Jamaica
| Government | |
| Name | Jamaica |
| Jamaican Patois | Jumieka |
| Government type | Parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy(a Commonwealth realm) |
| Capital | Kingston (661,862 (2016)) |
| Currency | Jamaican dollar (JMD) |
| Organization | |
| Member State | Commonwealth of Nations |
| People | |
| Population (2020) | 2,961,161 (141st) |
| Density of population | 266 P/km2 |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Official languages | |
| English | |
| Ethnic groups (2011) | |
| Black | 92.1% |
| Mixed | 6.1% |
| East Indian | 0.8% |
| Other | 0.4% |
| Unspecified | 0.7% |
| Religions (2011) | |
| Protestant | 64.8% |
| 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% |
| Moravian | 0.7% |
| Roman Catholic | 2.2% |
| Jehovah’s Witness | 1.9% |
| Rastafarian | 1.1% |
| Other | 6.5% |
| None | 21.3% |
| Unspecified | 2.3% |
| Life expectancy (2020) | |
| Male | 73.4 years |
| Female | 77.1 years |
| Total population | 75.2 years (120th) |
| Homicides | |
| Total (2018) | 43.9 per 100,000 people (2nd) |
| Geography | |
| Land area | 10,831 km2 |
| water area | 160 km2 |
| total area | 10,991 km2 (167th) |
| Mean elevation | 18 m |
| Lowest point | |
| Caribbean Sea | 0 m |
| Highest point | |
| Blue Mountain Peak | 2,256 m |
| Land use (2011) | |
| Agricultural land | 41.4% |
| Arable land | 11.1% |
| Permanent crops | 9.2% |
| Permanent pasture | 21.1% |
| Forest | 31.1% |
| Other | 27.5% |
| Urbanization | |
| Urban population (2020) | 56.3% |
| Rate of urbanization | 0.82% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020) |
| Economy | |
| Labor force (2017) | 1.348 million (135th) |
| Labor force by occupation (2017) | |
| Agriculture | 16.1% |
| Industry | 16% |
| Services | 67.9% |
| Unemployment rate (2017) | 12.2% (162nd) |
| GDP (PPP) (estimate 2018) | |
| Total | $26.981 billion (134th) |
| Per capita | $9,434 (109th) |
| GDP (nominal) (estimate 2018) | |
| Total | $15.424 billion (119th) |
| Per capita | $5,393 (95th) |
| GDP by sector (estimate 2017) | |
| Agriculture | 7% |
| Industry | 21.1% |
| Services | 71.9% |
| Exports (2017) | $1.296 billion (151st) |
| Exports partners (2017) | |
| US | 39.1% |
| Netherlands | 12.3% |
| Canada | 8.4% |
| Imports (2017) | $5.151 billion (126th) |
| Imports partners (2017) | |
| US | 40.6% |
| Colombia | 6.8% |
| Japan | 5.8% |
| China | 5.8% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 4.7% |
Jamaica on the world map
Jamaica top 10 largest cities (2016)
- Kingston (661,862)
- Portmore (182,153)
- Spanish Town (147,152)
- Montego Bay (110,115)
- May Pen (61,548)
- Mandeville (49,695)
- Old Harbour (28,912)
- Savanna-la-Mar (22,633)
- Ocho Rios (16,671)
- Linstead (15,231)
Demography
Population pyramid
Age structure data
Estimate for 2020:
- 0-14 years: 25.2% (male 360,199/female 347,436)
- 15-24 years: 17.95% (male 255,102/female 248,927)
- 25-54 years: 38.06% (male 518,583/female 550,410)
- 55-64 years: 9.63% (male 133,890/female 136,442)
- 65 years and over: 9.17% (male 121,969/female 135,612)
Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.
Population from 1950 to 2020
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.
Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018
Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank
Economy
Agriculture:
sugar cane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables, poultry, goats, milk, shellfish
Industries:
agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
Exports – commodities:
alumina, bauxite, chemicals, coffee, mineral fuels, waste and scrap metals, sugar, yams
Imports – commodities:
food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials
Time zone and current time in Jamaica
Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Jamaica