The Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Jamaica

• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sint Maarten
• Suriname

The Caribbean's abundant natural resources, varied cultures, and regional ties continue to offer strong opportunities for inclusive growth. As these countries work to diversify their economies, leverage the blue economy, and build resilience, targeted investments remain central to sustaining this momentum.

The regional outlook, however, is increasingly shaped by a widening divergence between resource-rich producers and tourism-dependent economies. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is forecast to grow 4.4% in 2026 and 7.3% in 2027 (GDP-weighted average), driven largely by Guyana's projected oil-led expansion of 16.3% and 23.5% respectively; excluding Guyana, growth is expected at 2.5% in 2026 and 3.7% in 2027.

Tourism-dependent economies across the Caribbean are seeing moderating growth due to high import and energy costs, and climate-related vulnerabilities. Compared with previous forecasts, Caribbean growth, excluding Guyana, is revised down by 0.6 percentage points for 2026.

The region also faces persistent structural challenges. Growth in the Caribbean has been slower than in other small states, and public debt remains high, amplified by natural disasters that can erase an entire year's economic output. Electricity costs are among the highest in the Latin America and Caribbean region, due to dependence on imported oil, and children average only 7.8 learning-adjusted years of schooling.

The World Bank Group is addressing these challenges through an approach which leverages regional solutions, enables the private sector to create jobs and builds resilience, supported by a $3.3 billion portfolio across 69 active projects in 13 Caribbean countries.

1.    Enabling Private Sector Investment and Jobs  targets the conditions needed for sustainable economic growth and employment. This includes supporting job creation in key sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and creative industries, while closing skills deficits through targeted human capital development. The pillar also drives the energy transition by supporting the shift to sustainable energy sources which can reduce costs and increase long-term competitiveness.

2. Strengthening 360° Resilience builds comprehensive resilience across interconnected dimensions. This encompasses boosting disaster risk finance and preparedness, advancing resilient infrastructure development, and reinforcing economic stability with a particular focus on fiscal and debt sustainability — critical vulnerabilities for small states facing external shocks.

World Bank-supported projects are creating results throughout the region.

In Jamaica, over 1.6 million people have benefited from upgraded infrastructure through the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project. In Haiti, 22,000 households have received mobile cash transfers. The Government of Saint Lucia has expanded maternal and child health services, while Guyana has added 30 ICU beds as well as diagnostic labs. Blue economy efforts also actively support recovery across the Eastern Caribbean.

Strong regional partnerships with the Inter-American Development Bank and Caribbean Development Bank, as well as partnerships with the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, align financing to enhance service delivery and outcome-focused results. This helps to strengthen resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability throughout the Caribbean.

• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
• Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)
• National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB)
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM)