View source for Lesser Antilles

{{Short description|Archipelago in the Southeast Caribbean}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = {{center|Lesser Antilles}}{{center|{{native name|nl|Kleine Antillen}}<br>{{native name|fr|Petites Antilles}}<br>{{native name|pap|Antiyas Minores}}<br>{{native name|es|Antillas Menores}}<br>{{native name|acf|Tibannzil Lézantiy}}}}
| official_name      = 
| image_map          = Lesser Antilles locator map.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| coordinates        = {{coord|14|N|61|W|type:islei|display=inline,title}}
| map_caption        = Location within the Caribbean
| image_map1         = PAT - Lesser Antilles.gif
| mapsize1           = 250px
| map_caption1       = Map of the Lesser Antilles
| subdivision_type   = Region
| subdivision_name   = [[Caribbean]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Island country|Island States]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Collapsible list
 |title = 24
 |{{Flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
 |{{Flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
 |''{{Flag|Aruba}}'' (''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|NL]]'')
 |{{Flag|Barbados}}
 |''{{Flag|Bonaire}}'' (''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|NL]]'')
 |''{{Flag|British Virgin Islands}}'' (''UK'')
 |''{{Flag|Curaçao}}'' (''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|NL]]'')
 |{{Flag|Dominica}}
 |{{GRD}}
 |''{{Flag|Federal Dependencies of Venezuela}}'' (''[[Venezuela|VE]]'')
 |''{{flag|Guadeloupe|local}}'' (''[[France|FR]]'')
 |''{{flag|Martinique|territorial}}'' (''[[France|FR]]'')
 |''{{Flag|Montserrat}}'' (''UK'')
 |''{{Flag|Nueva Esparta}}'' (''[[Venezuela|VE]]'')
 |''{{Flag|Saba}}'' (''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|NL]]'')
 |''{{flag|Saint Barthélemy|local}}'' (''[[France|FR]]'')
 |{{Flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
 |{{Flag|Saint Lucia}}
 |''{{Flag|Saint Martin}}'' (''[[France|FR]]'')
 |{{Flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines }}
 |''{{Flag|Sint Eustatius}}'' (''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|NL]]'')
 |''{{flag|Sint Maarten}}'' (''[[Kingdom of the Netherlands|NL]]'')
 |{{flagicon|Culebra, Puerto Rico}}/{{flagicon|Vieques}} ''[[Spanish Virgin Islands]]'' (''[[Puerto Rico|PR]]'')
 |''{{Flag|Anguilla}}'' (''UK'')
 |''{{VIR}}'' (''US'')
 }}
| admin_center_type  = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[Caribbean|Region]]
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 14,364
| population_as_of   = 2009
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 3,949,250
| population_density_km2 = 274.9
| population_demonym = Lesser Antillean
| timezone           = [[Atlantic Standard Time Zone|AST]]
| utc_offset         = −4
| timezone_DST       = ADT
| utc_offset_DST     = −3
}}
The '''Lesser Antilles'''<ref>({{langx|es|link=no|Antillas Menores}}; {{langx|fr|link=no|Petites Antilles}}; {{langx|pap|Antias Menor}}; {{langx|nl|Kleine Antillen}})</ref> is a group of islands in the [[Caribbean Sea]], forming part of the [[West Indies]] in [[Caribbean|Caribbean region]] of the [[Americas]]. They are distinguished from the larger islands of the [[Greater Antilles]] to the west. They form an arc which begins east of [[Geography of Puerto Rico|Puerto Rico]] at the [[Virgin Islands|archipelago of the Virgin Islands]], swings southeast through the [[Leeward Islands|Leeward]] and [[Windward Islands]] towards [[South America]], and turns westward through the [[Leeward Antilles]] along the [[Geography of Venezuela|Venezuelan coast]]. 

Most of them are part of a long, partially [[volcanic arc|volcanic]] [[island arc]] between the [[Greater Antilles]] to the north-west and the continent of South America.<ref name=MW>"West Indies." ''Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary'', 3rd ed. 2001. ({{ISBN|0-87779-546-0}}) Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., p. 1298.</ref> The islands of the Lesser Antilles form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea where it meets the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. Together, the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles make up the [[Antilles]]. The Lesser and Greater Antilles, together with the [[Lucayan Archipelago]], are collectively known as the [[Caribbean|Caribbean islands]] or [[West Indies]].

The islands were dominantly [[Kalinago]] compared to the [[Greater Antilles]] which was settled by the [[Taíno]], the boundary set between them is known as the "[[poison arrow]] curtain" for the Kalinago's favoured weapon for fending off Europeans that came to conquer the islands in the 16th century.<ref>{{cite book|page=135|title=The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526|first=Troy S.|last=Floyd|publisher=University of New Mexico Press|year=1973}}</ref>
[[File:Rigobert-Bonne-Atlas-de-toutes-les-parties-connues-du-globe-terrestre MG 0018.tif|thumb|200px|A map of the Lesser Antilles, 1780]]

== History before European arrival ==

=== The First Islanders ===
The earliest [[Archaic period (North America)|Archaic Age]] habitation is evidenced at sites like St. John and Banwari Trace in [[Trinidad]], dating between 7700 and 6100 B.P. Artifacts from this period include stone and [[Bone tool|bone tools]] used for hunting and fishing. A total of 29 Archaic Age sites have been identified in Trinidad and Tobago, associated with the [[Ortoiroid people|Ortoiroid]] series, divided into the Banwarian (5000–2500 BC) and Ortoiran (1500–300 BC) subseries. During the Late Archaic Age, wild plant foods became more significant, with evidence of early plant management, including crops such as [[maize]], [[Sweet potato|sweet potatoes]], achira, and [[Chili pepper|chili peppers]] had been imported and cultivated from the continent.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last1=Keegan |first1=William F. |title=Lesser Antillean Networks |date=2017-02-23 |work=The Caribbean before Columbus |pages=197–238 |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/11404/chapter-abstract/160078399?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=2024-09-20 |publisher=Oxford University Press |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190605247.003.0007 |last2=Hofman |first2=Corinne L.|isbn=978-0-19-060524-7 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The archaeological record for the rest of the southern Lesser Antilles is sparse, with sites in [[Tobago]], [[Barbados]], and [[Martinique]] yielding potential Archaic Age artifacts. Factors like local tectonic activity and hurricanes or other storms have likely distorted the archaeological evidence in these regions. Entire islands may now be submerged. Severe erosion, landslides, and volcanic eruptions are fairly common and may contribute to the preservation of archaeological sites.<ref name=":0" />

Three migration scenarios have been proposed. First, Archaic Age communities from [[South America]] reached Trinidad, Tobago, and Barbados. Second, the southern Lesser Antilles (Windward Islands) were bypassed by early settlers, with migration directly to the northern islands. Third, [[Diffusion of innovations|technological diffusion]] occurred without significant population movement from northeastern South America.<ref name=":0" />

[[Absolute dating|Chronometric data]] divide the Archaic Age in the northern Lesser Antilles into three phases: Early Archaic Age (3300–2600 BC), Middle Archaic Age (2600–800 BC), and Late Archaic Age (800 BC–AD 100). Coastal areas were favored for settlement, particularly for their proximity to marine resources and flint quarries. Material culture showing reliance on [[seafood]] (fish and mollusks) and terrestrial animals. [[Antigua]] and [[Saint Martin (island)|St. Martin]] seem to be the most heavily populated during the Archaic Age.<ref name=":0" />

Notably, all known Archaic Age sites are in the northern islands, with no evidence in the Windward Islands south of [[Guadeloupe]]. Trinidad, Tobago, and [[Barbados]] are exceptions, likely colonized separately from South America. Sites in the Lesser Antilles were established on small islands and in coastal seetings{{typo help inline|reason=similar to 'settings'|date=October 2024}}; most habitations were temporary and small, suggesting annual mobility for resource procurement. Despite similarities, each site displayed differences in the consumption of marine species and variety of shell and coral tools. Each site showed diverse adaptations to locally available resources and/or activity patterns.<ref name=":0" />

=== Neolithic Period ===
Archaeological findings, including [[Waco people|Huecoid]] and [[Saladoid]] [[pottery]], provide radiocarbon dates for Early Ceramic Age sites, pointing to an initial sphere of interaction between coastal South America and the northern Lesser Antilles that started around 400–200 BC. The discovery of Saladoid pottery in [[Puerto Rico]] and the northern Lesser Antilles is understood as a result of exploratory activities, cultural exchanges, and gradual migrations from the mainland during the Archaic Age. This process involved the interaction of local communities with established insular societies, creating a web of dynamic social relationships. However, debates and controversies has occurred over conflicting stratigraphic data, radiocarbon dates, and stylistic difference of the potteries.{{Sfn|Keegan|Hofman|2017|p=209}}

== History after European arrival ==
The Spanish were the first Europeans to arrive on the islands with the arrival of [[Christopher Columbus]]. In 1493, on his second voyage, Columbus reached the coast of the Caribbean Sea, where he sailed to discover several islands of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. He called the first island he discovered on this trip the Deseada. The Spanish claimed the island of Dominica and took solemn possession on the land of the island they called Marigalante. They then anchored next to the island they called Guadeloupe. Later they visited Montserrat, Antigua and San Cristobal. They then crossed the archipelago of the Eleven Thousand Virgins.

Over the next centuries, the Spanish, French, Dutch, Danish and English fought over several of the islands.

Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc was a French merchant and adventurer in the Caribbean, who established the first permanent French colony, Saint-Pierre, on the island of Martinique in 1635. Belain sailed to the Caribbean in 1625, hoping to establish a French settlement on the island of St Christopher ([[St Kitts]]). In 1626 the French under Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc began to take an interest in Guadeloupe, driving out the Spanish colonists.

[[Martinique]] was mapped by Columbus in 1493, but Spain had little interest in the territory. Christopher Columbus landed on 15 June 1502 after 21 days of crossing with trade winds, his fastest oceanic journey. In 1635, [[Spain]] had ceded Martinique to [[France]] after 133 years of Spanish control that was once discovered by Columbus. On 15 September 1635, Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, the French governor of the island of San Cristóbal, landed in the port of San Pedro with 80–150 French settlers after being expelled from San Cristóbal by the English. D'Esnambuc claimed Martinique for the French King Louis XIII and the "Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique".
[[File:MargaritaCastle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|A [[Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish colonial castle]] on [[Margarita Island, Venezuela|Margarita Island]], [[Nueva Esparta]], Venezuela]]
[[Margarita Island]] in present-day Venezuela was discovered on 15 August 1498 during Columbus' third voyage. On that trip the Admiral would also discover the mainland, Venezuela. On that August day, Columbus spotted three islands, two of them small, low and arid (the present day Coche and Cubagua),

The [[province of Trinidad]] was created in the 16th century by the Spanish, and its capital was San José de Oruña. But during the Napoleonic Wars, in February 1797, a British force began occupying the territory. And in 1802 Spain recognized the British sovereignty.

In 1917 the United States bought the [[Danish Virgin Islands]]. Most of the British colonies became independent states, the islands of the Lesser Antilles belonging to Venezuela were divided into 2 different entities the State of [[Nueva Esparta]] and the [[Federal Dependencies]] (1938). In 1986 [[Aruba]] seceded from the [[Netherlands Antilles]], officially becoming a country of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]. In 2010 the rest of the Netherlands Antilles was dissolved to form smaller entities.

On July 18, 1995, the previously dormant [[Soufrière Hills]] volcano on the southern part of the [[island of Montserrat]] became active. The eruptions destroyed the Georgian-era capital of Montserrat, Plymouth. Between 1995 and 2000, two-thirds of the island's population was forced to flee, mainly to the UK, leaving less than 1200 people on the island in 1997 (rising to almost 5000 by 2016).

The two official French overseas departments are Guadeloupe and Martinique. St. Martin and St. Barthélemy, formerly part of the department of Guadeloupe, have had a separate status as overseas entities since 2007.

== Geography ==
[[File:Dominica 053.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|The southern tip of [[Dominica]]]]

The islands of the Lesser Antilles are divided into three groups: the [[Windward Islands]] in the south, the [[Leeward Islands]] in the north, and the [[Leeward Antilles]] in the west.

The Windward Islands are so called because they were more [[Windward and leeward|windward]] to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands, given that the prevailing trade winds blow east to west. The trans-Atlantic currents and winds that provided the fastest route across the ocean brought these ships to the rough dividing line between the Windward and Leeward Islands.

The Leeward Antilles consist of the Dutch [[ABC islands (Leeward Antilles)|ABC islands]] just off the coast of [[Venezuela]], plus a group of Venezuelan islands.

== Geological formation ==
The Lesser Antilles more or less coincide with the outer cliff of the [[Caribbean Plate]]. Many of the islands were formed as a result of the [[subduction]] of oceanic crust of the Atlantic Plate under the Caribbean Plate in the [[Lesser Antilles subduction zone]]. This process is ongoing and is responsible not only for many of the islands, but also for volcanic and earthquake activity in the region. The islands along the South American coast are largely the result of the interaction of the [[South American Plate]] and the Caribbean Plate which is mainly [[strike-slip]], but includes a component of compression.

Geologically, the Lesser Antilles island arc stretches from Grenada in the south to Anguilla in the north. The Virgin Islands and [[Sombrero Island]] are geologically part of the Greater Antilles, while Trinidad is part of South America and Tobago is the remainder of a separate island arc. The Leeward Antilles are also a separate island arc, which is accreting to South America.

== Political divisions ==
[[File:Pigeon Point beach.jpg|thumb|Pigeon Point, [[Trinidad and Tobago]]]]

The Lesser Antilles are divided into eight independent nations and numerous dependent and non-sovereign states (which are politically associated with the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and the United States). Over one third of the total area and population of the Lesser Antilles lies within [[Trinidad and Tobago]], a sovereign nation comprising the two southernmost islands of the Windward Island chain.

=== Sovereign states ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
!rowspan=2| Name
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Subdivisions
!colspan=2| Area
!rowspan=2| Population<br />(July 1, 2005, est.)
!colspan=2| Population density
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Capital
|-
!km<sup>2</sup> !! sq mi
!per km<sup>2</sup> !! per sq mi
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Antigua and Barbuda]]
| [[Parishes and dependencies of Antigua and Barbuda|Parishes]] on Antigua
| {{convert|440|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|85,632}}
| {{convert|195|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda|St. John's]]
|-
| [[Barbuda]]
| {{convert|161|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1,370}}
| {{convert|9.65|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Codrington, Barbuda|Codrington]]
|-
| [[Redonda]]
| {{convert|2|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|0}}
| {{convert|0|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[n/a]]
|-
| [[Barbados]]
| [[Parishes of Barbados|Parishes]]
| {{convert|431|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|284,589}}
| {{convert|660|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Bridgetown]]
|-
| [[Dominica]]
| [[Parishes of Dominica|Parishes]]
| {{convert|754|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|72,660 }}
| {{convert|96.3|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Roseau]]
|-
| [[Grenada]]
| [[Parishes of Grenada|Parishes]]
| {{convert|344|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|110,000 }}
| {{convert|319.8|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[St. George's, Grenada|St. George's]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]]
| [[Parishes of Saint Kitts and Nevis|Parishes]]
| {{convert|261|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|42,696 }}
| {{convert|163.5|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Basseterre]]
|-
| [[Nevis]]
| {{convert|93|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|12,106}}
| {{convert|130.1|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis|Charlestown]]
|-
| [[Saint Lucia]]
| [[Districts of Saint Lucia|Districts]]
| {{convert|616|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|173,765}}
| {{convert|282|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Castries]]
|-
| [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
| [[Parishes of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|Parishes]]
| {{convert|389|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|110,000}}
| {{convert|283|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Kingstown]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Trinidad and Tobago]]
| [[Regions and municipalities of Trinidad and Tobago|Regions and municipalities]]
| {{convert|5,131|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1,405,953 }}
| {{convert|253.3|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Port of Spain]]
|-
| [[Tobago]]
| {{convert|300|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|60,000}}
| {{convert|180|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Scarborough, Tobago|Scarborough]]
|- style=" font-weight:bold; " class="sortbottom"
! Total
|
| {{convert|8367|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2179295}}
| {{convert|260.5|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|
|-
|}

[[File:Beach at the Anse de Grande Saline on St. Barthelemy, French West Indies - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Beach at the Anse de Grande Saline on [[Saint Barthélemy]], [[French Antilles]]]]

=== Non-sovereign states and territories ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ececec;"
!rowspan=2| Name
!rowspan=2| [[List of dependent territories|Sovereign state]]
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Subdivisions
!colspan=2| Area
!rowspan=2| Population<br />(July 1, 2005, est.)
!colspan=2| Population density
!rowspan=2 class="unsortable"|Capital
|-
!km<sup>2</sup> !! sq mi
!per km<sup>2</sup> !! per sq mi
|-
| [[Aruba]]
| [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
| Districts
| {{convert|193|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|103,065}}
| {{convert|534.0|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Oranjestad, Aruba|Oranjestad]]
|-
| [[Anguilla]]
| UK
| Districts
| {{convert|91|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|13,600}}
| {{convert|149.4|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[The Valley, Anguilla|The Valley]]
|-
| [[Bonaire]]
| [[Netherlands]]
|
| {{convert|288|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|14,006}}
| {{convert|48.6|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Kralendijk]]
|-
| [[British Virgin Islands]]
| UK
| [[Districts of the British Virgin Islands|Districts]]
| {{convert|153|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|27,000}}
| {{convert|176.5|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Road Town]]
|-
| [[Curaçao]]
| Kingdom of the Netherlands
| Districts
| {{convert|444|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|180,592}}
| {{convert|406.7|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Willemstad]]
|-
| [[Guadeloupe]]
| France
| [[Arrondissements of the Guadeloupe department|Arrondissements]]
| {{convert|1,780 |km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|440,000 }}
| {{convert|247.2|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Basse-Terre]]
|-
| [[Martinique]]
| France
| [[Arrondissements of the Martinique department|Arrondissements]]
| {{convert|1,128 |km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|400,000 }}
| {{convert|354.6 |/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Fort-de-France]]
|-
| [[Montserrat]]
| UK
| Parishes
| {{convert| 120 |km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|4,655}}
| {{convert|38.8|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Brades]]
|-
| [[Saba (island)|Saba]]
| Netherlands
| 
| {{convert|13|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1,424}}
| {{convert|109.5|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[The Bottom]]
|-
| [[Saint Barthélemy]]
| France
| Paroisses (parishes)
| {{convert|21|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|7,448}}
| {{convert|354.6|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy|Gustavia]]
|-
| [[Collectivity of Saint Martin|Saint-Martin]]
| France
| 
| {{convert|53|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|35,000}}
| {{convert|660.4|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Marigot, Saint Martin|Marigot]]
|-
| [[Sint Eustatius]]
| Netherlands
| 
| {{convert|34|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|3,100}}
| {{convert|91.2|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius|Oranjestad]]
|-
| [[Sint Maarten]]
| Kingdom of the Netherlands
| 
| {{convert|34|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|40,917}}
| {{convert|1,203.4|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Philipsburg, Sint Maarten|Philipsburg]]
|-
| [[Spanish Virgin Islands]] ([[Puerto Rico]])
| United States
| [[Barrios of Puerto Rico|Barrios]]
| {{convert|165.1|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|11,119}}
| {{convert|67.35|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Culebra barrio-pueblo|Culebra]]<br>[[Isabel II barrio-pueblo|Isabel II]]
|-
| [[United States Virgin Islands]]
| United States
| [[Districts and sub-districts of the United States Virgin Islands|Districts]]
| {{convert|346|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|108,448}}
| {{convert|313.4|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie]]
|-
| [[Nueva Esparta]]
| [[Venezuela]]
| Municipalities
| {{convert|1,150|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|491,610}}
| {{convert|427.5|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[La Asunción]]
|-
| [[Federal Dependencies of Venezuela]]
| Venezuela
| Federal dependencies
| {{convert|342|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|2,155}}
| {{convert|6.3|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| [[Gran Roque]]
|- style=" font-weight:bold; " class="sortbottom"
! Total
|
|
| {{convert|5997|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
| style="text-align:right;"| {{nts|1769955}}
| {{convert|20.1|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}

|
|-
|}

[[File:Gran roque.jpg|thumb|[[Los Roques archipelago]], [[Federal Dependencies of Venezuela|Federal Dependencies]] of Venezuela in the [[Leeward Antilles]]]]

Several islands off the north coast of Venezuela and politically part of that country are also considered part of the Lesser Antilles. These are listed in the section below.

== Islands ==
The main Lesser Antilles are (from north to south to west):

=== Leeward Islands ===
{{Main|Leeward Islands}}
[[File:Leeward Islands.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|The [[Leeward Islands]]]]

*[[Anguilla]] (UK)
*[[Collectivity of Saint Martin|Saint Martin]] (France) / [[Sint Maarten]] (Netherlands)
*[[Saint Barthélemy]] (France)
*[[Saba (island)|Saba]] (Netherlands)
*[[Sint Eustatius]] (Netherlands)
*[[Saint Kitts]] (St. Kitts and Nevis)
*[[Nevis]] (St. Kitts and Nevis)
*[[Barbuda]] (Antigua and Barbuda)
*[[Antigua]] (Antigua and Barbuda)
**[[Redonda]] (Antigua and Barbuda) uninhabited
*[[Montserrat]] (UK)
*[[Basse-Terre Island|Basse-Terre]] and [[Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe|Grande-Terre]] (often combined as [[Guadeloupe]]) (France)
**[[La Désirade]] (Guadeloupe dependency) (France)
**[[Marie-Galante]] (Guadeloupe dependency) (France)
**[[Îles des Saintes]] archipelago (Guadeloupe dependency) (France)

[[File:Beach at Hillsborough - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Carriacou, [[Grenada]]]]

=== Windward Islands ===
{{Main|Windward Islands}}
*[[Dominica]] (Dominica)
*[[Martinique]] (France)
*[[Saint Lucia]] (St. Lucia)
*[[Saint Vincent (island)|Saint Vincent]] (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
*[[Grenadines]] (St. Vincent and the Grenadines)
*[[Carriacou and Petite Martinique]] (Grenada)
*[[Grenada]] (Grenada)

=== Leeward Antilles ===
{{Main|Leeward Antilles}}
[[File:SouthernCaribbeanIslands.PNG|thumb|upright=1.35|A map of the [[Leeward Antilles]]]]
[[File:Curaçao (Unsplash 8po6zR17PqE).jpg|thumb|[[Curaçao]], part of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]]]

Islands north of the Venezuelan coast (from west to east):

*[[Aruba]] (Netherlands)
*[[Curaçao]] (Netherlands)
*[[Bonaire]] (Netherlands)
*[[Federal Dependencies of Venezuela]] (Venezuela)
**[[Los Monjes Archipelago]]
**[[La Tortuga Island]]
**[[La Sola Island]]
**[[Los Testigos Islands]]
**[[Islas Los Frailes|Los Frailes Islands]]
**[[Patos Island (Venezuela)|Patos Island]]
**[[Los Roques Archipelago]]
**[[Blanquilla Island|La Blanquilla Island]]
**[[Los Hermanos Archipelago]]
**[[La Orchila]] Island
**[[Las Aves Archipelago]]
**[[Isla Aves|Aves Island]]
*[[Nueva Esparta]] (Venezuela)
**[[Margarita Island]]
**[[Coche, Venezuela|Coche]]
**[[Cubagua]]

=== Isolated islands in the Lesser Antilles ===
*[[Barbados]]<sup>†</sup>{{efn|Barbados is a [[continental island]] found {{convert|100|mi|km}} east of the Windward chain.}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Windward-Islands |title=Windward Islands {{!}} islands, West Indies |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |access-date=January 18, 2019 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502142851/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/645259/Windward-Islands |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/pg_friendly_print.cfm?cid=326&id=1993& |title=The Scotland District of Barbados |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en |access-date=January 18, 2019 |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719201444/https://whc.unesco.org/pg_friendly_print.cfm?cid=326&id=1993& |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/56.htm |title=The Windward Islands and Barbados |website=countrystudies.us |access-date=January 18, 2019 |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012032346/http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/56.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Trinidad and Tobago]]<sup>†</sup>{{efn|Sometimes considered part of the Windward Islands. They are the most southern islands of the Caribbean region. See [[Islands of Trinidad and Tobago]].}}<ref name=MW /><ref>Cohen, Saul B., ed. [http://www.bartleby.com/69/91/W02191.html "West Indies"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816091503/http://www.bartleby.com/69/91/W02191.html |date=August 16, 2006 }} [http://www.bartleby.com/69/ ''The Columbia Gazetteer of North America''.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820110540/http://www.bartleby.com/69/ |date=August 20, 2006 }} New York: Columbia University Press&nbsp;– Bartleby. Accessed: September 19, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.pca-cpa.org/upload/files/Final%20Award.pdf Arbitral Tribunal Constituted Pursuant to Article 287, and in Accordance with Annex VII, of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Matter of an Arbitration Between: Barbados – and – The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217201712/http://www.pca-cpa.org/upload/files/Final%20Award.pdf |date=December 17, 2008 }} – The Hague, April 11, 2006 (Pages 15–16)
</ref>
<sup>†</sup> [[Physical geography|Physiographically]], these are [[Island#Continental islands|continental islands]] not part of the volcanic Windward Islands arc. However, based on proximity, these islands are sometimes grouped with the [[Windward Islands]] culturally and politically.
{{notelist}}

== See also ==
*[[List of mnemonics]] geography section
*[[Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc]]
*[[Greater Antilles]]
*[[Lucayan Archipelago]]
*[[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*Rogonzinski, Jan. ''A Brief History of the Caribbean''. New York: Facts on File. 1992. {{isbn|978-0816024513}}.
* Keegan, William F. & Hofman, Corinne L. ''The Caribbean before Columbus''. New York: Oxford University Press. 2017. {{isbn|978-0190605278}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline|Lesser Antilles}}
*{{Wiktionary-inline|Lesser Antilles}}
*[http://www.deepseadrilling.org/78a/volume/dsdp78a_07.pdf The Lesser Antilles Island Arc: Structure And Geogynamic Evolution]

{{Caribbean topic}}
{{Caribbean topics}}
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[[Category:Lesser Antilles| ]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of the Caribbean Sea]]
[[Category:West Indies]]
[[Category:Volcanic islands]]

[[mr:अँटिल्स#लेसर अँटिल्स]]