 Location within the Lesser Antilles | |
 | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Caribbean Sea North Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 14°N 61°W / 14°N 61°W |
| Total islands | 90+ |
| Major islands | Carriacou Dominica Grenada Martinique Petite Martinique Saint Lucia Saint Vincent |
| Area | 3,232.5 km2 (1,248.1 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,447 m (4747 ft) |
| Highest point | Morne Diablotins, Dominica |
| Administration | |
| Largest settlement | Roseau |
| Largest settlement | St. George's |
| Largest settlement | Fort-de-France |
| Largest settlement | Castries |
| Largest settlement | Kingstown |
| Demographics | |
| Population | c. 854,000 |
| Pop. density | 227/km2 (588/sq mi) |
The Windward Islands are the southern, generally larger islands of the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean islands or West Indies. Located approximately between latitudes 10° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W, they extend from Dominica in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south, and lie south of the Leeward Islands and east of Leeward Antilles.
The name was also used to refer to a British colony which existed between 1833 and 1960 and originally consisted of the islands of Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent. Today, these islands constitute three sovereign states, the latter of which is now known as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The island of Dominica was traditionally considered a part of the Leeward Islands until 1940, when it was transferred from the British Leeward Islands colony to the British Windward Islands. It now composes the fourth sovereign state in the group.
Barbados (until 1885) and Tobago (until 1889) were also part of the British Windward Islands colony but are not today regarded as being part of the Windward Islands grouping.