THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

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.

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

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.)

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
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
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
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.)
Urbanization: urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total 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.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.052 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2022 est.)
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.)
Total renewable water resources: 10.823 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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 JLPJamaica Progressive Party or JPPPeople's National Party or PNPUnited 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.orgJamaican 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.govhttps://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)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 6Y
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: 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

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 nationswhile 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)

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

Jamaica