South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2026

A unique combination of the latest data on, and detailed analysis of, a vast region. Scrupulously revised and updated, this definitive survey of the countries and territories of South America, Central America and the Caribbean combines expert analysis and commentary, up-to-date economic and socio-political data and extensive directory information.

General Survey

Essays by leading experts on the area cover issues of regional importance, including an examination of whether the Caribbean Court of Justice is furthering independence and decolonization in the Caribbean; moves towards republicanism and growing calls for reparations in the Caribbean; the energy crisis in Latin America; the evolving relationship between Caribbean countries and the People’s Republic of China; and the cultural and political relevance of religion in Latin America. This in-depth analysis is complemented by extensive coverage of the activities of international organizations operating in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, together with background information on the major commodities of the region. Also included are detailed listings of research institutes studying South America, Central America and the Caribbean, and comprehensive bibliographies of books and periodicals relevant to the region.

Country Surveys

Individual chapters on each country, comprising: a geographical overview and map, an essay on the history and the economy; an extensive statistical survey of economic and demographic indicators, including area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, communications media and education; a directory of names, addresses and further key information on the constitution, government, election commissions, political organizations, diplomatic representation, judicial system, religion, the media, finance, trade and industry, transport, tourism, defence and education. A bibliography is also provided for further research.

Regional Information

full details of the main regional organizations active within Latin America and the Caribbean. A separate section is included on major commodities of the area. Also included is a directory of research institutes specializing in the region, and bibliographies of books and periodicals covering the region.

Europa Publications’ regional publications are compiled by a team of editors and researchers, with introductory and country-specific material provided by specialists in their field:

Dr Safiya Ali. Lecturer in Law at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, and Attorney-at-Law specializing in international law, international organizations and regional integration

Daniel H. Alves. Graduate Research Assistant, Global South Research Group and

PhD candidate in Political Economy at King’s College London, United Kingdom

Prof. Dr Anna Ayuso. Senior Research Fellow at Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), Barcelona, Spain.

Dr Marc Becker. Professor of History, Latin American History, at Truman State University, Kirksville, MO, USA.

Dwayne Benjamin. Head of the Department of History and Caribbean Studies at the University of Guyana, Georgetown,

Manoela Carpenedo. Postdoctoral researcher in Religion and Extremism in the Global South at the University of Groningen, Netherlands.

Dr Henderson Carter. Head of the Department of History and Philosophy in the Faculty of Humanities and Education at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados.

Prof. Peter Clegg. Professor in Politics and International Relations and Head of the School of Social Sciences at the University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.

Prof. Justin Daniel. Professor of Political Science at the University of the Antilles and President of the Economic, Social, Environmental, Cultural and Education Council of Martinique.

Dr David Díaz Arias. Full Professor in the School of History at the University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.

Fabio Andrés Díaz Pabón. Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa, and member of the Comunicación y Democracia research group of the Universidad del Tolima, Colombia.

Dyon Elliott. Writer and researcher specializing in Belizean affairs.

Dr Matthias Erlandsen. Adjunct Professor, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.

Jorge Luis Fabra-Zamora. Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law, New York, USA.

Dr Anthony Goebel McDermott. Full Professor in the School of History at the University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.

Prof. Francisco E. González. Senior Associate Professor in International Political Economy Latin America at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC, USA.

Prof. Dr Susanne Gratius. Professor of International Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain.

Dr Andre Haughton. Senior Lecturer/Economist in International Finance and Applied Economics in the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

Magda Catalina Jiménez Jiménez. Lecturer and Researcher in the Center for Research and Special Projects (CIPE) in the Faculty of Finance, Government and International Relations of the Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.

Prof. Peter Lambert. Head of the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies (PoLIS) at the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

Prof. Robert E. Looney. International consultant specializing in economic development and Distinguished Professor, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA.

Ivan Luzardo-Luna. Senior Fellow in the Department of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, PA, USA.

Dr Angus McNelly. Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom.

Andrés Molina-Ochoa. Assistant Professor of Philosophy at South Texas College, TX, USA, and Member of the Research Group in Theory of Law and Legal Education.

Dr Ellen Moodie. Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, IL, USA.

Dr Emily Morris. Honorary Research Associate in the Economic Development of Latin America and the Caribbean at University College London’s Institute of the Americas, United Kingdom.

Esteban Nicholls Andrade. Lecturer in Social and Global Studies at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Quito, Ecuador.

Prof. Francisco Panizza. Professor of Latin American and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom.

Prof. Olivia Saunders. Professor of Banking, Finance and Economics in the Faculty of Business Studies at the University of The Bahamas.

Dr Thomas Singh. Director of the GREEN Institute and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana.

Dr Ronald Bruce St John. Independent scholar specializing in the political economy of developing states.

Dr Michael Toussaint. Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.

Prof. Anne Ulentin. Associate Professor of History and Head of Department, History, Philosophy and Religion, in the School of Social Sciences at the University of The Bahamas.

Dr Stephen Wilkinson. Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom.

Mark Wilson. Writer and researcher specializing in Caribbean affairs.

DeLisle Worrell. International Economic Consultant, member of the Bretton Woods Committee, Washington, DC, and of the Bermuda Financial Policy Council, and former Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados.

Dr Christopher Wylde. Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations in the Department of Business, Law and Society at St Mary’s University, Twickenham,

United Kingdom.