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Jamaica
Jamaica
Population
2.8M
Rank #140Source: World Bank
Capital
Kingston
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$22.01B
Rank #124Source: World Bank
Land Area
11.0K km²
Rank #161Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
71.479 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 10,991 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation: mean elevation: 18 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural Hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
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
Land Use: agricultural land: 41.4% (2011 est.) forest: 31.1% (2011 est.) other: 27.5% (2011 est.)
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
Natural Resources
bauxitealuminagypsumlimestone
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.36
Population
2.8M
Ethnic Groups
Black (92.1%)mixed (6.1%)East Indian (0.8%)other (0.4%)unspecified (0.7%)
Religions
Protestant 64.8% (includes Seventh Day Adventist (12%)Pentecostal (11%)Other Church of God (9.2%)New Testament Church of God (7.2%)Baptist (6.7%)Church of God in Jamaica (4.8%)Church of God of Prophecy (4.5%)Anglican (2.8%)United Church (2.1%)Methodist (1.6%)Revived (1.4%)Brethren (0.9%)and Moravian (0.7%)Roman Catholic (2.2%)Jehovah's Witness (1.9%)Rastafarian (1.1%)other (6.5%)none (21.3%)unspecified (2.3%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$7,753.801
GDP per Capita PPP
12,890.266
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
7,210
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
39.9
(2021)
(2021)
Unemployment
3.151%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
5.412%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
97.866%
(2020)
(2020)
Energy
Electricity Access
97.7%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
10.5%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
8.074 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
3.85 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
12.755%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
56.191% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
89.473%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
115.092%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
15.785%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
Not Available
Container Port Traffic
2,137,500 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
1,215.272
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
22,197.64 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Jamaica Defense Force (JDF): Jamaica Regiment (Ground Forces), Maritime-Air-Cyber Command
Personnel Strength
assessments of the size of the the Jamaica Defense Forces vary; approximately 3,500 active personnel (3,000 Ground Forces; 300 Coast Guard; 200 Air Wing)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.26B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.27%
Military Expenditure History
1.6% of GDP (2019) 1.3% of GDP (2018) 1% of GDP (2017) 1% of GDP (2016) 1% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the Jamaica Defense Force's inventory is limited and features mostly older equipment imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including the UK and US; since 2010, Jamaica has received limited...
Service Age & Obligation
17 1/2 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
92.36%
(2011)
(2011)
Primary Enrollment
87.738%
(2023)
(2023)
Secondary Enrollment
85.435%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
26.233%
(2015)
(2015)
Education Spending
5.514% of GDP
(2024)
(2024)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
24.794:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.46
(2023)
(2023)
Safe Water Access
87.556%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
19.3 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
18.253 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
70.144
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
74
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
99%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
1.4%
(2021)
(2021)
Food Insecurity
7.7%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
9.076%
(2023)
(2023)
Governance
Women in Government
27.419%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.56
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.39
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.41
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.10
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.17
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.11
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Legal System
common law system based on the English model
Executive Branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and the opposition leader - 13 seats allocated to...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of president of the court and a minimum of 4 judges); Supreme Court (40 judges organized in specialized divisions); note - appeals beyond Jamaica's highest...
National Symbols
Flag Description
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side); green represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects hardships...
National Symbols
green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black
National Anthem
name: Jamaica, Land We Love lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE note: adopted 1962
Safety
Homicide Rate
49.44 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): English, Jamaican Patois
Currency: JMD ($)
Timezone(s): UTC-05:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +1
Car Sign: JA
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Satellite image of Cuba (center) and Jamaica (lower right). The southern tip of Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Florida Strait appear at the top. The bright blue green color around the islands, particularly around those of the Bahamas in the upper right, is likely due to the brighter solar reflection over the more shallow waters that surround the islands. Image courtesy of NASA.
Satellite image of Cuba (center) and Jamaica (lower right). The southern tip of Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Florida Strait appear at the top. The bright blue green color around the islands, particularly around those of the Bahamas in the upper right, is likely due to the brighter solar reflection over the more shallow waters that surround the islands. Image courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data