Jamaica

Location

• Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
• 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

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Kingston	937,700	Capital
New Kingston	583,958
Spanish Town	145,018
Portmore	102,861
Montego Bay	82,867
Mandeville	47,115
May Pen	44,755
Old Harbour	26,024
Linstead	20,660
Half Way Tree	18,552

Size

• 4,244 square miles
• 10,991 square kilometers
• about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut

History

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.

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

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.)

Government

parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

• 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 
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: common law system based on the English model
• 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 ministerelection/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
• 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 70subordinate courts: resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courtsnote: 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)
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliamentlegislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• 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
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
• Industries: agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
• Agricultural Products: sugarcane, goat milk, yams, chicken, oranges, coconuts, bananas, plantains, pumpkins/squash, pineapples (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 38.5% (2022 est.)arable land: 11.1% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 6.3% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 21.1% (2022 est.)forest: 55.8% (2022 est.)other: 5.7% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: USA 39%, China 11%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 4%, Japan 4% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: aluminum oxide, refined petroleum, natural gas, liquor, processed fruits and nuts (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: USA 37%, Russia 7%, Latvia 7%, Iceland 7%, UK 5% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports