Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
448,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.jm
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
90.11% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
459,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
118 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
3.34 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, goat milk, yams, chicken, oranges, coconuts, bananas, plantains, pumpkins/squash, pineapples (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$4.466 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$4.041 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.357 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.114 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$430.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$43.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$397.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$234.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$302.6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$156.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$149.3 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$136.401 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$568.932 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$678.808 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$15.812 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$9.636 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
156.440 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
100.398 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
110.935 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
116.970 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
125.095 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
127.965 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
128.872 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
133.312 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
142.403 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
150.790 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
153.427 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
154.159 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
156.440 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
aluminum oxide, refined petroleum, natural gas, liquor, processed fruits and nuts (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$6.424 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$7.275 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$7.124 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
38% (2019 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
13.6% (2019 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
76.2% (2019 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-52.1% (2019 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
24.1% (2019 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.2% (2019 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
9.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
18.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
60.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$12,890 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.93 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$36.598 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
35.3 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
39.9 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
29.6% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.2% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$9.726 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$9.866 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$9.524 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-1.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.69% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.35% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.38% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.74% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.91% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.23% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.86% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10.35% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.47% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
5.41% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
1.57 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
16.7% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
135.89% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
132.41% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
115.89% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
96.14% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
85.77% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
97.87% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$25.729 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$26.557 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$27.953 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$29.471 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$30.618 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$27.640 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$29.599 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$28.596 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$29.341 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$29.13 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.92% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.76% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
2.29% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.52% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.30% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.70% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.44% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.75% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-0.54% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$9,210 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$9,476 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$9,948 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$10,466 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$10,845 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$9,764 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$10,431 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$11,888 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$12,651 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$2.172 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$2.269 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$2.361 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$3.067 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$3.707 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
21.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
18.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
17.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$2.914 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.291 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$3.781 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$3.532 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$3.631 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$3.938 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$4.838 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.52 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.869 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.633 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
25.7% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.99% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
6.50% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
5.19% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
4.08% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
4.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
4.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
16.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
12.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
14.5% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
100 metric tons (2022 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
87.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
6.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
3.301 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
1.242 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.181 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
42.095 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
239,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
1.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
6.04 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
7.89 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Environment: Environmental issues
heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston from vehicle emissions; land erosion
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
38.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
56.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
5.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
14.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
10.823 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
78.972 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
43.989 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
339.867 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
58.93% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.052 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Geography: Area: land
10,831 sq km
Geography: Area: water
160 sq km
Geography: Coastline
1,022 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
18 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Geography: Geography - note
third largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola); strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
Geography: Irrigated land
250 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
38.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
56.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
5.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
hurricanes (especially July to November)
Geography: Population distribution
population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Geography: Terrain
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Government: Administrative divisions
14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is a blend of the words "king's" and "town;" named after the English king at the time of the city's founding in 1692, WILLIAM III
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
18 00 N, 76 48 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
4 out of the previous 5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections, such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections, such as fundamental rights and freedoms, requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum
Government: Constitution: history
several previous (pre-independence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Jamaica
Government: Country name: etymology
from the Arawak word xaymaca , meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Scott RENNER (since 13 August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
KingstonACS@state.gov https://jm.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
(876) 702-6348
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3210 Kingston Place, Washington DC 20521-3210
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
(876) 702-6000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Antony B. ANDERSON (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Miami, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
contactus@jamaicaembassy.org Jamaican Embassy (embassyofjamaica.org)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 452-0036
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 452-0660
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives as prime minister
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)
Government: Flag
description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles, two green (top and bottom) and two black (left and right) meaning: green stands for hope, vegetation, and agriculture; black for hardships overcome and to be faced; and yellow for sunshine and natural resources
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (consists of president of the court and a minimum of 4 judges); Supreme Court (40 judges organized in specialized divisions)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
chief justice of the Supreme Court and president of the Court of Appeal appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister; other judges of both courts appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; judges of both courts serve till age 70
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts
Government: Legal system
common law system based on the English model
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
August 2030
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
9/3/2025
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
63 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) (35); People's National Party (PNP) (28)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
30.2%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
September 2030
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
9/18/2025
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
21 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
33.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1962
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
Government: National color(s)
green, yellow, black
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Blue and John Crow Mountains (m); The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 ( 1mixed,1 cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Government: National symbol(s)
green-and-black streamertail (bird), guaiacwood ( Guiacum officinale )
Government: Political parties
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP People's National Party or PNP United Independents' Congress or UIC
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Europeans first saw Jamaica when Christopher COLUMBUS arrived in 1494, and the Spanish settled the island early in the 16th century. The Native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced with African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter-million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958, it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurring violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, corruption, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
Military and Security: Military - note
in addition to its responsibility of defending against external aggression, the Jamaican Defense Force's (JDF) primary missions are border, cyber, internal, and maritime security; other missions include search and rescue, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping; it has arrest authority and partners with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), particularly in support of combating crime and violence; both the JDF and JCF are under the Ministry of National Security, which directs policy for the security forces; the JDF participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, including with the armed forces of Canada, the UK, the US, and other Caribbean nations while Jamaica had a militia force as early as the 1660s, the JDF was constituted in 1962 from the West India Regiment (WIR), a British colonial regiment which dates back to 1795 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Jamaica Defense Force (JDF): Jamaica Regiment (Land Force), Maritime, Air, and Cyber Command (MACC), Support Brigade, Caribbean Military Academy, Jamaica National Reserve (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 4,000 active Jamaica Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the JDF's inventory features equipment mostly from Australia, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.87% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.95% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.97% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.33% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.68% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.71% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.47% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.29% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.19% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.27% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-23 for voluntary military service (17 with parental consent) for men and women; 18-28 for the reserves; no conscription; since 2017, the JDF's standard mode of recruitment is to enroll recruits ages 18-23 through the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC), which has a service requirement of 12 months (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
23.8% (male 342,691/female 329,773)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65.7% (male 914,364/female 941,816)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
10.4% (2024 est.) (male 140,440/female 154,629)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
16.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.5% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.60% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
35.2% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
14.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
6.9 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
50.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
36 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 85.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 14.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
17.9% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.51% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.91 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
19% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
9.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
16.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
74.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
69.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
90.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
597,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
130 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.7 years
People and Society: Median age: male
30.1 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
21.2 years (2008 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Jamaican
People and Society: Net migration rate
-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
24.7% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
2,839,175 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.25% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,484,744
People and Society: Population: male
1,453,759
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2015 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2015 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2015 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.91 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
3.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
15.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.35 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
58.93% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
Transportation: Airports
20 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
6Y
Transportation: Heliports
2 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 1, general cargo 11, oil tanker 1, other 27
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
40 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Falmouth, Kingston, Lucea, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rio Bueno, Rocky Point, Savannah la Mar
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
11 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
8
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.