Jamaica

Central America and Caribbean Kingston

Population

2.94M

Area

10,991 km²

GDP

$19.93B

GDP Per Capita

$10,300

Pop. Density

267/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

$Jamaican dollar(JMD)

Calling Code

+1876

Timezone

UTC-05:00

Languages

English, Jamaican Patois

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Jamaican

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑84.5% since 2006

$12B (2006)$22B (2024)

Population

↑5.1% since 2006

2.7M (2006)2.8M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 71.5 years

2006: 71.4 years2023: 71.5 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography17

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total : 10,991 sq km
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative

about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

1,022 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation

highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 18 m

Natural resources

bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone

Land use

agricultural land

38.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.)

forest

56.2% (2023 est.)

other

5.3% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

250 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

Natural hazards

hurricanes (especially July to November)

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

People & Society35

Population

total: 2,938,503 (2025 est.)
male: 1,453,759
female: 1,484,744

Nationality

noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican

Ethnic groups

Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)

Languages

English, Jamaican patois

Religions

Protestant 64.8% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 12.0%, Pentecostal 11.0%, 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% (2011 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.8% (male 342,691/female 329,773)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 914,364/female 941,816)
65 years and over: 10.4% (2024 est.) (male 140,440/female 154,629)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 36 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 14.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 28.8 years (2025 est.)
male: 30.1 years
female: 31.7 years

Population growth rate

0.25% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

16.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

Urbanization

urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

597,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.2 years (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

130 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 14.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 74.5 years
female: 78.1 years

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.91 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 85.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 14.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 3.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 9% (2025 est.)
male: 15.1% (2025 est.)
female: 3.1% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.5% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

35.2% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.9% national budget (2024 est.)

Literacy

female: 90.8% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2015 est.)
male: 12 years (2015 est.)
female: 14 years (2015 est.)

Government25

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
etymology: from the Arawak word xaymaca, meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Capital

name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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

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

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

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)
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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

House of Representatives

number of seats

63 (all directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

9/3/2025

parties elected and seats per party

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) (35); People's National Party (PNP) (28)

percentage of women in chamber

30.2%

expected date of next election

August 2030

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate

number of seats

21 (all appointed)

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

9/18/2025

percentage of women in chamber

33.3%

expected date of next election

September 2030

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)
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
subordinate courts: resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts

Political parties

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP
Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP
People's National Party or PNP
United Independents' Congress or UIC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Antony B. ANDERSON (since 24 July 2025)

chancery

1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

[1] (202) 452-0660

FAX

[1] (202) 452-0036

email address and website

contactus@jamaicaembassy.org

Jamaican Embassy (embassyofjamaica.org)

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Scott RENNER (since 13 August 2025)

embassy

142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

mailing address

3210 Kingston Place, Washington DC  20521-3210

telephone

(876) 702-6000

FAX

(876) 702-6348

email address and website

KingstonACS@state.gov

https://jm.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

6 August 1962 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

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

National symbol(s)

green-and-black streamertail (bird), guaiacwood (Guiacum officinale)

National color(s)

green, yellow, black

National anthem(s)

title: "Jamaica, Land We Love"
lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
history: adopted 1962

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 ( 1mixed,1 cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Blue and John Crow Mountains (m); The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal (c)

Economy31

Economic overview

upper-middle-income Caribbean island economy; key agriculture and tourism sectors; high crime, youth unemployment, and poverty; susceptible to natural disasters and global commodity price shocks; progress in reducing public debt and moderating inflation within target range

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $29.13 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $29.341 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $28.596 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $10,100 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.93 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 9.8% (2024 est.)
industry: 18.3% (2024 est.)
services: 60.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

76.2% (2019 est.)

government consumption

13.6% (2019 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.1% (2019 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2019 est.)

exports of goods and services

38% (2019 est.)

imports of goods and services

-52.1% (2019 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, goat milk, yams, chicken, oranges, coconuts, bananas, plantains, pumpkins/squash, pineapples (2023)

Industries

agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate

-1.5% (2024 est.)

Labor force

1.57 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 14.5% (2024 est.)
male: 12.9% (2024 est.)
female: 16.4% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.7% (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 39.9 (2021 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% (2021 est.)
highest 10%: 29.6% (2021 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2024: 17.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 18.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 21.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $4.041 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $4.466 billion (2020 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2020: 106.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.7% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: $678.808 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $568.932 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$136.401 million (2022 est.)

Exports

Exports 2024: $7.124 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $7.275 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $6.424 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 37%, Russia 7%, Latvia 7%, Iceland 7%, UK 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities

aluminum oxide, refined petroleum, natural gas, liquor, processed fruits and nuts (2023)

Imports

Imports 2024: $9.524 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $9.866 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $9.726 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 39%, China 11%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 4%, Japan 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.869 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.52 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $4.838 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $9.636 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

156.44 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

154.159 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

153.427 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

150.79 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

142.403 (2020 est.)

Energy7

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 1.242 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.301 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.181 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 87.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 6.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

consumption: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 42.095 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 459,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 3.34 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.jm

Internet users

percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 448,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

Transportation5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

20 (2025)

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 40 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 11, oil tanker 1, other 27

Ports

total ports

11 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Falmouth, Kingston, Lucea, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rio Bueno, Rocky Point, Savannah la Mar

Military & Security6

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 expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 4,000 active Jamaica Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the JDF's inventory features equipment mostly from Australia, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)

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)

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)

Transnational Issues1

Illicit drugs

USG identification:
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

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