This chapter surveys Caribbean population movements from a regional and global perspective. First, the essay outlines the historical development of Caribbean emigrations since the Haitian Revolution (1791–1804). Second, the author identifies the main currents in contemporary population displacements in the Caribbean. Third, the essay analyzes the migrants’ socioeconomic profiles, as well as their incorporation into the receiving labor markets. Fourth, the multiple impacts of emigration on the sending societies are briefly assessed. The chapter concludes that emigration is not an effective development strategy but merely a temporary outlet for the region's surplus labor. Despite its short-term benefits, especially for the host societies, in the long run emigration contributes to aggravating the economic and political problems of the sending countries.
