Jamaica

constitutional parliamentary democracyIndependence 6 August 1962 (from UK)

Jamaica as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKingston

Position18 15 N, 77 30 W

Area10,991 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Populationas each edition published it

2.73 million July 2005 est. · 2.44m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.71% 2005 est. · 0.96% in 1993

Median ageyears

27.25 years 2005 est. · 26.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.33 years 2005 est. · 74.09 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.95 children per woman 2005 est. · 2.3 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12.36 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 16 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,100 2004 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.9% 2004 est. · 1.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a drop off in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s.

Geography

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

18 fields

Land useshare of 10,991 sq km

arable land 16.07%permanent crops 10.16%other 73.77% (2001)irrigated 250 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

10,991sq km

land: 10,831 sq kmwater: 160 sq kmslightly smaller than Connecticut

Coastline

1,022km

land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Highest point

2,256m

Blue Mountain Peaklowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Climate

tropical;
hot, humid;
temperate interior

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Natural resources

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Natural hazards

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Environment - current issues

heavy rates of deforestation;
coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills;
damage to coral reefs;
air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

83,632

65 and over6.9%

104,241

897,953

15-6465.6%

893,509

385,099

0-1427.5%

367,398

MaleFemale

Population

2,731,832

(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 0.71% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

16.56Death

5.37Net migration

-4.07

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)73.33

71.63 · 75.12Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)12.36

13.35 · 11.32

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)87.9%

84.1% · 91.6%Median age years (2005 est.)27.25

26.55 · 27.97

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Ethnic groups

black 90.9%East Indian 1.3%white 0.2%Chinese 0.2%mixed 7.3%other 0.1%

Religions

Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%)Roman Catholic 4%other including some spiritual cults 34.7%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2%

(2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.95 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

900 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Jamaican(s)
adjective:: Jamaican

Languages

English, patois English

Government

Constitutional parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991); Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52%

PNP 52%JLP 47.3%last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held in October 2007)

Legislature, 60 seats, elected 16 October 2002one dot, one seat

PNP 34JLP 26

Percent of vote

PNP 52%JLP 47.3%

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Jamaica

Government type

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital

Kingston

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

Independence

6 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Constitution

6 August 1962

Legal system

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
head of government:: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections:: none;
the monarch 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 the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general;
the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime minister

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held in October 2007)
election results:: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%; seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING];
National Democratic Movement or NDM [Hyacinth BENNETT];
People's National Party or PNP [Percival James PATTERSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders

New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEY
chancery:: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 452-0660
FAX:: [1] (202) 452-0081
consulate(s) general:: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBB
embassy:: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 5
mailing address:: use embassy street address
telephone:: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX:: [1] (876) 935-6001

Flag description

diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Economy

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina.

39 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$11.13billion

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

1.9%

(2004 est.)industrial production growth: -2% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

12.4%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

15%

(2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 6.1%industry 32.7%services 61.3% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

17.4%

38.7%

14.8%

Canada

Trinidad and Tobago

13.2%

13%

France

5.6%

10.5%

China

8.7%

7.5%

Netherlands

Norway

5.9%

Germany

Japan

4.7%

Exports $1.679 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $3.624 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues

$2.793 billionExpenditures

$3.157 billion (2004 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $236 million

Electricity

Electricity production

6.289 billion (2002)Electricity consumption

5.849 billion (2002)

Economy - overview

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. The global economic slowdown, particularly after the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth;

the economy rebounded moderately in 2003-04, with brisk tourist seasons. But the economy faces serious long-term problems: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a sizable merchandise trade deficit; large-scale unemployment;

and a growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy. The ratio of debt to GDP is close to 150%. Inflation, previously a bright spot, is expected to remain in the double digits. Uncertain economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including gang violence fueled by the drug trade.

In 2004, the government faced the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem which is hampering economic growth. Attempts at deficit control were derailed by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, which required substantial government spending to repair the damage. Despite the hurricane, tourism looks set to enjoy solid growth for the foreseeable future.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,100 (2004 est.)

Labor force

1.14 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 20.1%, industry 16.6%, services 63.4% (2003)

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.9 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

32% of GDP (2004 est.)

Public debt

146.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, vegetables, poultry, goats, milk, crustaceans, and mollusks

Industries

tourism, bauxite/alumina, textiles, agro processing, wearing apparel, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

Oil - imports

Current account balance

$-830.7 million (2004 est.)

Exports

$1.679 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

Imports

$3.624 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$5.964 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$16 million (2003)

Currency (code)

Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Exchange rates

Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 61.197 (2004), 57.741 (2003), 48.416 (2002), 45.996 (2001), 42.986 (2000)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

1.4 million

(2002)

Internet users

1,480

(2003)

Fixed lines

444,400

(2002) · country code .jm

Telephone system

general assessment:: fully automatic domestic telephone network
domestic:: NA
international:: country code - 1-876;
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
3 coaxial submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations

AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

7 (1997)

Internet users

600,000 (2002)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

2,438 to 3,047 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 11Unpaved 24

Networkskm

Highways

18,700Railways

272

Highways: paved: 13,109 km · unpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge note: 207 of these km belonging to the Jamaica Railway Corporation had been in common carrier service until 1992 but are no longer operational; 57 km of the remaining track is privately owned and used by ALCAN to transport bauxite (2003)

Railways

total:: 272 km
standard gauge:: 272 km 1.435-m gauge

note: 207 of these km belonging to the Jamaica Railway Corporation had been in common carrier service until 1992 but are no longer operational; 57 km of the remaining track is privately owned and used by ALCAN to transport bauxite (2003)

Highways

total:: 18,700 km
paved:: 13,109 km
unpaved:: 5,591 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky Point

Merchant marine

total:: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 74,881 GRT/100,682 DWT
by type:: bulk carrier 5, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned:: 8 (Germany 2, Greece 5, UAE 1) (2005)

Airports

35 (2004 est.)

Military

Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4%

(2003)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe;
illicit cultivation 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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Jamaica.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jamaica/2005.

How to cite ← 2004 edition 2006 edition →

Introduction

Geography

People

Government

Economy

Communications

Transportation

Military

Transnational Issues

Cite this entry