The Caribbean is a region of the Americas that comprises the Caribbean Sea, its surrounding coasts, and its islands. The region lies southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and of the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.

Caribbeans include 13 independent island countries and 15 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Lucayan Archipelago. 

As per the United Nations World Population Prospects, the estimated population of Caribbean in 2024 is 44,875,588 (45 million)

West Indies and Caribbean

While the terms West Indies and Caribbean are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings. The Caribbean can include certain Central and South American nations with coastlines along the Caribbean Sea, such as Belize, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. These countries are not part of the three main island groups but share a cultural connection. The West Indies generally refers to English-speaking nations and territories within the Caribbean region.

Source: United Nations World Population Prospects