JMD Rates Now (2023-05-31 16:40 (GMT -4:00))

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Central America and the Caribbean

total: 10,991 sq km

land: 10,831 sq km

water: 160 sq km

country comparison to the world: 167

about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut

0 km

1,022 km

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

mean elevation: 18 m

elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

agricultural land: 41.4%

arable land 11.1%; permanent crops 9.2%; permanent pasture 21.1%

forest: 31.1%

other: 27.5% (2011 est.)

250 sq km (2012)

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

hurricanes (especially July to November)

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

2,990,561 (July 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 138

noun: Jamaican(s)

adjective: Jamaican

black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)

English, English patois

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.)

total dependency ratio: 48.7

youth dependency ratio: 34.9

elderly dependency ratio: 13.8

potential support ratio: 7.2 (2015 est.)

total: 26 years

male: 25.5 years

female: 26.5 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

0.68% (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 145

17.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 184

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

urban population: 55.3% of total population (2017)

rate of urbanization: 0.93% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

KINGSTON (capital) 588,000 (2015)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

21.2 years

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)

89 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

total: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

total population: 73.7 years

male: 72.1 years

female: 75.4 years (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 130

1.96 children born/woman (2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

72.5% (2008/09)

5.4% of GDP (2014)

country comparison to the world: 130

0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)

improved:

urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 89.4% of population

total: 93.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 10.6% of population

total: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 79.9% of population

rural: 84.1% of population

total: 81.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 20.1% of population

rural: 15.9% of population

total: 18.2% of population (2015 est.)

1.7% (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

30,000 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

1,300 (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

24.7% (2016)

country comparison to the world: 55

2.5% (2012)

country comparison to the world: 112

5.4% of GDP (2017)

country comparison to the world: 40

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 88.7%

male: 84%

female: 93.1% (2015 est.)

total: 37.8%

male: 32.4%

female: 43.8% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

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"

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

name: Kingston

geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

6 August 1962 (from the UK)

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence); amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)

common law system based on the English model

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 5 years

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dr. 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

description: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and the opposition party leader, 13 seats allocated to the ruling party, and 8 seats allocated to the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 25 February 2016 (next to be held no later than February 2021)

election results: percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.7%, other 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 32, PNP 31

highest resident 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 implemented 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

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew HOLNESS]

People's National Party or PNP [Dr. Peter David PHILLIPS]

National Democratic Movement or NDM [Peter TOWNSEND]

New Beginnings Movement or NBM

Rastafarians

ACP, 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

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

consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

consulate(s): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia (PA), Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric KHANT (since 30 June 2017)

embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5

telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000

FAX: [1] (876) 702-6348

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

green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black

name: "Jamaica, Land We Love"

lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE

note: adopted 1962

population without electricity: 200,000

electrification - total population: 93%

electrification - urban areas: 98%

electrification - rural areas: 87% (2013)

3.894 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

2.757 billion kWh (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 138

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 153

0 kWh (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 164

988,000 kW (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 128

88.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 116

3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 133

13% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 56

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

19,160 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 63

0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

country comparison to the world: 150

19,760 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

54,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

country comparison to the world: 102

845.3 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 110

34,170 bbl/day (2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

0 cu m (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 142

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

country comparison to the world: 154

13 million Mt (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 96

total subscriptions: 310,213

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

total: 3,267,344

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 139

general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network

domestic: the 1999 agreement to open the market for telecommunications services resulted in rapid growth in mobile-cellular telephone usage while the number of fixed lines in use has declined; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeds 120 per 100 persons

international: country code - 1-876; the Fibralink submarine cable network provides enhanced delivery of business and broadband traffic and is linked to the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) submarine cable in the Dominican Republic; the link to ARCOS-1 provides seamless connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; the ALBA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable links Jamaica, Cuba, and Venezuela; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)

3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations (2013)

.jm

total: 1,336,653

percent of population: 45.0% (July 2016 est.)

country comparison to the world: 126

number of registered air carriers: 2

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 92,836

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)

6Y (2016)

28 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 123

total: 11

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 5 (2017)

total: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 16 (2013)

total: 22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways)

paved: 16,148 km

unpaved: 5,973 km (2011)

country comparison to the world: 104

total: 41

by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 8, general cargo 11, other 19 (2017)

country comparison to the world: 121

major seaport(s): Discovery Bay (Port Rhoades), Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rocky Point

container port(s) (TEUs): Kingston (1,724,928)

0.82% of GDP (2016)

0.83% of GDP (2015)

0.87% of GDP (2014)

0.9% of GDP (2013)

0.93% of GDP (2012)

country comparison to the world: 128

Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2010)

17 1/2 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

none

current situation: Jamaica is a source and destination country for children and adults subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; sex trafficking of children and adults occurs on the street, in night clubs, bars, massage parlors, and private homes; child sex tourism is a problem in resort areas; Jamaicans have been subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor in the Caribbean, Canada, the US, and the UK, while foreigners have endured conditions of forced labor in Jamaica or aboard foreign-flagged fishing vessels operating in Jamaican waters; a high number of Jamaican children are reported missing

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Jamaica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made significant efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, and named a national trafficking-in-persons rapporteur – the first in the region; authorities initiated more new trafficking investigations than in 2013 and concluded a trafficking case in the Supreme Court, but chronic delays impeded prosecutions and no offenders were convicted for the sixth consecutive year; more adult trafficking victims were identified than in previous years, but only one child victim was identified, which was exceptionally low relative to the number of vulnerable children (2015)

transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions