BACKGROUND

According to the United Nations Population Division's 2025 data, the Caribbean region has a total population of approximately 44.6 million people. Of this population, about 8.9 million individuals are aged between 15 and 29, representing roughly 20% of the total population. These figures underscore the significance of youth in the Caribbean's demographic landscape, highlighting the importance of addressing their unique challenges and harnessing their potential for sustainable development.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an opportunity to galvanize action aimed at promoting greater inclusion of youth in all spheres. This roadmap recognizes in several of its goals the centrality of the full incorporation of youth as a necessary condition to move towards more inclusive societies, in which no one is left behind, on a path to sustainable development. However, youth in the Caribbean face many challenges that need to be addressed as precursors to creating environments that enable them to reach their maximum potential to contribute to the achievement of SDGs by 2030, thereby leaving a legacy for future youth generations.

From a social perspective, the Caribbean is grappling with high poverty rates, inequality, escalating levels of crime and violence, elevated youth unemployment, and an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The region experiences some of the highest youth unemployment rates globally, with limited formal job opportunities. Notably, unemployment among young women has averaged around 30% since 2000, compared to 22% among young men, reflecting gendered barriers to labour-force entry, care burdens, and occupational segmentation. Escalating levels of crime and violence, including gender-based violence, is one of the main threats to social security, with the region also experiencing one of the highest rates globally. 

From an environmental perspective, Caribbean SIDS - due to their size and geographical location, are characterized by fragile natural environments; fresh-water scarcity; exposure to natural disasters (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions); and threats associated with the effects of climate change (higher intensity hurricanes, floods, landslides, and droughts). The impacts of climate change are becoming more evident in the region with more observed very hot days and nights in a year, rising sea levels and recent influxes of Sargassum blooms which have negatively impacted coastal communities and economies. These risks are now embedded in the global SIDS policy framework, including the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), which underscores climate resilience, financing constraints, and the need to strengthen institutions to address transnational crime and violence as part of sustainable development in SIDS contexts.

At the same time, digital transformation and AI are becoming pivotal to the subregion’s development trajectory, offering pathways to improve public services, disaster risk management, productivity and skills development, while also creating risks around labour-market disruption, data governance gaps, and unequal access. There is the urgency of building AI governance, strengthening digital infrastructure and talent pipelines, and ensuring that adoption supports inclusion rather than widening existing inequalities.

The main goal of the Caribbean Youth Dialogues is to collect regional youth perspectives about the main discussion topics at this year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030.” The dialogues will take place via WEBEX over the course of two evenings. The programme consists of several panels, in which various Caribbean themes are examined via discussions and presentations with youth representatives and experts. With five years left to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda, Caribbean youth are stepping forward to examine where progress stands and what must happen next. “5 More…Let’s Talk About It” invites open dialogue on the actions, innovations and partnerships needed to advance sustainable development in the region.

Key issues

SDG 6

Ensure universal and equitable access to clean water and hygiene for all

SDG 7

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

SDG 9

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

SDG 11

Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities

SDG 17

Revitalize the global partnerships for sustainable development