Except for the northern half of The Bahamas, the islands of the West Indies are all in the tropics, the warm climate zone between latitudes 10 and 23 27 north. In these latitudes the sun is high overhead all year, so there is little variation from day to day between the times of sunrise and sunset.

Spanish, English, French, Dutch, Haitian Creole and Papiamento are the predominant official languages of various countries in the region, though a handful of unique Creole languages or dialects can also be found from one country to another.

The British West Indies dollar (BWI$) was the currency of British Guiana and the Eastern Caribbean territories of the British West Indies from 1935 to 1965, when it was largely replaced by the East Caribbean dollar. The monetary policy of the currency was overseen by the British Caribbean Currency Board (BCCB).

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The total population of the West Indies Federation was between 3 and 4 million people, with the majority being of black West African descent. Minorities included Indians from the subcontinent (called East Indians), Europeans, Chinese, and Caribs. There was also a large population of mixed descent.

Chaguaramas is also the location of the fastest growing nautical industry in the Caribbean; recognized as an international hurricane "safe-zone", marinas and boatyards have sprung up along the south shore and thousands of yachts make the area their home every year.