New data from the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for 2024, relayed through the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix, reveals a significant displacement pattern across the Caribbean region, with Jamaica emerging as the epicenter of this humanitarian trend. The island nation has recorded a staggering 11,453 individuals seeking international protection, representing more than 60% of the entire regional total.
The distribution of asylum seekers and refugees across the Caribbean shows considerable variation. The Bahamas follows distantly with 2,742 cases, while Trinidad and Tobago reports 1,824 individuals seeking protection. Medium-range figures appear in Barbados, Dominica, and Saint Lucia, each recording between 400 and 800 cases. Smaller numbers were documented in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (337) and Antigua and Barbuda (133).
A critical finding across most Caribbean nations reveals that asylum seekers significantly outnumber those granted formal refugee status. Jamaica’s total of 11,453 includes 9,176 asylum seekers compared to just 2,277 recognized refugees. The disparity is even more pronounced in The Bahamas, where 2,567 asylum seekers contrast with merely 175 refugees granted official status. For the majority of these cases, a final determination on their protection claims remains pending.
Research identifies multiple complex factors driving Caribbean nationals to seek international protection. Documented motivations include persecution based on LGBTQ+ identity, gang-related violence and threats, and domestic violence situations. While these represent common themes, individual circumstances vary widely across cases, reflecting the diverse protection needs within the region.