The Caribbean is a maritime region of the Americas defined by the Caribbean Sea, the archipelagos that surround it, and nearby coastal islands. The area includes thousands of islands, islets and cays, as well as the coastal fringes of northern South America and eastern Central America. The term is often used interchangeably with "West Indies" or "Antilles" in different contexts, but exact definitions vary by discipline and tradition. regional definition and the central Caribbean Sea are core to most descriptions.
Geography and major island groups
Islands of the Caribbean are commonly grouped for convenience. The Greater Antilles form the large islands—Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico—while the Lesser Antilles arc from the Virgin Islands south toward Trinidad. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos lie to the north in the Atlantic but are frequently associated with the Caribbean. Coastal islands off northern South America and eastern Central America link the sea to continental coastlines. See major divisions below:
- Greater Antilles — the largest islands.
- Lesser Antilles — subdivided into Leeward, Windward and Leeward Antilles.
- Lucayan Archipelago — Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (Atlantic shelf).
- Coastal islands — islands off northern South America and eastern Central America.
Names and languages
The region is multilingual. Colonial histories produced widely spoken European languages and local creoles: English, Spanish, French and Dutch appear across different islands alongside numerous creole languages and indigenous words. Local names reflect this heritage (Dutch: Cariben/Caraiben, French: Caraïbe/Antilles, Spanish: Caribe).
History and culture
Before European contact the islands were inhabited by indigenous peoples such as the Arawak and Carib. From the late 15th century, European colonization reshaped demography and economy through plantation agriculture and the transatlantic slave trade. These historical forces produced the region's blended cultures: music genres (reggae, calypso, salsa), culinary traditions, religious practices and literary expression that have had global influence.
Economy, environment and modern challenges
Today the Caribbean economy mixes tourism, agriculture, shipping, offshore financial services and remittances. The region's warm climate, coral reefs and beaches are prime tourist attractions, but they are vulnerable to hurricanes, sea-level rise and coral decline. Conservation efforts, sustainable tourism and regional cooperation are priorities for many governments and organizations.
Notable distinctions
Politically the Caribbean is diverse: independent nations coexist with overseas territories of European countries and the United States. Regional organizations and cultural networks help coordinate policy and promote shared interests. For over five centuries the Caribbean has been a crossroads of peoples and ideas, with enduring significance for global trade, migration and culture.
Additional resources: island lists, information on cays and small features.