The Caribbean is named after the earliest known inhabitants of the region, the Carib Tribe. Ten Caribbean islands are members of the Commonwealth of Nations with each having it's own distinct traditions and lifestyle.

In recent years the Caribbean has become an increasingly popular tourist destination and this is resulting in a change in the economy of the region.

At the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur 1998, Caribbean countries collected 15 of the total medals awarded. The Bahamas is the largest group of islands with an area of 13,939 square kilometres and Anguilla is the smallest at just 91 square kilometres.