Jamaica

Official name: JAMAICA

Date of membership: 4 April 1976

Capital: Kingston

Geography

Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Area: 10,991 sq km

Coastline: 1,022 km

Natural resources: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone

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.

Economic indicators 

Total at current prices   13 676 Millions USD 2016
GDP Per capita 5 126 USD 2016
Growth rate per capita at constant prices 1.0 % 2016
Country share in regional GDP 0.2 % 2016
Imports of goods and services (GDP in currente prices)  -45.2 % 2016
Exports of goods and services  (GDP in currente prices) 29.8 % 2016

Source: Jamaica: Economic National Profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. On line. Inquiry: September 09, 2017

Socio-demographic indicators

Total population  2 961.2 (000) 2020
Life expectancy 75 Años 2020-2025
Women 77 Años 2020-2025
Men 73 Años 2020-2025
Public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP 6.1 % 2018
Literacy rate for persons between the ages of 15 to 24 96.3 % 2014
Net rate of enrolment in primary education 88.0 % 2007
Net rate of enrolment in secondary education 54.4 % 2007
Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP 5.4 % 2020
Gini Coefficient NA % NA
Unemployment 6.4 % 2020
Migration -3.8 $ 2020-2025

Source: Jamaica: National Socio-Demographic Profile.  CEPALSTAT. Data Bases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC.
Inquiry: February 23, 2022. NA= Data not available.

Languages: English, patois 

Government

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)

Constitution: 6 August 1962

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: Chief of State: King Carlos III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. Allen (since 26 February 2009). Head of government: Prime Minister Hon. Andrew Holness (since 3 March 2016)

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).

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

Internet country code: .jm

Official Portal Web: http://www.jis.gov.jm