If you lived in Fiji instead of Barbados, you would:

Health

live 8.9 years less

In Barbados, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2024. In Fiji, that number is 67 years (65 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 52.5% less spent on your healthcare

Barbados spends $1,153 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Fiji spends $548 as of 2023.

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have 24.7% less access to essential health services

Barbados scores 77 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Fiji scores 58 as of 2021.

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be 2.4 times more likely to die by suicide

Barbados has a suicide rate of 3.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Fiji, it is 8.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 17.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Barbados, 6.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Fiji, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 76.6% less money

Barbados has a GDP per capita of $28,365 as of 2025, while in Fiji, the GDP per capita is $6,642 as of 2025.

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Life

have 60.6% more children

In Barbados, there are approximately 11.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Fiji, there are 17.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 2.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In Barbados, approximately 9.1 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Fiji, on the other hand, 23.5 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 33.0% less on healthcare

Barbados spends 5.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Fiji, that number is 3.6% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 19.4% more on education

Barbados spends 3.6% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Fiji spends 4.2% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Geography

see 11.6 times more coastline

Barbados has a total of 97 km of coastline. In Fiji, that number is 1,129 km.

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Safety

be 72.3% less likely to be murdered

Barbados has a homicide rate of 7.4 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Fiji, that number is 2.1 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 47.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Barbados, road accidents kill 10.0 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Fiji, they kill 5.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 99.7% less strain on fresh water

Barbados withdraws 88% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Fiji withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 95.2% less home broadband

Barbados has 37.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Fiji has 1.8 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 35.7% less CO2

Barbados emits 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Fiji emits 1.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 94.7% more likely to die from air pollution

In Barbados, air pollution causes 19.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Fiji, it causes 37.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Fiji: At a glance

Fiji is a sovereign country in Australia-Oceania, with a total land area of approximately 18,274 sq km. Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government led by Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006 military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially appointed himself acting president but in January 2007 became interim prime minister. Since taking power BAINIMARAMA has neutralized his opponents, crippled Fiji's democratic institutions, and initially refused to hold elections. In 2012, he promised to hold elections in 2014.
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How big is Fiji compared to Barbados? See an in-depth size comparison.

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