Tobacco Use and Trends
- In 2022, an estimated 15.0 thousand people (13.0 thousand males and 2.1 thousand females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in Barbados. This positions the country as the 158th globally and the 25th in the WHO Region of the Americas in terms of number of tobacco users.1,2
In 2007, 0.3% of adults (0% male and 0.6% females) aged 25+ years used smokeless tobacco in Barbados.
In 2013, 14.5% of youths (17.4% boys and 11.4% girls) aged 13-15 years were current tobacco users. 7% of youths (8.8% boys and 5% girls) were current cigarette smokers.
In 2013, 2.9% of youths (2.9% boys and 3% girls) aged 13-15 years were current smokeless tobacco product users.
Nicotine Alternatives
- Currently, there is no available data on prevalence of e-cigarettes in Barbados.
Health and Economic Burden From Tobacco Use
In 2021, it was estimated that tobacco was the 8th highest risk factor driving the most deaths and disability combined in Barbados.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 118.7 deaths, which is about 7.3% of total deaths.
Of tobacco-related deaths, 104.2 or 87.7% were due to smoking, and 15.4 or 12.9% were due to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Barbados included Stroke ranking 1st, and Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 2nd.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 22.8 or 7.8% of all IHD deaths, 17.4 or 5.7% of all Stroke deaths, 16.3 or 61.3% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 9.1 or 50.5% of all COPD deaths.
In 2021, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 3.0 thousand disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which was about 6.9% of total DALYs. Tobacco accounts for 522.4 DALYs for IHD, 401 DALYs for Stroke, 356.5 DALYs for Lung Cancer, and 189.1 DALYs for COPD.
Regulatory Environment and Economics
Public Health Commitment
- Barbados ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005.
Diverse Tobacco Market
- Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are not marketed in Barbados, but e-cigarettes are available and regulated as a tobacco product.
Taxation Policy
- In 2022, total tax rate on retail prices of a pack of cigarette was 43%.
Smoking and Advertising Bans3
- Complete smoking bans with complete level of compliance, and weak advertising bans with unknown level of compliance were enforced in Barbados in 2022.
Age Restrictions
- Tobacco products and e-cigarettes with nicotine cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age.
Tobacco Production and Diversification
- Detailed data is not readily available from the Food and Agriculture Organization for Barbados. (FAOSTAT [accessed January 2024])