Hinduism in the West Indies

This article is mainly for Hinduism in the West Indies Countries/Territories where Hindus do not constitute a large population(under 10,000). For Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago, see: Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago

Part of a series on Hinduism by country

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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, where they constituted 25 percent of the total population, as of 1995. Smaller groups of Indo-Caribbeans live elsewhere in the Caribbean, especially Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia, Cayman Islands and Bahamas.

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] Virtually all are recent immigrants from India or the other significantly Hindu countries(Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago).

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 the Brethren(161 to 0), Presbyterians(170 to 142), Salvation Army(369 to 365) and Islam(189 to 208).^[4][2] 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%.^[5]

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 0.31% of the total population.^[6] The 2010 Census showed that the number of Hindus rose by 215 people(or 25%) to be at 1,055.^[7] This increased Hinduism's share of the total Barbados population from 0.31% in 2000 to 0.38% in 2010.

Bahamas

According to the 2010 Census, there were a total of 428 Hindus living in Bahamas, making up 0.12% of the total population.^[8] The 2010 census showed that slightly more than half of Hindus(around 220 people) in the Bahamas are younger than age 34.

Bermuda

Most of the Hindus in Bermuda are of South Indian/Tamil descent. The population of Hindu's in Bermuda is 0.2%^[9]

Cayman Islands

Hinduism is a minority religion in the Cayman Islands and is one the smallest religions. Hinduism is a comparatively new arrival, as there were only 98 Hindus in the Caymans according to the 2000 census. The 2010 Census showed the number of Hindus surpassing 450, possibly due to emigration from Guyana and India. Hinduism now accounts for 0.8% of the total Cayman Islands population.

Dominican Republic

Hinduism is a fast-growing religion in the Dominican Republic, showing (along with Buddhism) a large number of yearly adherents.

Grenada

According to the 2000 census and the National Census Report 2001, there were 156 Hindus in Grenada accounting 0.15% of the total population.

Jamaica

Jamaica was once home to 25,000 Hindus (till the mid 20th century). However, most of them converted to Christianity. 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 ever 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.^[10] 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.^[11][12] 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.^[11]

There is currently no data for religion from the 2011 Census.

Netherlands Antilles

Just like Antigua and Barbuda, the population of Hinduism in the Netherlands Antilles is 0.1%. Hinduism is mainly practiced on one of the islands like Saint Martin.

Puerto Rico

As of 2006, there were 3,482 Hindus in Puerto Rico making 0.09% of the population according to Religious Intelligence.

St. Lucia

Most of the Indo-St. Lucian community 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%.^[13] Most of them were recent immigrants. Of the original East Indian community, only 1-2% retains Hinduism.

St. Kitts-Nevis

Hindus made up 0.8% of the total population of St. Kitts-Nevis according to the 2001 census.^[14] This included 233 males(1.01% of the male total) and 138 females(0.59% of the female total), which made a total of 371 people.^[15] Hinduism is currently the second largest religion in St. Kitts-Nevis after Christianity and the 3rd fastest growing religion.^[15]

St. Vincent-Grenadines

The 2000 census reported 83 Hindus in St.V-G making up 0.08% of the total population.^[16] 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".^[17]

US Virgin Islands

According to the 2000 census there were more than 400 Hindus in the USVI (0.4% of the population). Most of them were recent immigrants from India, and most of them reside on St. Thomas.

Trinidad and Tobago

For full article about Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago, see: Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago

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.^[18] There are currently 240,000 Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago, with the decline resulting from emigration.

Hindu populations according to the latest Census

• Trinidad and Tobago: 240,100 or 18.2% (Census of 2011)^[19]
• Guyana: 213,282 or 28.4% (Census of 2002)^[20]
• Puerto Rico: 3,482 or 0.09% (Religious Intelligence 2006)
• Jamaica: 1,836 or 0.07% (Census of 2011)^[21]
• Barbados: 1,055 or 0.38% (Census of 2010)^[22]
• St Lucia: 500 or 0.3% (Census of 2010)^[23]
• Cayman Islands: 454 or 0.8% (Census of 2010)^[24]
• Bahamas: 428 or 0.12% (Census of 2010)^[8]
• US Virgin Islands: 400 or 0.4% (Census of 2000)
• Antigua and Barbuda: 379 or 0.4% (Census of 2011)
• St Kitts: 371 or 0.80% (Census of 2001)^[15]
• Grenada: 156 or 0.15% (Census of 2001)^[25]
• St Vincent: 83 or 0.08% (Census of 2001)^[16]
• Anguilla: 58 or 0.42% (Census of 2011)^[26]
• Montserrat: 31 or 0.8% (Census of 2001)

See also

• Indo-Caribbean
  • Indo-Trinidadian
• Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
• Hinduism in South America
• Hinduism in the United States
• Hinduism in Canada

References

1. "Local & Regional by AnguillaLNT a SMG Product - ANGUILLA's PRELIMINARY CENSUS FINDINGS #5: “Who are we? – Ethnic Composition and Religious Affiliation”". Anguillanews.com. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
2. "Government of Antigua and Barbuda : 2011 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Ab.gov.ag. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
3. "100/(379/157)". Bing.com. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
4. "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
5. Ethnic groups of Antigua and Barbuda
6. "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
7. "2010 Population and Housing Census of Barbados Volume 1" (PDF). Barstats.gov.bb/. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
8. "TOTAL POPULATION BY SEX, AGE-GROUP AND RELIGION" (PDF). Statistics.bahamas.gov.bs. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
9. Joshua Project. "Country - Bermuda :: Joshua Project Joshua Project". Joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
10. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20121104/focus/focus4.html
11. "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
12. "100/(3838/31)". Bing.com. 2006-12-17. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
13. "2010 Population and Housing Census" (PDF). 204.188.173.139:9090. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
14. "100/(46325/371)". Bing. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
15. "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
16. "Census & Surveys". Stats.gov.vc. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
17. http://www.redatam.org/binsvg/RpWebEngine.exe/Portal?BASE=SVG2001&lang=Eng
18. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/nris-in-news/trinidad-and-tobago-pm-kamla-persad-commemorates-170-years-of-indian-arrival/articleshow/47480224.cms
19. Archived May 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
20. "CHAPTER II: POPULATION COMPOSITION : 2.1 Race/Ethnic Composition" (PDF). Statisticsguyana.gov.gy. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
22. >"2010 Population and Housing Census of Barbados Volume 1" (PDF). Barstats.gov.bb/. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
23. "Home" (PDF). Stats.gov.lc. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
24. "The Cayman Islands' 2010 Census of Population and Housing Report" (PDF). Eso.ky. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
25. "2000 Round of Population and Housing Census Sub-project" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
26. "Demographic Tables : Table of Contents" (PDF). Gov.ai. Retrieved 2015-05-20.

• This article contains public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies on Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana (1995).