With an area of 0.12 km2, Santa Cruz del Islote is the most densely populated island in the world, housing 1,200 residents.
This tiny island is located off the coast of Bolívar in Colombia. However, the lives of the island’s inhabitants are filled with numerous challenges. How is it that so many people can concentrate on such a small island? What is daily life like there?
A small island the size of two football fields remained uninhabited until about 150 years ago
In the past, Santa Cruz del Islote was a small, uninhabited island, covering less than one hectare (each hectare represents 10,000 square meters) and floating in the Caribbean Sea. Nearly 200 years ago, fishermen from a port city called Cartagena and a town named Tolú frequently visited this island to rest during their expeditions, fish, and seek shelter from storms.
Due to its elevation of only two meters above sea level and its location in a coral-rich area, the island became an attractive fishing spot. Around 150 years ago, families began migrating here and gradually settled down. They built houses close together, creating a community as multiple generations expanded. The first residents of this island collected materials from the mainland and the sea, using items like seashells, coconut husks, tree trunks, sand, and even trash to construct and expand the island.
The origin of the island’s name is also quite interesting. Locals recount that one day, the tide washed ashore a concrete cross, known as “Cruz” in Spanish. The first settlers placed it at the center of the island. Since the island was unnamed at that time, they called it “Santa Cruz del Islote,” meaning “Santa Cruz of the small island” or “The Cross of the small island” in English.
Situated in the Caribbean Sea, Santa Cruz del Islote may be cramped, but it is home to many people.
If you are tired of the crowded life of a bustling city, you might consider spending some time on a distant island, traveling alone or with a few loved ones to enjoy a rare moment of tranquility in this chaotic world. However, not every island is peaceful! Off the northern coast of Colombia lies a floating piece of land dubbed the “most crowded island on Earth”: 1,200 people live crammed into an area the size of two adjacent football fields.
What keeps the residents anchored here for so long?
Alongside the challenges of living conditions, the people here also enjoy something unique that cannot be found elsewhere: the peaceful atmosphere that pervades Santa Cruz del Islote. The residents, living in this cramped environment, are reluctant to abandon it. They reside in an area free of mosquitoes and theft. Due to the island’s small size, criminals cannot hide, so there is no need for vigilance. In fact, the islanders do not even lock their doors when they go out, living harmoniously and trusting one another completely.
The islanders make their living primarily through fishing, while some work on the nearby islands in jobs such as cooking, cleaning, or as tour guides. In the evening, they return to their cozy yet crowded island.
Currently, fishing remains the primary occupation of the residents of Santa Cruz del Islote. However, this work does not lead to significant development for the islanders. Nowadays, climate change severely impacts the aquatic environment, along with overfishing leading to scarce seafood. Thus, the future of the residents of Santa Cruz del Islote is uncertain.
Santa Cruz del Islote – the world’s most densely populated island located in the Caribbean Sea, offshore of Colombia. With a population of 1,200 people living on an area of 0.12 km2, the population density on this island is four times that of Manhattan’s financial district in New York City, USA.
This most densely populated island in the world has been inhabited for 150 years. The first residents were people from the coastal town of Baru, located 50 km away.
Interestingly, there are no doctors on Santa Cruz del Islote. There are no high-rise buildings, and residents do not need to lock their doors due to the peacefulness and absence of theft. Because there is no water supply or drainage system, the Colombian Navy provides water to the residents every three weeks. Moreover, there are no mosquitoes, allowing residents to set up tents for sleeping without fear of being bitten.
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Currently, there are 90 houses, 2 stores, one restaurant, and one school on the island. When tourists visit Santa Cruz del Islote, the only space they can access is an area equivalent to half the size of a tennis court.
Some residents fish using nets or dive to catch seafood. They often go out to sea to fish in small motorboats.
Fishermen dive down about 10 to 20 meters to catch fish.
Due to the small area and large population, Santa Cruz del Islote does not have enough space to bury the dead, so there is no cemetery.
Therefore, they bury their deceased loved ones on a nearby island called Tintipan.
It is estimated that about half of the population of Santa Cruz del Islote has been buried on Tintipan Island after they passed away.
Most residents of Santa Cruz del Islote work elsewhere to earn a living, such as fishing or working in nearby resorts.
The economy driven by a combination of fishing and tourism
The residents of this island rely on fishing and small-scale tourism to make a living. They perform various jobs for luxury hotels on nearby islands, such as cleaning, cooking, and also work as part-time tour guides.
Although fishing is the primary source of income for the locals, the declining fish population has forced the men to seek alternative employment. Consequently, tourism has become a significant contributor to their economy these days.
The nearby island known as Múcura features a luxurious resort and offers tourists activities such as fishing, snorkeling, and diving, while also serving as a workplace for many residents of Santa Cruz. You can also visit the most densely populated island in the world at a very low cost. One of the main attractions of the island is the aquarium, where visitors can pay a small fee to observe small sharks, stingrays, and other marine creatures. You can stroll through the alleys of the island and chat with friendly locals. If you’re a soccer fan, you might even get to play a match with the residents. The fees collected help preserve the island and keep its operations running smoothly, covering operational costs.
