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How Many Countries in the Caribbean List

We know there are 197 countries in the world. At least I hope I know that. I’ve been to all of them! We also know that there are 7 continents in the world. And finally, we know that there are 23 countries in North America. Those 23 countries included the Caribbean countries. So let’s have a look how.

The North American continent includes North America as a region (Mexico, Canada and the USA) as well as Central America (7 countries in there). And finally, it includes all the island nations in the Caribbean too.

So how many countries are there in the Caribbean? The answer is that there are 13 countries in the Caribbean list of countries. However, that doesn’t include all the almost-countries to. Places like the British Virgin Islands or Aruba. so let’s have a look at all those places too. It all gets quite confusing, that’s for sure!

The OFFICIAL Countries in the Caribbean List:

1. Antigua and Barbuda (This is the finishing spot for my row across the Atlantic Ocean challenge!)
2. Bahamas (where you can swim with pigs in Staniel Cay)
3. Barbados
4. Cuba. Please don’t visit Cuba without experiencing the Havana Classic Car tour. It’s o much fun.
5. Dominica
6. Dominican Republic 
7. Grenada
8. Haiti 
9. Saint Kitts and Nevis 
10. Jamaica 
11. Saint Lucia 
12. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
13. Trinidad and Tobago 

So you can see there are 13 countries on the official Caribbean list. So that the technical answer to ‘How many countries in the Caribbean’? But we have a lot more islands, territories and dependencies. Are they not countries? Places like the British Virgin Islands, and St Maarten. So what about those? That’s a good question.

How about the Overseas Territories, and ‘Dependent Nations’?

Of all the regions in the world, the Caribbean is the most confusing in terms of dependent nations. Of course, we have areas in Europe that some people consider countries and some don’t. Faroe Islands, Svalbard, Abkhazia for example. They belong to Denmark, Norway and Georgia (or Russia). And in Asia, we have Hong Kong and Tibet amongst others. In fact even Taiwan is disputed (thanks a lot China).

But the Caribean is next level. Mostly thanks to the mass colonialism of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The British, Spanish and Dutch went a little wild. They were snapping up every island going. And it led to the situation we have today. Where some islands have declared independence, some have high levels of autonomy, and some are fully dependent on their parent stated.

So the next list is a list of places in the Caribbean that are officially NOT independent countries. Yet.

1. Anguilla (British overseas territory)
2. Aruba (Constituent kingdom, Netherlands)
3. Bonaire (Special municipality, Netherlands)
4. British Virgin Islands (British overseas territory)
5. Cayman Islands (British overseas territory)
6. Curaçao (Constituent kingdom, Netherlands)
7. Federal Dependencies of Venezuela (Territories, Venezuela)
8. Guadeloupe (Overseas department, France)
9. Martinique (Overseas department, France)
10. Montserrat (British overseas territory)
11. Navassa Island (Uninhabited territory, United States)
12. Nueva Esparta (State, Venezuela)
13. Puerto Rico (Commonwealth, United States)
14. Saba (Special municipality, Netherlands)
15. San Andrés and Providencia (Department, Colombia)
16. Saint Barthélemy (Overseas collectivity, France)
17. Saint Martin (Overseas collectivity, France)
18. Sint Eustatius (Special municipality, Netherlands)
19. Sint Maarten (Constituent kingdom, Netherlands)
20. Turks and Caicos Islands (British overseas territory)
21. United States Virgin Islands (Territory, United States)

How many countries, territories and dependencies in the Caribbean?

If you’re talking about islands that are separate from each other, including countries and dependencies. Then there are 13 countries, 21 non-countries, giving us 34 countries, territories and dependencies in the Caribbean.

BUT remember, only 13 of those are included on the actual Caribbean country list.

Caribbean Countries Map:

Languages Spoke in the Caribbean

How many countries in the Caribbean speak English

10 countries speak English in the Caribbean. Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

And 9 territories speak English. Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, San Andrés &Providencia, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands

And how many countries speak French

1 country speaks French. Haiti.

And 4 dependencies speak French. Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Barthélemy, and Saint-Martin.

And how many countries speak Spanish

2 countries speak Spanish. Cuba, Dominican Republic. 

And 4 dependencies speak Spanish. Puerto Rico, Nueva Esparta, San Andrés & Providencia, & the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela.

So how many countries in the Caribbean speak Dutch?

No countries speak Dutch.

But 6 dependencies speak Dutch. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, (and Suriname, a country in South America).

And Haiti alone speaks Haitian creole.

Final thoughts

The Caribbean has a LOT of history. And it involves a lot of Europeans. Because of this, it’s super confusing. In terms of countries though, I hope you can see that is a definitive answer. There are 13 countries in the Caribbean.

I know this may anger people. People declaring independence for the smaller nations. Or cries like “If you’ve visited Bonaire you can’t say you’ve been to the Netherlands”. I know! I also feel the same. And one day I’m sure the islands that want their independence will have them. But for now, the lines are drawn. And it’s clear as to which is already a country, and which isn’t. So if you too are on a journey to every country in the world, then you must visit 13 of these places. You’re obliged to visit no other.

For me, that’s what I did. Now I’ve finished my journey I’m super keen to go back and explore the rest of them. But they don’t come cheap! Expensive flights, even more expensive hotels, and a lot of rich people. I’m in no rush. Perhaps a cruise will allow me to tick a few off without the stress. For sure, one of the best ways to take in the best that the Caribbean has to offer is on a luxury Caribbean cruise. A cruise around the Caribbean will help you experience the best the Caribbean has to offer, from pristine golden sandy beaches and crystal clear ocean waters to the local culture and historical monuments See you there? Thanks for reading!