A comprehensive analysis of migration patterns within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) reveals a region profoundly shaped by disparate levels of international movement. According to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) 2024 report, utilizing United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) mid-year estimates, the proportion of foreign-born residents varies dramatically from one nation to another, painting a complex picture of demographic diversity.
Antigua and Barbuda emerges as the standout, with a staggering 33% of its population born abroad, establishing it as the Caribbean’s foremost migrant destination. This is in stark contrast to St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where migrants constitute a mere 5% of the populace. Montserrat follows closely behind with a significant migrant presence of 32%.
A middle tier of nations includes Belize, The Bahamas, and St. Kitts and Nevis, each reporting that 17% of their residents are migrants. Barbados and Dominica show similar figures, each with a migrant population of 13%. Meanwhile, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago document identical rates of 8%.
At the lower end of the spectrum, Guyana records a 7% migrant population, followed by Grenada and Jamaica at 6% each. Experts attribute this striking variation to a confluence of factors, including geographic location, divergent economic opportunities, and deep-seated historical ties that continue to influence migration routes. For economies like those of Antigua and Barbuda and The Bahamas, migration is an integral thread in the national social and economic fabric, whereas it assumes a more peripheral role in other member states.
This demographic data provides a crucial snapshot of the forces that have continually molded the Caribbean’s identity, underscoring that human mobility remains a central, defining characteristic of the region as 2024 draws to a close.