Barbados and Jamaica leading Caribbean in life expectancy

Haiti and Guyana trailing the region

Durrant Pate/Contributor

While most Caribbean countries have recorded notable improvements in life expectancy over recent decades, new analysis from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is showing Barbados and Jamaica leading the way.

They are followed by Antigua and Barbuda, and Trinidad and Tobago rank among those with the highest life expectancy in the Caribbean with Guyana and Haiti remaining at the lower end of the scale. 

The UNDP report, released in the Dominican Republic this week titled, “Democracies Under Pressure: Reimagining the Futures of Democracy and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean,” highlights persistent gaps within the region and growing pressure on health systems driven by chronic disease, climate risk, and post-pandemic setbacks.

Across the wider Caribbean subregion, average life expectancy stands at approximately 77.8 years, according to the UNDP findings. However, the report notes that within the Caribbean itself, life expectancy ranges more broadly from about 66 to 76 years. 

Healthy life expectancy 

When measuring healthy life expectancy, the figures fall below 70 years across all countries, with relatively limited variation between nations. The UNDP attributes disparities in life expectancy across the region to a combination of structural and social factors such as differing risk profiles, variations in health system capacity, and broader socioeconomic conditions. 

The 323-page report notes that governance plays a central role in determining access to healthcare services and in shaping how effectively countries can respond to health inequalities. The UNDP analysis finds that effective governance frameworks help mitigate the social determinants of health and reduce the extent to which illness contributes to poverty and exclusion.

The report also underscores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on regional health progress. While several Caribbean countries expanded vaccination campaigns and coordinated responses effectively, the pandemic disrupted preventive care and chronic disease management programs, slowing progress toward Universal Health Coverage.

At the same time, the region is undergoing what the UNDP describes as a complex epidemiological transition where non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular illness now account for a significant share of morbidity and mortality, placing increased pressure on primary healthcare systems that are often already under-resourced.

Uneven access to health services

Access to healthcare services, the report highlights, remains uneven both between and within countries. Although Caribbean Community member states have adopted laws and policies aimed at improving immunisation coverage and addressing chronic disease prevention, implementation gaps persist due to limited coordination, workforce shortages, and financial constraints—particularly in small island states with constrained labour markets and high levels of migration among healthcare professionals.

The report reveals structural vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic, including weaknesses in hospital infrastructure, supply chains, and health information systems. It also points to the region’s high dependence on imported pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, which increases exposure to global disruptions.

Natural disasters and climate change are identified as additional stressors, compounding the strain on already fragile systems and further challenging governments’ ability to deliver consistent healthcare services. The UNDP concludes that strengthening resilience in Caribbean health systems will require sustained investment in infrastructure and human capital, alongside improved governance, planning, and regional cooperation.

The report emphasises that equitable access to healthcare is not only a public health objective but also a cornerstone of social stability and democratic legitimacy. 

It acknowledges, “in small democracies that are highly exposed to external shocks, the state’s capacity to protect the health of its population becomes a tangible indicator of legitimacy and an indispensable condition for social cohesion and democratic stability.”