Laws in Barbados
How Barbados is classified on 25 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal (broad reasons) Abortion is permitted on broad grounds including economic or social reasons.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Barbados has a smoking ban in indoor public places, workplaces, and public transport.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 16.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Barbados does not recognize same-sex unions domestically, only foreign partnerships for immigration.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Decriminalized / unregulated Selling sex is legal, but brothel keeping and solicitation are prohibited.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- E-Cigarettes
- Legal / lightly regulated E-cigarettes are legal, subject to an age limit.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.