Caribbean Countries by Population 2026

The Caribbean is a region of the Americas comprising the Caribbean Sea, its surrounding coastlines, and numerous islands. It lies southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and the North American mainland, east of Central America, and north of South America.

The Caribbean region includes 13 independent island countries and 15 dependencies and overseas territories, grouped into three major archipelagos: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Lucayan Archipelago.

According to United Nations estimates, the total Caribbean population in 2026 is approximately 45,331,234, or about 45 million people.

West Indies vs Caribbean

Although the terms West Indies and Caribbean are often used interchangeably, they are not identical. The Caribbean can also include parts of Central and South America that border the Caribbean Sea, such as Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. These areas are culturally connected to the Caribbean but are not part of the three main island archipelagos.

The term West Indies generally refers to the island territories and nations, particularly those with historical British influence and English as a primary language.