Caribbean Countries by Land Area

Perfect beach view. Summer holiday and vacation design. Inspirational tropical beach, palm trees and white sand.

levente bodo/Getty Images 

The Caribbean region is located to the southeast of the North American continent and the Gulf of Mexico. The entire region is made up of more than 7,000 islands, islets (very small rocky islands), coral reefs, and cays (small, sandy islands above coral reefs).

The region covers an area of 1,063,000 square miles (2,754,000 sq km) and has a population of nearly 38 million people (2017 estimate). It is most known for its warm, tropical climate, and natural beauty. The Caribbean is considered a biodiversity hotspot.

These independent countries are part of the Caribbean region. They are listed according to their land area, and their populations and capital cities have been included for reference. All statistical information comes from the CIA World Factbook.

Cuba

City street, Old Havana, Havana, Cuba

 Danita Delimont/Getty Images

Area: 42,803 square miles (110,860 sq km)

Population: 11,147,407

Capital: Havana

The island of Cuba averages one hurricane every other year; most recently, Irma delivered a direct hit in 2017. Droughts are also common.

Dominican Republic

Scenic View Of Beach Against Clear Blue Sky

Claudio Bruni / EyeEm/Getty Imges 

Area: 18,791 square miles (48,670 sq km)

Population: 10,734,247

Capital: Santo Domingo

The Dominican Republic comprises the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. The Dominican has both the Caribbean's highest peak and lowest elevation in a lake.

Haiti

Young Boys Playing Street Soccer In Haiti

Anne-Marie Weber/Getty Images 

Area: 10,714 square miles (27,750 sq km)

Population: 10,646,714

CapitalPort au Prince

Haiti is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean, though its neighboring country, the Dominican Republic, has the tallest peak.

The Bahamas

Coral reef at crystal waters at Caribbean Nassau

Pola Damonte via Getty Images/Getty Images 

Area: 5,359 square miles (13,880 sq km)

Population: 329,988

Capital: Nassau

30 of the Bahamas' islands are inhabited, with most of the people living in cities. Only 1.4 percent of the country's land is agricultural, and 51 percent is forested.

Jamaica

Jamaica, Port Antonio, boats in the blue lagoon

 Westend61/Getty Images

Area: 4,243 square miles (10,991 sq km)

Population: 2,990,561

Capital: Kingston

Population density is high in Jamaica, especially in its largest cities. The mountainous island is about half the size of New Jersey.

Trinidad and Tobago

Rockly Beach, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago

Marc Guitard/Getty Images

Area: 1,980 square miles (5,128 sq km)

Population: 1,218,208

Capital: Port of Spain

Trinidad has the world's largest supply of naturally occurring asphalt in the aptly named Pitch Lake.

Dominica

Caribbean, Antilles, Dominica, Roseau, View of the city at dusk

Westend61/Getty Images 

Area: 290 square miles (751 sq km)

Population: 73,897

Capital: Roseau

The population of Dominica is mostly on the coasts, as the island has a volcanic origin. Popular tourist destinations include the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake.

Saint Lucia

A diver explores sea fans growing on Lesleen M freighter wreck off Castries, St. Lucia.

James + Courtney Forte/Getty Images 

Area: 237 square miles (616 sq km)

Population: 164,994

Capital: Castries

The last major eruptions on St. Lucia occurred between 3,700 and 20,000 years ago, near Sulphur Springs.

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda, West Indies, Antigua, Green Island, Green Bay, maxi yacht

Westend61/Getty Images

Area: 170 square miles (442 sq km)

Population: 94,731

Capital: Saint John's

Almost all of the population of Antigua and Barbuda lives on Antigua. The island features many beaches and harbors.

Barbados

National Heroes Square, Bridgetown, St. Michael, Barbados, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

Frank Fell/Getty Images 

Area: 166 square miles (430 sq km)

Population: 292,336

Capital: Bridgetown

Located the eastern part of the Caribbean, Barbados is the most densely populated country, with a third of the population living in urban areas. The island's terrain is relatively flat. 

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Foot player on the Admiraltys beach bay, Bequia, Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines, West Indies.

Severine BAUR/Getty Images 

Area: 150 square miles (389 sq km)

Population: 102,089

Capital: Kingstown

Most of the population of St. Vincent and the Grenadines lives in or around the capital city. Volcano La Soufriere last erupted in 1979.

Grenada

Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Grenada, view to St. Georges

 Westend61/Getty Images

Area: 133 square miles (344 sq km)

Population: 111,724

Capital: Saint George's

The island of Grenada has the volcanic Mount St. Catherine. Nearby, underwater and the north, lie the playfully-named volcanoes Kick 'Em Jenny and Kick 'Em Jack. 

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis, West Indies in the Eastern Caribbean

Zen Rial/Getty Images 

Area: 100 square miles (261 sq km)

Population: 52,715

Capital: Basseterre

These two volcanic islands resemble the shape of a baseball bat and a ball. They are separated by a channel called The Narrows.

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Briney, Amanda. "Caribbean Countries by Land Area." ThoughtCo, Feb. 17, 2021, thoughtco.com/caribbean-countries-by-area-4169407. Briney, Amanda. (2021, February 17). Caribbean Countries by Land Area. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/caribbean-countries-by-area-4169407 Briney, Amanda. "Caribbean Countries by Land Area." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/caribbean-countries-by-area-4169407 (accessed March 28, 2024).