Living conditions in the Caribbean are evolving under the impact of profound urban, demographic and social transformations. In 2025, several key indicators paint a contrasting picture of the region: between notable advances in public health and persistent structural vulnerabilities. At RichèsKarayib, we have selected six recent figures, sourced from international organizations such as the UN, ILO and FAO, to highlight the complex realities of Caribbean populations.
76.3% - Growing urbanization of the region
By 2025, 76,3 % of the Caribbean population lives in urban areas. This rate, slightly below the Latin American average (82.5%), reflects the growing concentration of inhabitants in cities and peri-urban areas. This dynamic is transforming living conditions in the Caribbean, with major issues surrounding access to housing, water, transport and security. Rapid urbanization often remains poorly controlled in many areas, generating growing inequalities between urban centers and rural areas.
6.1% - Overall unemployment rate in 2024
According to the ILO, the projected unemployment rate for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2024 is 6,1 % down on 2023 (6.5%). While this improvement reflects a degree of economic recovery, it remains fragile and masks significant local disparities. In small island economies, the labor market remains tight, highly seasonal and heavily dependent on tourism. This fact directly calls into question living conditions in the Caribbean, where a significant proportion of the working population remains underemployed or confined to precarious jobs.
58.8% - Food insecurity in the Caribbean (2023-2025)
Between 2023 and 2025, 58,8 % of the Caribbean population is moderately or severely food insecure, i.e. nearly 26.3 million people. This alarming figure, based on the latest reports from the FAO and the Global Report on Food Criseshighlights the structural vulnerability of island food systems. In Haiti, almost half the population is in a food crisis or worse. This reality has a profound effect on living conditions in the Caribbean, especially for rural households, single-parent families and children.
32.4 years - Median age; 1.95 children/woman; 44.6 million inhabitants
The Caribbean population has a median age of 32.4 with a fertility rate of 1.95 children per woman. These figures point to demographic stabilization after several decades of rapid growth. With around 44.6 million inhabitants. By 2025, the Caribbean will be experiencing a gradual aging of its population, although youth will remain dominant in certain regions such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic and French Guiana. These demographic trends have a direct impact on public policies and influence living conditions in the Caribbean, particularly in terms of health, education and retirement.
47.2% - Informal employment rate
Nearly 47,2 % of jobs in the region are considered informal, according to the latest ILO figures. Although this rate is slightly lower than the Latin American average (57%), it remains a cause for concern. The informal economy encompasses millions of workers with no contracts, no social security coverage and no income stability. It reflects both the resilience of populations and the fragility of economic structures. On the islands, informality is particularly prevalent in tourism, fishing and street trading. It contributes to accentuating inequalities in living conditions in the Caribbean.
74.1 years - Average life expectancy in 2025
Good news: life expectancy in the Caribbean reaches 74.1 years in 2025, compared with 69.6 years in 1990. This increase of +4.5 years in three decades is due to better health services, lower infant mortality and better access to drinking water. But major disparities remain: women live on average 76.6 years versus 71.7 years for men. This gap is linked, among other things, to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and differential access to healthcare. This relative progress also demonstrates the extent to which public health is a central pillar of living conditions in the Caribbean.
A plural Caribbean between social emergencies and measured progress
Living conditions in the Caribbean in 2025 reflect a dual reality. On the one hand, notable progress in terms of longevity, education and demographic stabilization; on the other, persistent fragilities linked to food insecurity, economic informality and urban concentration. These figures must inform public policy and regional cooperation projects. Because behind each percentage lie concrete lives, families and human trajectories. And it is on the basis of these precise indicators that a more equitable and resilient Caribbean can be built.
