The Caribbean region includes more than 7,000 islands, islets and keys in total. Although the majority of these are tiny and uninhabited, most Caribbean countries are nonetheless a collection of multiple islands. For instance, the Bahamas alone are made up of more than 700 islands and 2,400 islets and keys, of which 30 to 40 are inhabited.
The islands of the Caribbean are typically sorted into three distinct groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lucayan Archipelago and the Lesser Antilles. A total of 27 countries are considered as part of the Caribbean and, with the English-speaking South American country of Guyana, a part of the Caribbean Community known as CARICOM. The estimated population of the region is 45 million. The primary languages are English, French, Spanish and Dutch.
The brethren are scattered through the region in eight countries and one U.S. territory.