World · permanent entity record · JM
Jamaica
Thirty-second orientation
Jamaica at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Jamaican(s); adjective: Jamaican
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Languages
- English, Jamaican patois
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
Jamaica through time
Admitted to the United Nations
Jamaica became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,837,077World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 2,938,503 (2025 est.) male: 1,453,759 female: 1,484,744CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-18 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $22.7 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $8,003
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 71.6 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 59.4%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 97.7%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 90.1%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Kingston
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 10,991 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 2,837,077
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- Jamaican dollars (JMD)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- Languages
- English, Jamaican patois
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Jamaican(s); adjective: Jamaican
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Government
- parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json ·
- Continent
- North America
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Central America and the Caribbean.”
- Coastline
- 1,022 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- yellow, green, black
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- green-and-black streamertail (bird), guaiacwood (Guiacum officinale)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Blue Mountain Peak · 7,402 ft (2,256 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Caribbean Sea · 0 ft (0 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- 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.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography17 fields
- Location
- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Map references
- Central America and the Caribbean
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area
- total : 10,991 sq km land: 10,831 sq km water: 160 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 note: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Terrain
- mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 18 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.) forest: 56.2% (2023 est.) other: 5.3% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural hazards
- hurricanes (especially July to November)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society35 fields
- Population
- total: 2,938,503 (2025 est.) male: 1,453,759 female: 1,484,744
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 28.8 years (2025 est.) male: 30.1 years female: 31.7 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 16.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- -6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 597,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 21.2 years (2008 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 130 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.) male: 74.5 years female: 78.1 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.86 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 85.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 91.1% of population (2022 est.) urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 14.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 7.2% of GDP (2021) 19% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.) total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 9% (2025 est.) male: 15.1% (2025 est.) female: 3.1% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 2.5% (2018 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 35.2% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 17.9% national budget (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 13 years (2015 est.) male: 12 years (2015 est.) female: 14 years (2015 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment10 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.) arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.) forest: 56.2% (2023 est.) other: 5.3% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 7.89 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.) from consumed natural gas: 1.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 14.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.052 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 10.823 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government25 fields
- 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"
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- common law system based on the English model
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: bicameral
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- Jamaica Labor Party or JLP Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP People's National Party or PNP United Independents' Congress or UIC
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National symbol(s)
- green-and-black streamertail (bird), guaiacwood (Guiacum officinale)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Jamaica, Land We Love" lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE history: adopted 1962
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy31 fields
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $29.13 billion (2024 est.) $29.341 billion (2023 est.) $28.596 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- -0.7% (2024 est.) 2.6% (2023 est.) 5.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $10,300 (2024 est.) $10,300 (2023 est.) $10,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $19.93 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 5.4% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 10.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 9.8% (2024 est.) industry: 18.3% (2024 est.) services: 60.3% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- sugarcane, goat milk, yams, chicken, oranges, coconuts, bananas, plantains, pumpkins/squash, pineapples (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- -1.5% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 1.57 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 4.9% (2024 est.) 4.4% (2023 est.) 4.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 14.5% (2024 est.) male: 12.9% (2024 est.) female: 16.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population below poverty line
- 16.7% (2021 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- 39.9 (2021 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 2.2% (2021 est.) highest 10%: 29.6% (2021 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 17.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 18.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 21.6% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $4.041 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $4.466 billion (2020 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Public debt
- 106.3% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 25.7% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- $678.808 million (2024 est.) $568.932 million (2023 est.) -$136.401 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $7.124 billion (2024 est.) $7.275 billion (2023 est.) $6.424 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- USA 37%, Russia 7%, Latvia 7%, Iceland 7%, UK 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- aluminum oxide, refined petroleum, natural gas, liquor, processed fruits and nuts (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $9.524 billion (2024 est.) $9.866 billion (2023 est.) $9.726 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- USA 39%, China 11%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 4%, Japan 4% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Debt - external
- $9.636 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 156.44 (2024 est.) 154.159 (2023 est.) 153.427 (2022 est.) 150.79 (2021 est.) 142.403 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy7 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- consumption: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- total petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- consumption: 822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 42.095 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 459,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 3.34 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- 3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 448,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 6Y
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 40 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 11, oil tanker 1, other 27
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ports
- total ports: 11 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 2 very small: 8 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Falmouth, Kingston, Lucea, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rio Bueno, Rocky Point, Savannah la Mar
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security6 fields
- 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) note: the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is the country’s 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 Security
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military expenditures
- 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 4,000 active Jamaica Defense Forces (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the JDF's inventory features equipment mostly from Australia, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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) note 1: the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (JCCF), a youth organization under the Ministry of Security, also provides a recruitment pool for the JDF, as well as other government agencies note 2: as of 2022, women made up about 20% of the JDF's uniformed personnel
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- 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)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues1 fields
- Illicit drugs
- USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
The underlying United States government material is public domain. The Almanac’s reuse terms do not change the legal status of this preserved source layer.