's regulatory quality is projected to reach 0.57 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The regulatory quality of Barbados in 2025 was 0.57. This ranks 58th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_barbados_regulatory-quality,
title = {Barbados Regulatory Quality},
url = {https://historysaid.com/barbados/regulatory-quality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}