CapitalKingston
Population2,938,503
Area10,991 km²
GDP per capita$10,300
LanguagesEnglish, Jamaican patois
CurrencyJamaican dollars
Life Expectancy76.3 yr
Governmenta parliamentary democracy (Parliament) functioning under a constitutional monarchy; part of the Commonwealth realm
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.
Geography
Area
land
10,831 sq km
water
160 sq km
total
10,991 sq km
Climate
tropical; characterized by hot and humid conditions; temperate regions in the interior
Terrain
predominantly mountainous, featuring a narrow and discontinuous coastal plain
Land use
other
5.3% (2023 est.)
forest
56.2% (2023 est.)
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.)
Location
Caribbean, an island situated in the Caribbean Sea, southward of Cuba
Coastline
1,022 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
mean elevation
18 m
Irrigated land
250 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
hurricane season occurs mainly from July to November
Geography - note
the third largest island in the Caribbean, following Cuba and Hispaniola; holds a strategic position between the Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, which are crucial maritime routes for the Panama Canal
Natural resources
bauxite, alumina, gypsum, and limestone
Area - comparative
approximately half the area of New Jersey; slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut
Geographic coordinates
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Population distribution
population density is consistently high across the island, with notable increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
People & Society
Literacy
female
90.8% (2022 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.)
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
total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.91 male(s)/female
Birth rate
16.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
30.1 years
total
28.8 years (2025 est.)
female
31.7 years
Population
male
1,453,759
total
2,938,503 (2025 est.)
female
1,484,744
Nationality
noun
Jamaican(s)
adjective
Jamaican
Tobacco use
male
15.1% (2025 est.)
total
9% (2025 est.)
female
3.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (estimation for 2011)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
50.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
36 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
6.9 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
14.6 (2025 est.)
Physician density
0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
19% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.86 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 85.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 14.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
17.9% national budget (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
total
14.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
9.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.25% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.91 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The population density is elevated across the entire region, with notable increases in areas surrounding Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Life expectancy at birth
male
74.5 years
female
78.1 years
total population
76.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
130 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
3.46 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.)
Major urban areas - population
597,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
24.7% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.2 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
35.2% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.5% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
12 years (2015 est.)
total
13 years (2015 est.)
female
14 years (2015 est.)
Environment
Climate
tropical; warm and humid; temperate inland
Land use
other
5.3% (2023 est.)
forest
56.2% (2023 est.)
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.)
Urbanization
urban population
57.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.052 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
15% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
high levels of deforestation; coastal waters contaminated by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; harm to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston due to vehicle emissions; soil erosion
Total water withdrawal
municipal
339.867 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
43.989 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
78.972 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
7.89 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
1.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
239,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
6.04 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
14.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
10.823 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
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
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: A diagonal yellow cross segments the flag into four triangular sections, with two green (top and bottom) and two black (left and right)
meaning: green symbolizes hope, agriculture, and vegetation; black represents challenges overcome and those yet to confront; and yellow signifies sunshine and natural resources.
Capital
name
Kingston
etymology
the title is a combination of the terms "king's" and "town;" it was named in honor of the English monarch during the establishment of the city in 1692, WILLIAM III
time difference
UTC-5 (coinciding with Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 00 N, 76 48 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
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
Constitution
history
multiple prior constitutions (pre-independence); the most recent was drafted in 1961-62, presented to the British Parliament on 24 July 1962, and took effect on 6 August 1962 (upon independence)
amendment process
introduced by Parliament; the approval of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional provisions, such as reducing the voting age, necessitates a majority vote from Parliament members; amendments to "entrenched" sections, including fundamental rights and freedoms, require a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament; amendments to "specially entrenched" sections, like the dissolution of Parliament or the monarch's executive powers, demand two-thirds support in Parliament and a referendum approval
Country name
etymology
derived from the Arawak term xaymaca, translating to "Land of Wood and Water" or potentially "Land of Springs"
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Jamaica
Independence
6 August 1962 (from the UK)
Legal system
a common law system modeled after the English legal framework
Government type
a parliamentary democracy (Parliament) functioning under a constitutional monarchy; part of the Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Appeal (comprises the court president and at least four judges); Supreme Court (consists of 40 judges arranged in specialized divisions)
subordinate courts
includes resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the president of the Court of Appeal are appointed by the governor-general based on the prime minister's advice; other judges in both courts are selected by the governor-general on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until the age of 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; the governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the prime minister's recommendation; after legislative elections, the governor-general designates the leader of the majority party or coalition in the House of Representatives as prime minister
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
National color(s)
green, yellow, black
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)
Political parties
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP
Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP
People's National Party or PNP
United Independents' Congress or UIC
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Jamaica, Land We Love"
history
adopted 1962
lyrics/music
Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
National symbol(s)
green-and-black streamertail (bird), guaiacwood (Guiacum officinale)
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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
5 years
number of seats
63 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
9/3/2025
expected date of next election
August 2030
percentage of women in chamber
30.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) (35); People's National Party (PNP) (28)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
21 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
9/18/2025
expected date of next election
September 2030
percentage of women in chamber
33.3%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 452-0036
chancery
1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone
[1] (202) 452-0660
chief of mission
Ambassador Antony B. ANDERSON (since 24 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
Miami, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
Jamaican Embassy (embassyofjamaica.org)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(876) 702-6348
embassy
142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
telephone
(876) 702-6000
mailing address
3210 Kingston Place, Washington DC 20521-3210
chief of mission
Ambassador (currently vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Scott RENNER (since 13 August 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
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
International law organization participation
has not presented an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; not a party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$4.041 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures
$4.466 billion (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$6.424 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$7.275 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$7.124 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$9.726 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$9.866 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$9.524 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
Labor force
1.57 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2020
106.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
21.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
18.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
17.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
142.403 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
150.79 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
153.427 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
154.159 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
156.44 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$9.636 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
upper-middle-income Caribbean island economy; significant agricultural and tourism industries; challenges include high crime rates, youth unemployment, and poverty; vulnerable to natural disasters and fluctuations in global commodity prices; advancements made in lowering public debt and stabilizing inflation within targeted parameters
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
4.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
4.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
4.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 37%, Russia 7%, Latvia 7%, Iceland 7%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 39%, China 11%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 4%, Japan 4% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$10,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$10,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$10,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
-0.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, goat milk, yams, chicken, oranges, coconuts, bananas, plantains, pumpkins/squash, pineapples (2023)
Exports - commodities
aluminum oxide, refined petroleum, natural gas, liquor, processed fruits and nuts (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$136.401 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$568.932 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$678.808 million (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
25.7% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.93 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
76.2% (2019 est.)
government consumption
13.6% (2019 est.)
investment in inventories
0.2% (2019 est.)
investment in fixed capital
24.1% (2019 est.)
exports of goods and services
38% (2019 est.)
imports of goods and services
-52.1% (2019 est.)
Population below poverty line
16.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
10.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
5.4% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-1.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$28.596 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$29.341 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$29.13 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
12.9% (2024 est.)
total
14.5% (2024 est.)
female
16.4% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$4.838 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.52 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.869 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
18.3% (2024 est.)
services
60.3% (2024 est.)
agriculture
9.8% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.2% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
29.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
39.9 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
100 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports
105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
3.301 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
1.242 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.181 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
42.095 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
6.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
87.1% 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.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
83% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
Three free-to-air television channels, cable subscription services, and approximately 30 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code
.jm
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.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
448,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
2
medium
1
key ports
Falmouth, Kingston, Lucea, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rio Bueno, Rocky Point, Savannah la Mar
very small
8
total ports
11 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
5
Airports
20 (2025)
Heliports
2 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
40 (2023)
by type
1 bulk carrier, 11 general cargo vessels, 1 oil tanker, and 27 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
6Y
Military & Security
Military - note
In addition to its duty of safeguarding against external threats, the primary missions of the Jamaican Defense Force (JDF) encompass border security, cyber defense, internal security, and maritime protection. Additional responsibilities include search and rescue operations, disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and peacekeeping initiatives. The JDF possesses arrest authority and collaborates with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), especially in efforts to tackle crime and violence. Both the JDF and JCF operate under the Ministry of National Security, which oversees policy direction for the security forces. The JDF engages in bilateral and multinational training exercises, partnering with the armed forces of Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other Caribbean countries.
Although Jamaica had a militia as early as the 1660s, the JDF was established in 1962, evolving from the West India Regiment (WIR), a British colonial force with origins tracing back to 1795 (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
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 service age and obligation
Age 18-23 for voluntary military service (17 with parental consent) for both genders; 18-28 for reserve service; there is no conscription. Since 2017, the standard recruitment process for the JDF enrolls individuals aged 18-23 through the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC), which mandates a 12-month service commitment (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The JDF's equipment inventory predominantly consists of supplies sourced from Australia, the Netherlands, and the United States (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The active personnel strength of the Jamaica Defense Force is approximately 4,000 (2025).
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
