Smallest Countries in North America by Population

North America includes everything from tiny Caribbean islands to vast continental states, and looking at population sizes helps you understand how communities and services vary across the region. Quick lists make it easier to spot which places are sparsely populated and which are densely settled.

There are 23 Smallest Countries in North America by Population, ranging from Antigua and Barbuda to United States. For each entry you’ll find below the Flag,Population (people),Year so you can compare visual identity, headcount, and the reference year at a glance.

Which country on the list has the smallest population right now?

Rankings can shift with new censuses and estimates, but the table below shows the most recent figures available for each country; check the Year column to see which data point is current and use that to identify the single smallest population at the time of the source.

How should I interpret the Flag,Population (people),Year columns?

The Flag column provides a quick visual, Population (people) gives the headcount or estimate, and Year shows when that number was recorded—together they let you compare size, currency, and identity without digging through separate sources.

Smallest Countries in North America by Population

Images and Descriptions

Saint Kitts and Nevis

The smallest sovereign nation in the Western Hemisphere, located in the West Indies. Its capital is Basseterre. The country is known for its beautiful beaches, cloud-shrouded dormant volcano, and its unique citizenship-by-investment program.

Dominica

This small Caribbean nation, with its capital at Roseau, is renowned for its lush natural environment. Known as the “Nature Isle of the Caribbean,” it boasts 365 rivers, boiling lakes, and dense rainforests, making it a haven for ecotourism enthusiasts.

Antigua and Barbuda

Located in the Lesser Antilles, this twin-island nation’s capital is St. John’s. It is famously said to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. The country is a popular tourist destination known for its clear waters, coral reefs, and sailing events.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

An island country in the Lesser Antilles with Kingstown as its capital. The nation consists of the main island and a chain of smaller islands. It’s a major hub for yachting and was a key filming location for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.

Grenada

Known as the “Isle of Spice,” this Caribbean country is a leading global producer of nutmeg and mace. Its capital, St. George’s, is widely considered one of the most beautiful harbor towns in the Caribbean. The nation also includes the smaller islands of Carriacou.

Saint Lucia

An Eastern Caribbean island nation with its capital at Castries. It’s distinguished by its iconic twin volcanic peaks, the Pitons, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its culture is a vibrant mix of African, French, and English influences.

Barbados

The easternmost island in the Caribbean, with Bridgetown as its capital. A former British colony, it became a parliamentary republic in 2021. Barbados is known for its beautiful beaches, rum distilleries, and as the birthplace of superstar Rihanna.

The Bahamas

An archipelago of over 700 islands and cays in the Atlantic Ocean, with Nassau as its capital. It’s a major tourist destination famed for its stunning white-sand beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the vibrant Junkanoo street parade.

Belize

Located on the eastern coast of Central America, its capital is Belmopan. It’s the only Central American country where English is the official language. Belize is home to the massive Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world.

Trinidad and Tobago

This twin-island nation off the coast of Venezuela has its capital at Port of Spain. It is one of the most industrialized countries in the Caribbean and is also the birthplace of steelpan music, calypso, and the limbo dance.

Jamaica

A Caribbean island nation with its capital in Kingston. It has a massive global cultural footprint, known worldwide as the birthplace of reggae music, Bob Marley, and some of the world’s fastest sprinters. Its landscape includes mountains and reef-lined beaches.

Panama

Located on the isthmus linking Central and South America, its capital is Panama City. The country is most famous for the Panama Canal, a marvel of engineering that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, making it a critical hub for global trade.

Costa Rica

This Central American country, with its capital at San José, is famous for its incredible biodiversity and progressive environmental policies. Notably, Costa Rica constitutionally abolished its army in 1949, redirecting funds towards education and healthcare.

El Salvador

The smallest country in Central America by area, with San Salvador as its capital. Despite its size, it’s known for Pacific coast beaches popular for surfing and its many volcanoes. It was the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender.

Nicaragua

The largest country in Central America, with Managua as its capital. Known as the “land of lakes and volcanoes,” it features vast Lake Nicaragua, home to the world’s only freshwater sharks, and boasts rich colonial architecture and stunning natural landscapes.

Honduras

A Central American nation with its capital at Tegucigalpa. It has a long Caribbean coastline dotted with the Bay Islands, which are part of the vast Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The country is also home to the famous ancient Mayan ruins of Copán.

Cuba

The largest island in the Caribbean, with Havana as its capital. The nation is known for its vibrant culture, Spanish colonial architecture, classic American cars, legendary cigars, and influential music. It is one of the world’s last remaining socialist states.

Dominican Republic

Occupying the eastern part of Hispaniola island, its capital is Santo Domingo, the oldest European city in the Americas. The country is the Caribbean’s most visited destination, known for its pristine beaches, golf courses, and lively merengue music.

Haiti

Sharing Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, its capital is Port-au-Prince. Haiti was the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean, the first Black-led republic, and the only nation established as the result of a successful slave revolt.

Guatemala

A Central American country south of Mexico, with Guatemala City as its capital. It’s known for its rich indigenous culture and being the heartland of the ancient Maya civilization, featuring volcanic landscapes and famous archaeological sites like Tikal.

Canada

The world’s second-largest country by total area, with Ottawa as its capital. Despite its vast size, its population is concentrated near its southern border. Canada is known for its stunning natural landscapes, multicultural cities, and high quality of life.

Mexico

The most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world, with its capital at Mexico City. It’s famed for its rich cultural heritage from Aztec and Mayan civilizations, vibrant cuisine, and popular beach resorts. It is a major economic power in Latin America.

United States

The third most populous country in the world, with its capital at Washington, D.C. A highly diverse nation, it is a global economic, political, and cultural powerhouse. Its vast geography includes everything from tropical beaches to arctic tundra.

Smallest Countries by Population in Other Continents