Barbadians enjoy a fairly high standard of living and quality of life. In the United Nations Development Human Development Report, Barbados has consistently been ranked as a country with a high level of human development. Currently, Barbados is ranked at number 29 globally and is the highest ranked developing country on the Human Development Index.

As a result of its outstanding educational system, Barbados' population of 268, 792 boasts a literacy rate of 98% - one of the highest in the world.  Education is free and compulsory between the ages of 5 and 16 years. Primary and Secondary Education institutions can be found in all of the 11 parishes and there are a number of Tertiary Institutions, including the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, the Barbados Community College and the University of the West Indies' Cave Hill Campus.