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The first permanent English colonies were founded at Saint Kitts (1624) and Barbados (1627). The English language is the third most established throughout the Caribbean; however, due to the relatively small populations of the English-speaking territories, only 14% [4] of West Indians are English speakers.
As of 2024, there are 57 sovereign states and 28 non-sovereign entities where English is an official language. Many administrative divisions have declared English an official language at the local or regional level. Most states where English is an official language are former territories of the British Empire.
The official language is Dutch, but English is the "language of everyday life" on the island and education is solely in English. [21] A local English-based creole language is also spoken informally, locally known as the Netherlands Antilles Creole English. More than 52% of the population speaks more than one language. Saint Martin
Note that Bermuda is a member nation of the Caribbean Community, though the island nation lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, not in the Caribbean. Other than 13 Caribbean island countries, four continental mainland countries, namely Honduras, Belize, Guyana, and Suriname, have also been included in the following table (by United Nations geoscheme).
Jamaica is regarded as a bilingual country, with two major languages used by the population. [143] [133] The official language is (Jamaican) English, which is "used in all domains of public life", including the government, the legal
The country has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages. It is the only Central American country where English is the official language, while Spanish is the most widely spoken language. Belizean Creole is the second-most-commonly-spoken dialect, followed by the Mayan languages, Garifuna, and the German dialects.
Use of English dates to the early 19th century, when the British occupied Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. When Dutch rule resumed in 1815, officials already noted the widespread use of the English language. [29] According to the 2001 census, Papiamentu was the first language of 81.2% of the population. Dutch of 8%, Spanish of 4%, and English of 2. ...
The official language of the Bahamas is English. Many people speak an English-based creole language called Bahamian dialect (known simply as "dialect") or "Bahamianese". [144] Laurente Gibbs, a Bahamian writer and actor, was the first to coin the latter name in a poem and has since promoted its usage. [145] [146] Both are used as autoglossonyms ...