Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles are a chain of smaller Caribbean islands that form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea. Stretching from the Virgin Islands in the north to Grenada and Trinidad in the south, they include a mix of independent countries and overseas territories. The Lesser Antilles are known for their volcanic landscapes, cultural diversity and strategic position within the Caribbean region.

Lesser Antilles map

This interactive Lesser Antilles map shows where each island is located within the Caribbean Sea. You can zoom in and out to explore the region in detail and click on individual islands to view country names and key details.

Quick facts

Countries and territories in the Lesser Antilles

The Lesser Antilles include a mix of independent countries and overseas territories governed by European and American states. Together, these islands represent a wide range of political systems, cultures and historical backgrounds across the eastern Caribbean.

Independent countries

• Antigua and Barbuda - Twin-island nation consisting of Antigua, Barbuda and smaller islets. British colonial history and strong maritime heritage.
• Barbados - Easternmost island of the Lesser Antilles. Coral limestone island with strong British influence and an independent political history.
• Dominica - Mountainous, rainforest-covered island with high biodiversity and limited coral reef development.
• Grenada - Southern Windward Island historically associated with spice production and shaped by French and British colonial rule.
• Saint Kitts and Nevis - Small two-island federation and one of the oldest European settlements in the Eastern Caribbean.
• Saint Lucia - Volcanic island with rugged terrain and mixed French and British cultural influence.
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Island chain extending south from Saint Vincent, combining volcanic and coral islands.
• Trinidad and Tobago - Southernmost country in the Lesser Antilles, geologically linked to South America and culturally distinct.

Non-Sovereign territories

• Aruba - Dutch Caribbean island located off the coast of Venezuela, known for its arid climate and autonomous status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• Anguilla - British Overseas Territory in the northern Lesser Antilles, characterized by low-lying coral terrain and a small population.
• Bonaire - Special municipality of the Netherlands recognized for marine conservation and protected coral reef systems.
• British Virgin Islands - British Overseas Territory consisting of over 60 islands, forming part of the northeastern Lesser Antilles.
• Curaçao - Autonomous Dutch Caribbean territory with a distinct cultural identity shaped by European, African and Caribbean influences.
• Guadeloupe - French overseas department composed of two main islands, combining volcanic landscapes with rainforest ecosystems.
• Martinique - French overseas region and department, politically integrated with France and part of the European Union.
• Montserrat - British Overseas Territory affected by ongoing volcanic activity, resulting in a significantly reduced population.
• Saba - Small Dutch Caribbean island known for steep volcanic terrain and limited land area.
• Saint Barthélemy - French overseas collectivity with a high-income economy and strong European cultural ties.
• Saint Martin - French overseas collectivity occupying the northern part of an island shared with Dutch Sint Maarten.
• Sint Eustatius - Dutch Caribbean island with historical significance as a former trading hub in the colonial Caribbean.
• Sint Maarten - Autonomous Dutch Caribbean territory sharing an island with French Saint Martin.
• U.S Virgin Islands - Unincorporated territory of the United States located east of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean.
• Spanish Virgin Islands - Group of islands administratively part of Puerto Rico, geographically within the Lesser Antilles.
• Nueva Esparta (Venezuela) - Venezuelan state consisting of Margarita Island and smaller surrounding islands.
• Federal Dependencies of Venezuela - Collection of small Venezuelan islands and archipelagos with limited permanent settlement.

Lesser Antilles vs. Greater Antilles

The Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles are the two main island groups of the Caribbean. The Greater Antilles consist of four large islands that make up most of the region’s land area and population. These islands are Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

The Lesser Antilles, by contrast, are a chain of smaller islands that form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea. They are more numerous and more widely spread out than the Greater Antilles and many were formed through volcanic activity. While the Greater Antilles are larger and more mountainous overall, the Lesser Antilles are more politically diverse and include a mix of independent countries and overseas territories.

Geography and natural features

The islands of the Lesser Antilles are mainly volcanic in origin. Many are mountainous, with active or dormant volcanoes and dense tropical forests.

This island chain plays a key role in Caribbean tectonics, forming the eastern edge of the Caribbean Plate. As a result, the region is more geologically active than the Greater Antilles and regularly experiences hurricanes and tropical storms.

History and culture

The Lesser Antilles has a complex colonial history involving France, Britain, the Netherlands and Spain. As a result, the region features a mix of languages, religions, legal systems and cultural traditions. Many islands host Carnival celebrations and music genres such as soca, calypso and zouk.

The region is also home to numerous creole languages and a blend of African, European and Indigenous heritage. Despite being made up of smaller islands, the Lesser Antilles plays a strong role in Caribbean identity and regional cooperation.