Hinduism in the West Indies

Last updated

Hinduism is the leading single religion of the Indo-Caribbean communities of the West Indies. Hindus are particularly well represented in Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The Cayman Islands also hosts a sizable Hindu population, with 2.4 percent of the country affiliating with the religion. Smaller groups of Indo-Caribbeans live elsewhere in the Caribbean, especially Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Belize, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Bahamas.

Contents

Hinduism by territories

Anguilla

The total Hindu population of Anguilla is 58 as of the 2011 Census. [1] This represents 0.42% of the population and is an increase of 13 from the previous count of 45 (0.39%, taken from the 2001 Census). [1] Hinduism is also the 7th fastest growing religion by percent (28.9%) and the 9th fastest by absolute change (13). Hindus also contributed 0.61% of the total population gain. [1]

YearPercentPopulation
20010.39%45
20100.42%58

Antigua and Barbuda

The percentage of Hindus in Antigua and Barbuda as of the 2011 Census is 0.4%, or 379 adherents. [2] This represented growth of more than 40% from the 2001 Census, which showed that there were 157 active followers. [3] This growth made the number of Hindus surpass Presbyterians (170 to 142), Salvation Army (369 to 365) and Islam (189 to 208). [4] [5] The population is mainly made up of Indian immigrants, who alone make up over 1.1% of the total population. Most Hindus are from the category of Indian/East Indian, which makes up less than 5%. [6]

YearPercentPopulation
20110.4%379
20150.51%477

Bahamas

According to the 2010 Census, there were a total of 428 Hindus living in the Bahamas, making up 0.12% of the total population. [7] The 2010 census showed that slightly more than half of Hindus (around 220 people) in the Bahamas are younger than age 34.

Barbados

Today, Barbados has 2,000 Indians living in the country. They came as recently immigrants from Guyana. Because of the huge Indian population, Hinduism became one of the growing religions of Barbados. The 2000 Census showed the number of Hindus in Barbados to be at 840, which accounted for 0.34% of the total population. [8] The 2010 Census showed that the number of Hindus rose by 215 people (or 25%) to be at 1,055. [9] This increased Hinduism's share of the total Barbados population from 0.34% in 2000 to 0.46% in 2010.

Bermuda

Most of the Hindus in Bermuda are of South Indian/Tamil descent. The population of Hindu's in Bermuda is 0.2%. [10]

Cayman Islands

YearPercentPopulation
20000.25%98
20081%510
20110.8%454
20212.4%

1,671

Hinduism is the fastest growing religion in the Cayman Islands, with the population skyrocketing in recent years. [11] Previously, there were only 98 Hindus in the Caymans according to the 2000 census (about 0.25% of the population). [12] In the 2008 census, the number of Hindus increased to 510 (1% of the total population). [13] The 2010 Census showed the number of Hindus decreasing to 454 (0.8% of the total Cayman Islands population). In 2021, the Hindu population increased to 1,671 (2.4% of the population). [14]

Cuba

Hindus who live in Cuba accounted for 0.2% of the population in 2010. [15]

Dominica

A non-negligible amount of Hindus live in Dominica, accounting for under 0.1% of the population. [16]

Grenada

According to ARDA, there were 866 Hindus in Grenada accounting 0.7% of the total population in 2020. [17]

Guadeloupe

Hinduism is a minority religion in Guadeloupe, followed by a small fraction of Indo-Guadeloupeans. According to a statistics data, Hinduism is practised by 0.5% of the people in Guadeloupe. [18]

Martinique

Hinduism is followed in the Martinique by a small fraction of Indo-Martiniquais. As of 2007, Hinduism constitute 0.3% of the population of Martinique. [19]

Jamaica

Jamaica was once home to 25,000 Hindus until the mid-20th century. However, most of them were converted to Christianity and assimilated into Afro population. In the last few decades, the population of Hindus in Jamaica decreased steeply. In the 1970s, 5,000 identified themselves as Hindus. Since then, the Hindu population of Jamaica has risen and it has become the second largest religion (after Christianity) in Jamaica. Diwali (pronounced Divali), the festival of lights, is celebrated in Jamaica every year. There were 1,453 Hindus in Jamaica according to the 2001 census. The 2011 Census showed that the number of Hindus in Jamaica increased by 383 people to be at 1,836 adherents. [20] Hinduism's share of the total Jamaican population increased from 0.06% in 2001 to 0.07% of the population in 2011.

Montserrat

According to the 2001 census there were 31 Hindus in Montserrat, accounting for 0.8% of the total population and forming the 4th largest religious entity. [21] [22] Hindu males numbered 20 and made up 1.0% of the total number of males in the 2001 Census, with 11 Hindu females making up 0.6% of the female total. [21]

Puerto Rico

As of 2020, there were 2,957 Hindus in Puerto Rico making 0.09% of the population according to ARDA. [23]

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Hindus made up 1.82% of the total population of Saint Kitts and Nevis according to the 2010 census [24] up from 0.8% in 2001. [25] There are 860 Hindus in Saint Kittie and Nevis. [24] [26] Hinduism is currently the second largest religion in St. Kitts-Nevis after Christianity. [24] [26]

Saint Lucia

Most of the Indian community in Saint Lucia have converted to Christianity. Only 325 people were reported as Hindus in the 2001 census (0.2% of the total population census). The 2010 Census showed the percentage total of Hindus had increased to 0.3%. [27] Most of them were recent immigrants. Of the original East Indian community, only 1-2% retains Hinduism.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The 2000 census reported 83 Hindus in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines making up 0.08% of the total population. [28] The 2000 Census showed that Hindus in St Vincent-Grenadines were overwhelmingly male, with only 77 females for every 100 males on average. The 2000 Census also showed a very youthful Hindu population, with less than 1.5% of Hindus being classified as "elder". [29]

Trinidad and Tobago

Temple in the Sea Waterloo Temple, Trinidad.jpg
Temple in the Sea

Hinduism is a minority but significant religion in Trinidad and Tobago, making up over 18% in the 2011 census, the second largest religion in the islands. Hinduism has had a presence for 170 years, when the first Indians came to work. [30] There are currently 240,100 Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago, with the decline resulting from emigration.

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Indian population in the Turks and Caicos Islands is mostly of Sindhi origin.[ citation needed ] The community mostly is employed in retail jewellery and electronics business, in addition to some doctors, nurses, teachers, chartered accountants and other sectors. Many Indians are self-employed, and some are employed in the local hospitality industry. [31]

United States Virgin Islands

According to the 2011 census there were more than 528 Hindus in the United States Virgin Islands (1.9% of the population). Most of them were recent immigrants from India, and most of them reside on St. Thomas. [32]

British Virgin Islands

According to the 1991 census, Hindus constituted 2.16% of the population of British Virgin Islands, which then decreased to 1.95% in the 2001 census. [33] It further decreased to 1.88% in 2011 census. [34]

Hindu populations according to the latest Census

24.33% (estimates of 2020) [37]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Antigua and Barbuda</span>

This article is a demography of the population of Antigua and Barbuda including population density, ethnicity, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

This is a demography of the population of the Cayman Islands including population density, ethnicity, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Trinidad and Tobago</span>

This article is about the demography of the population of Trinidad and Tobago including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Barbados</span>

This is a demography of Barbados including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Indies Federation</span> 1958–1962 political union of British island colonies in the Caribbean

The West Indies Federation, also known as the West Indies, the Federation of the West Indies or the West Indian Federation, was a short-lived political union that existed from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962. Various islands in the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, and those on the Leeward and Windward Islands, came together to form the Federation, with its capital in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The expressed intention of the Federation was to create a political unit that would become independent from Britain as a single state — possibly similar to Canada, the Federation of Australia, or the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Before that could happen, the Federation collapsed due to internal political conflicts over how it would be governed or function viably. The formation of a West Indian Federation was encouraged by the United Kingdom, but also requested by pan-Caribbean nationalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British West Indies</span> British territories in the Caribbean, sometimes including former colonies

The British West Indies (BWI) were colonised British territories in the West Indies: Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, British Honduras, British Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago. Bermuda was also included as one of the territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in South America</span>

Hinduism is a minority religion in South America, which is followed by even less than 1% of the total continent's population. Hinduism is found in several countries, but is strongest in the Indo-Caribbean populations of Guyana and Suriname. There are about 320,000 Hindus in South America, chiefly the descendants of Indian indentured laborers in the Guianas. There are about 185,000 Hindus in Guyana, 120,000 in Suriname, and some others in French Guiana. In Guyana and Suriname, Hindus form the second largest religion and in some regions and districts, Hindus form the majority. Though in recent times, due to influence of Hindu culture the number of Hindus converts have increased in other countries in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and others.

Indo-Caribbean people or Indian-Caribbean people are people in the Caribbean who trace their ancestry to the Indian subcontinent. They are descendants of the Jahaji indentured laborers from British India, who were brought by the British, Dutch, and French during the colonial era from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century. A minority of them are descendants from people who immigrated as entrepreneurs, businesspeople, merchants, engineers, doctors, religious leaders, students, and other professional occupations beginning in the mid-20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians</span> Ethnic group

Indo–Trinidadians and Tobagonians or Indian-Trinidadians and Tobagonians are people of Indian origin who are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, whose ancestors came from India and the wider subcontinent beginning in 1845 during the period of colonization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism by country</span> Overview of the global spread of Hinduism

Hinduism has approximately 1.2 billion adherents worldwide. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world behind Christianity (31.5%) and Islam (23.3%).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago</span>

Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago is the second largest religion. Hindu culture arrived to Trinidad and Tobago in 1845, with the arrival of the first Indian indentured laborers, the overwhelming majority of which were Hindu. According to the 2011 census there were 240,100 declared Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribbean</span> Region to the east of the Central American region of North America

The Caribbean is a subregion of the Americas that includes the Caribbean Sea and its islands, some of which are surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some of which border both the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; the nearby coastal areas on the mainland are sometimes also included in the region. The region is south-east of the Gulf of Mexico and Northern America, east of Central America, and north of South America.

The 2011 CFU Club Champions’ Cup was the 13th edition of the CFU Club Championship, the annual international club football competition in the Caribbean region, held amongst clubs whose football associations are affiliated with the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The top three teams in the tournament qualified for the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaicans</span> Citizens of Jamaica and their descendants

Jamaicans are the citizens of Jamaica and their descendants in the Jamaican diaspora. The vast majority of Jamaicans are of Sub-Saharan African descent, with minorities of Europeans, Indians, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and others of mixed ancestry. The bulk of the Jamaican diaspora resides in other Anglophone countries, namely Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Jamaican populations are also prominent in other Caribbean countries, territories and Commonwealth realms, where in the Cayman Islands, born Jamaicans, as well as Caymanians of Jamaican origin, make up 26.8% of the population. Outside of Anglophone countries, the largest Jamaican diaspora community lives in Central America, where Jamaicans make up a significant percentage of the population.

The 29th CARIFTA Games was held at the National Stadium in St. George's, Grenada on April 22–24, 2000. A detailed report on the results was given.

The 30th CARIFTA Games was held in Bridgetown, Barbados, on April 14–16, 2001. An appraisal of the results has been given on the occasion of 40th anniversary of the games, and on the IAAF website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 CARIFTA Games</span> International athletics championship event

The 32nd CARIFTA Games were held in the Hasely Crawford National Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on April 19–21, 2003. A detailed report on the results was given.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 CARIFTA Games</span> International athletics championship event

The 34th CARIFTA Games was held in the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago on March 26–28, 2005. The event was relocated from the National Stadium, St. George's, Grenada, because of the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan destroying 90 percent of the island's houses. An appraisal of the results has been given.

Flow is a trade name of the Caribbean former telecommunications provider Cable & Wireless Communications used to market cable television, internet, telephone, and wireless services. Flow also replaced the UTS brand in the Dutch and French Caribbean, following their acquisition of United Telecommunications Service (UTS).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Local & Regional by AnguillaLNT a SMG Product - Anguilla's Preliminary Census Findings #5: "Who are we? – Ethnic Composition and Religious Affiliation"". Anguillanews.com. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Government of Antigua and Barbuda : 2011 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Ab.gov.ag. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "100/(379/157)". Bing.com . Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Government of Antigua and Barbuda : 2011 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Ab.gov.ag. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. ↑ "Antigua and Barbuda". Joshua Project . Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Total Population by Sex, Age-Group and Religion" (PDF). Statistics.bahamas.gov.bs. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "2010 Population and Housing Census of Barbados Volume 1" (PDF). stats.gov.bb. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Joshua Project. "Country - Bermuda". Joshua Project. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  11. ↑ http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/cayman_islands.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  12. ↑ http://www.prolades.com/encyclopedia/countries/english/religion-cayman-09-eng.pdf Archived 9 October 2022 at Ghost Archive[ bare URL PDF ]
  13. ↑ "The Cayman Islands' compendium of statistics 2008" (PDF). legislativeassembly.ky. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  14. 1 2 https://www.eso.ky/UserFiles/File/The%202010%20Cayman%20Islands%20Census%20Report.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  15. ↑ "Cuba: Religious Adherents, 2010 (World Christian Database)". The Association of Religion Data Archives . Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  16. ↑ "The Association of Religion Data Archives | National Profiles". www.thearda.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  17. ↑ "World Religion Database, National Profile".
  18. ↑ "Religions in Guadeloupe".
  19. ↑ http://www.worldmap.org/uploads/9/3/4/4/9344303/martinique_profile.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  20. ↑ Rev. Clinton Chisholm (4 November 2012). "Religion and the 2011 census". Jamaica Gleaner . Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  21. 1 2 "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "100/(3838/31)". Bing.com. 17 December 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "World Religion Database, National Profile".
  24. 1 2 3 4 "Population by Religious Belief 2011" . Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "100/(46325/371)". Bing. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  26. 1 2 "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "2010 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). 204.188.173.139:9090. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Census & Surveys". Stats.gov.vc. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  29. ↑ "Redatam::CELADE, ECLAC - United Nations". www.redatam.org. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  30. ↑ IANS (30 May 2015). "Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad commemorates 170 years of Indian arrival". The Economic Times . Port of Spain. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  31. ↑ "India - Turks and Caicos Islands Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  32. ↑ "Demographics census in VGB" (PDF). data census.in.
  33. ↑ https://www.caricomstats.org/Files/Publications/NCR%20Reports/BVI.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  34. ↑ https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/BVI/VGB-2016-09-08.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  35. ↑ "Chapter II: Population Ccomposition: 2.1 Race/Ethnic Composition" (PDF). Statisticsguyana.gov.gy. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  36. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. ↑ Archived May 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  38. ↑ "Religion and the 2011 census". jamaica-gleaner.com. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  39. ↑ "2010 Population and Housing Census of Barbados Volume 1" (PDF). stats.gov.bb. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "Home" (PDF). Stats.gov.lc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  41. ↑ "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  42. ↑ "Demographic Tables : Table of Contents". Gov.ai. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.