More than 800 people are squeezed into a space that’s unofficially known as the world’s most crowded island. On a 2.4-acre patch in the Caribbean Sea, there’s no space to grow crops, no police and no modern sewerage system, but it is more densely populated per square metre than Manhattan in New York.

Fishermen had originally built Santa Cruz del Islote in the 19th Century atop a tiny patch of coral reef so they could spend longer periods at sea surrounded by abundant sea life. But content with its beautiful position off the coast of Colombia, the island, which is smaller than a football pitch, slowly became a permanent stay.

It’s thought that 200 families now live on Santa Cruz del Islote, although the number of people reported to live there varies from the hundreds to more than 1,000.

YouTuber Ruhi Çenet, who visited the island, said: “Everyone builds houses wherever they want. When they can’t find any space, they build on top of existing buildings.”

He claimed there is no family planning, and almost every inch is taken up with intertwining houses, built to accommodate its growing population.

There is also no sewerage system, so waste has to be flushed out to sea, and there are often periods without electricity. Plus, with little opportunity to work in fields outside of fishing, many residents search for roles in tourism on the nearby Isla Mucura.

The islanders have access to the freshest fish, but due to limited space for growing food, deliveries have to be made by the Colombian Navy every few weeks.

However, despite the lack of work and infrastructure, residents say there is little crime, no need for police presence, and they would not want to live anywhere else.

Despite its meagre size, there’s just enough room for a school, a church, a clinic, and even a hotel. There are also no cars or motorcycles, as you can walk from one side of the island in just two minutes.

A 42-year-old local told the Colombian travel company, Tom Plan My Trip: “Here I know everyone and everyone knows me. We have no crime here, and people get along.”

The island is about an hour from Colombia’s Caribbean coast.