The Caribbean Islands
The islands of the Caribbean are separated into three groups based on size and location. These three groups include the Bahamas, the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles.
The Greater Antilles are made up of Cuba, Jamaica, the island of Hispaniola (shared by Haiti on the west and the Dominican Republic on the east) and Puerto Rico. Among these four major islands are also a number of smaller islands that are usually considered part of the Greater Antilles. These islands are made up of continental rock, unlike those in the Lesser Antilles that are much smaller and were formed by subduction.
The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are a long chain of islands located around the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea. The Lesser Antilles are divided into the Windward Islands to the south and the Leeward Islands to the north. Prevailing winds in the region blow from south to north, hitting the Windward Islands first and then the more sheltered Leeward Islands.
Anguilla
Area: 102 sq. km. (39.4 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 13,500; Capital: The Valley; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Anguillan(s); Ethnic groups: Almost entirely of African origin; some of British, Americans and other Caribbean islanders; Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Antigua & Barbuda
Area: 442 sq. km. (171 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 81,479; Capital: St. John’s; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s); Ethnic groups: Almost entirely of African origin; some of British, Portuguese & Levantine Arab origin; Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Aruba
Area: 193 sq. km. (74.5 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 103,484; Capital: Oranjestad; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Aruban(s); Ethnic groups: Mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian (80%); Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento, Spanish & English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Bahamas
Area: 13,878 sq. km. (5,358 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 323,000; Capital: Nassau; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Bahamian(s); Ethnic groups: African (85%), European (12%), Asian & Hispanic (3%), Language: English (official) & Creole; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Barbados
Area: 431 sq. km. (167 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 279,254; Capital: Bridgetown; Nationality: Noun and adjective –Barbadian(s); informally “Bajan(s)”; Ethnic groups: Predominantly of African descent (90%), White (4%) & Asian or mixed (6%); Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Belize
Area: 22,966 sq. km. (8,867 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 291,500; Capital: Belmopan; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Belizean(s); Ethnic groups: Mestizo (49%), Creole (25%), Maya (11%), White (8%), Garifuna (6%) & Other (2%); Language: English (official), Creole, Spanish, Garifuna & Plautdietsch; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
British Virgin Islands
Area: 153 sq. km. (59 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 22,016; Capital: Road Town; Nationality: Noun and adjective–British; Ethnic groups: African origin (83% ), White (7%), Mixed (5%), East Indian & Others (3%); Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Cayman Islands
Area: 260 sq. km. (100 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 45,017; Capital: George Town; Nationality: Noun and adjective– Caymanian(s); Ethnic groups: Afro-European (40%), African (20%), European (20%) & other (20%); Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Cuba
Area: 110,861 sq. km. (42,803 sq. mi.); Population: 11 million; Capital: Havana; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Cuban(s); Ethnic groups: mulatto (51%), white (37%), black (11%) & Chinese (1%); Language: Spanish; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Dominica
Area: 751 sq. km. (290 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 71, 727; Capital: Roseau; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Dominican (Dom-i-nee-can); Ethnic groups: Mainly of African descent, mixed Black and European, Syrian and some Carib Amerindians; Languages: English (official,) & French Patois; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Dominican Republic
Area: 48,442 sq. km. (18,810 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 9.2 million; Capital: Santo Domingo; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Dominican(s); Ethnic groups: European (16%), African origin (11%) & mixed (73%); Language: Spanish; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
French Guiana
Area: 83,534 sq. km.; Population (2006): 220,000; Capital: Cayenne; Nationality: Noun and adjective–French Guianese(s); Ethnic groups: Creole (70%), European (14%) & Mixed (16%); Language: French (official), French Creole & Portuguese; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Grenada
Area: 344 sq. km. (133 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 103,000; Capital: St. George’s; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Grenadian(s); Ethnic groups: African descent (82%), East Indians, Europeans & trace Arawak/Carib Indian; Languages: English (official); Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Guadeloupe
Area: 1,628 sq. km. (628 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 405,000; Capital: Basse-Terre; Nationality: Noun and adjective– Guadeloupian(s); Ethnic groups: African descent (75%), White (11%), East Indian (9%), Syrians (3%) & Chinese (2%); Languages: French (official); Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Guyana
Area: 214,969 sq. km. (83,000 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 751,000; Capital: Georgetown; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Guyanese; Ethnic groups: East Indian (44%), African (30%), Mixed (17%) & Amerindian (9%); Languages: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Haiti
Area: 27,750 sq. km. (10,714 sq. mi.), Population (2005): 8.5 million, Capital: Port-au-Prince, Nationality: Noun and adjective–Haitian(s), Ethnic groups: African descent (95%), African & European descent (5%); Languages: French (official) & Creole (official); Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Jamaica
Area: 10,991 sq. km. (4,244 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 2.7 million; Capital: Kingston; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Jamaican(s); Ethnic groups: African (90.9%), East Indian (1.3%), Chinese (0.2%), White (0.2%), mixed (7.3%) & other (0.1%); Languages: English & Patois; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Martinique
Area: 1,128 sq. km. (435 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 399,000; Capital: Fort-de-France; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Martniquan(s); Ethnic groups: Almost entirely of African origin; some of Indians & Chinese; Language: French; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Montserrat
Area: 102 sq. km. (39 sq. mi.); Population (2002): 8,400; Capital: Plymouth; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Monserratian(s); Ethnic groups: Black & White—Mostly of Irish & African decent; Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Netherlands Antilles
Area: 960 sq. km. (371 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 183,000; Capital: Willemstad; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Dutch Antillean(s); Ethnic groups: Mixed Black (85%), mixed Latin American, White & Asian; Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento, English & Spanish; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Panama
Area: 75,517 sq. km. (29,157 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 3,320,000; Capital: Panama City; Nationality: Noun and adjective– Panamanian(s); Ethnic groups: Mestizo (69%), Black (11%), White (10%), Amerindian (5%) & Asian (5%); Language: Spanish (official) & English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Puerto Rico
Area: 9,104 sq. km. (3,514 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 3.9 Million; Capital: San Juan; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Puerto Rican(s); Ethnic groups: Amerindian decent (61%), African (26%) & White (13%); Language: Spanish; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
St. Kitts & Nevis
Area: 261 sq. km. (101 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 42,696; Capital: Basseterre; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s); Ethnic groups: Predominantly of African origin; some of British, Portuguese, & Lebanese descent; Languages: English (official); Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
St. Lucia
Area: 620 sq. km. (239 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 160,765; Capital: Castries; Nationality: Noun and adjective–St. Lucian(s); Ethnic groups: African descent (90%), mixed (6%), East Indian (3%) & European (1%); Languages: English (official) & French Patois; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Area: 389 sq. km. (150 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 119,000; Capital: Kingstown; Nationality: Noun and adjective–Vincentian; Ethnic groups: African descent (66%), mixed (19%), West Indian (6%), Carib Indian (2%) & other (7%); Language: English (official); & French Patois; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Surinam
Area: 163,820 sq. km. (63,251 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 449,888; Capital: Paramaribo; Nationality: Noun and adjective –Surinamer(s); Surinamese; Ethnic groups: Hindustani (37%), Creole (31%), Javanese (15%), Maroons (8%), White (5%), Amerindians (2%) & Chinese (2%); Language: Dutch; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Trinidad & Tobago
Area: 5,128 sq. km. (1,977 sq. mi); Population (2005): 1.3 Million; Capital: Port of Spain; Nationality: Noun and adjective– Trinidadian(s) & Tobagonian(s); Ethnic groups: East Indian (40%), African (40%), mixed (18%), European (1%), Chinese & Other (1%); Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
Turks & Caicos
Area: 417 sq. km. (161 sq. mi.); Population (2006): 32,000; Capital: Cockburn Town; Nationality: Noun and adjective–None; Ethnic groups: Almost entirely of African origin; Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org
US Virgin Islands
Area: 346 sq. km. (133 sq. mi.); Population (2005): 112,000; Capital: Charlotte Amalie; Nationality: Noun and adjective–American(s); Ethnic groups: Black (76%), White (13%) & Other (11%); Language: English; Source: http://www.wikipedia.org