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Which countries are SIDS?

Published in Small Island Developing States 2 mins read

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a distinct group of developing countries and territories that share similar sustainable development challenges. These include small populations, limited resources, remote locations, susceptibility to natural disasters, and high vulnerability to external shocks and global crises. The United Nations recognizes a specific list of these states and territories.

Countries Recognized as SIDS

The following are sovereign nations categorized as Small Island Developing States:

No. Country (Sovereign State)
1. Antigua and Barbuda
2. Bahamas
3. Bahrain
4. Barbados
5. Belize
6. Cabo Verde
7. Comoros
8. Cuba
9. Dominica
10. Dominican Republic
11. Fiji
12. Grenada
13. Guinea-Bissau
14. Guyana
15. Haiti
16. Jamaica
17. Kiribati
18. Maldives
19. Marshall Islands
20. Mauritius
21. Federated States of Micronesia
22. Nauru
23. Niue
24. Palau
25. Papua New Guinea
26. Saint Kitts and Nevis
27. Saint Lucia
28. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
29. Samoa
30. Sao Tome and Principe
31. Seychelles
32. Singapore
33. Solomon Islands
34. Suriname
35. Timor-Leste
36. Tonga
37. Trinidad and Tobago
38. Tuvalu
39. Vanuatu

Non-Sovereign Territories Recognized as SIDS

In addition to sovereign states, several non-UN member territories are also categorized as Small Island Developing States due to their shared characteristics and vulnerabilities:

No. Territory
1. Anguilla
2. Aruba
3. Bermuda
4. British Virgin Islands
5. Cayman Islands
6. Cook Islands
7. Curaçao
8. French Polynesia
9. Guadeloupe
10. Guam
11. Martinique
12. Montserrat
13. New Caledonia
14. Northern Mariana Islands
15. Puerto Rico
16. Sint Maarten
17. Turks and Caicos Islands
18. United States Virgin Islands
19. Wallis and Futuna

Key Challenges for SIDS

These nations and territories face unique challenges that often hinder their sustainable development efforts. These include:

  • Climate Change: Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (hurricanes, cyclones) pose existential threats to low-lying islands.
  • Economic Vulnerabilities: Reliance on a few economic sectors (e.g., tourism, agriculture), small domestic markets, high import dependencies, and limited access to finance make their economies fragile and susceptible to external shocks.
  • Environmental Degradation: Fragile ecosystems, limited freshwater resources, waste management issues, and biodiversity loss are significant concerns.
  • High Debt Burden: Many SIDS struggle with high public debt, limiting their fiscal space for investment in sustainable development.

Addressing these challenges requires targeted international support and partnerships tailored to their specific needs.