The World Factbook
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People and Society

Population

total: 2,823,713

male: 1,397,495

female: 1,426,218 (2024 est.)

comparison rankings : female 140; male 141; total 140

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)

2023 population pyramid :

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38

youth dependency ratio: 28

elderly dependency ratio: 13.4

potential support ratio: 7.4 (2021 est.)

Median age

total: 30.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 30.1 years

female: 31.7 years

comparison ranking : total 130

Population growth rate

0.1% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 185

Birth rate

15.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 105

Death rate

7.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 100

Net migration rate

-7.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 217

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.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

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.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio

99 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

comparison ranking : 69

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking : total 129

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 74.5 years

female: 78.1 years

comparison ranking : total population 111

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking : 98

Gross reproduction rate

1 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98.3% of population

rural: 93.9% of population

total: 96.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population

rural: 6.1% of population

total: 3.6% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure

6.6% of GDP (2020)

Physician density

0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 98.6% of population

rural: 99.4% of population

total: 98.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.4% of population

rural: 0.6% of population

total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.7% (2016)

comparison ranking : 55

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.)

comparison ranking : total 104

Tobacco use

total: 9.4% (2020 est.)

male: 15% (2020 est.)

female: 3.8% (2020 est.)

comparison ranking : total 137

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.5% (2018/19)

comparison ranking : 96

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

32.7% (2023 est.)

Education expenditures

6% of GDP (2021 est.)

comparison ranking : 43

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 88.7%

male: 84%

female: 93.1% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years

male: 11 years

female: 13 years (2015)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Jamaica

etymology: from the native Taino word "haymaca" 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 blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the English king at the time of the city's founding in 1692 was WILLIAM III (r. 1689-1702)

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

note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation

Independence

6 August 1962 (from the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

Constitution

history: several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)

amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2017; note - in mid-July 2024, Jamaicaâs Constitutional Reform Committee submitted its report on recommendations for reform of the constitution and awaiting debate in Parliament

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

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general

note:Â the Jamaican Government, in May 2023, announced plans to hold a referendum in 2024 to determine whether or not to remain in the Commonwealth or become a republic

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Parliament consists of:

Senate (21 seats; 13 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and 8 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the opposition party leader; members serve 5-year terms (no term limits) or until Parliament is dissolved)

House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms (no term limits) or until Parliament is dissolved)

elections: Senate - last full slate of appointments early on 3 September 2020 (next full slate in 2025)

House of Representatives - last held on 3 September 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 13, women 8, percentage women 38.1%

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - JLP 57%, PNP 42.8%, independent 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 48, PNP 15; composition - men 45, women 14; percentage women 23.7%; note - total Parliament percentage women 27.5%

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); note - appeals beyond Jamaica's highest courts are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) rather than to the Caribbean Court of Justice (the appellate court for member states of the Caribbean Community)

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017)

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 N. Nickolas PERRY (since 13 May 2022)

embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

mailing address: 3210 Kingston Place, Washington DCÂ 20521-3210

telephone: (876) 702-6000

FAX: (876) 702-6348

email address and website:

KingstonACS@state.gov

https://jm.usembassy.gov/

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 overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden sunshine and the island's natural resources

National symbol(s)

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

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Blue and John Crow Mountains

Economy

Economic overview

upper middle-income Caribbean island economy; ongoing debt restructuring; hurricane-vulnerable economy; high crime, youth unemployment, and poverty; susceptible to commodity shocks from ongoing Russia invasion of Ukraine

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.225 billion (2023 est.)

$28.596 billion (2022 est.)

$27.177 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking : 149

Real GDP growth rate

2.2% (2023 est.)

5.22% (2022 est.)

4.6% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking : 134

Real GDP per capita

$10,300 (2023 est.)

$10,100 (2022 est.)

$9,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking : 146

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.423 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.47% (2023 est.)

10.35% (2022 est.)

5.86% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking : 137

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: B+ (2019)

Moody's rating: B2 (2019)

Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2019)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 7% (2017 est.)

industry: 21.1% (2017 est.)

services: 71.9% (2017 est.)

comparison rankings : services 62; industry 139; agriculture 110

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 81.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 13.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 30.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -47.1% (2017 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, yams, goat milk, chicken, coconuts, oranges, bananas, pumpkins/squash, plantains, sweet potatoes (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

4.98% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking : 52

Labor force

1.559 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking : 133

Unemployment rate

4.42% (2023 est.)

4.08% (2022 est.)

5.19% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking : 86

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% (2023 est.)

male: 13.1% (2023 est.)

female: 14.9% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking : total 101

Population below poverty line

17.1% (2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

40.2 (2021 est.)

comparison ranking : 44

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 29.9% (2021 est.)

Remittances

19.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

21.57% of GDP (2022 est.)

25.29% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $4.029 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $4.564 billion (2020 est.)

Public debt

106.28% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking : 17

Taxes and other revenues

25.71% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking : 42

Current account balance

-$129.756 million (2022 est.)

$149.262 million (2021 est.)

-$156.91 million (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking : 97

Exports

$6.424 billion (2022 est.)

$4.401 billion (2021 est.)

$3.249 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking : 129

Exports - partners

US 57%, Russia 5%, Canada 4%, UK 4%, Iceland 2% (2022)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, aluminum oxide, liquor, aluminum ore (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$9.726 billion (2022 est.)

$7.405 billion (2021 est.)

$5.913 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking : 127

Imports - partners

US 36%, China 12%, Trinidad and Tobago 6%, Brazil 5%, Turkey 4% (2022)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, cars, plastic products (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.869 billion (2023 est.)

$4.52 billion (2022 est.)

$4.838 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking : 106

Debt - external

$13.876 billion (2019 est.)

$13.912 billion (2018 est.)

comparison ranking : 104

Exchange rates

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:

154.159 (2023 est.)

153.427 (2022 est.)

150.79 (2021 est.)

142.403 (2020 est.)

133.312 (2019 est.)

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Jamaica Defense Force (JDF): Jamaica Regiment (Ground Forces), Maritime-Air-Cyber Command (includes Coast Guard, Air Wing, Military Intelligence Unit, Special Activities Regiment, and Military Cyber Corps), Support Brigade (logistics, engineers, health service, and military police); Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC); Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) (2024)

note 1: the JCF is the countryâs police force; it has primary responsibility for internal security and has units for community policing, special response, intelligence gathering, and internal affairs; both it and the JDF are under the Ministry of National SecurityÂ

note 2: the JNSC is a third category of service that military recruits can join as a preparatory phase for future careers; JNSC soldiers receive basic military, vocational, and life skills training; upon completion of 12 months of service, soldiers can continue on with the JDF or the JDF reserves or seek opportunities in other public sector entities such as the JCF, the Department of Correctional Services, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Jamaica Customs Agency, or the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

comparison ranking : 116

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 5,000 personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the JDF is lightly armed with a limited inventory featuring equipment mostly from Europe and the US (2023)

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 (2024)

note: as of 2022, women made up about 20% of the JDF's uniformed personnel

Military - note

in addition to its responsibility of defending against external aggression, the JDF's primary missions are border, internal, and maritime security, including support to police operations in combating crime and violence; other missions include search and rescue, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping; it has arrest authority and partners with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); 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 militaries of Canada, the UK, the US, and other Caribbean nationsÂ

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 (2023)