2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 385,099/female 367,398) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 897,953/female 893,509) 65 years and over: 6.9% (male 83,632/female 104,241) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.) Military Jamaica

Area

land

10,831 sq km

total

10,991 sq km

water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

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 Jamaica

Birth rate

16.56 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$3.157 billion, including capital expenditures of $236 million (2004 est.)

revenues

$2.793 billion

Capital

Kingston

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Coastline

1,022 km

Constitution

6 August 1962

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Jamaica

Currency (code)

Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Currency code

JMD

Current account balance

$-830.7 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

5.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$5.964 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Sue McCourt COBB

embassy

Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 5

FAX

[1] (876) 935-6001

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEY

consulate(s) general

Miami and New York

FAX

[1] (202) 452-0081

telephone

[1] (202) 452-0660

Disputes - international

none

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.9 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$16 million (2003)

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.

Electricity - consumption

5.849 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

6.289 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

96.8%

hydro

1.8%

nuclear

0%

other

1.4% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992)

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 17.4%, Canada 14.8%, France 13%, China 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Netherlands 7.5%, Norway 6%, Germany 5.9% (2004)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Jamaica

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

6.1%

industry

32.7%

services

61.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.13 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Geography - note

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

Government type

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Highways

paved

13,109 km

total

18,700 km

unpaved

5,591 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)

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 This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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

Imports - partners

US 38.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.2%, France 5.6%, Japan 4.7% (2004)

Independence

6 August 1962 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

11.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

13.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.36 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.4% (2004 est.)

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

Internet country code

.jm

Internet hosts

1,480 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

21 (2000)

Internet users

600,000 (2002) Transportation Jamaica

Investment (gross fixed)

32% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

1.14 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

16.07%

other

73.77% (2001)

permanent crops

10.16%

Languages

English, patois English

Legal system

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

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)

election results

percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%; seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26

elections

last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held in October 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.12 years (2005 est.)

male

71.63 years

total population

73.33 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

91.6% (2003 est.) Government Jamaica

male

84.1%

total population

87.9%

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 696,900 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 587,006 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

26,080 (2005 est.)

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

27.97 years (2005 est.)

male

26.55 years

total

27.25 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 5, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3

foreign-owned

8 (Germany 2, Greece 5, UAE 1) (2005)

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 74,881 GRT/100,682 DWT

Military branches

Jamaica Defense Force

Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$31.2 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.4% (2003) Transnational Issues Jamaica

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Nationality

adjective

Jamaican

noun

Jamaican(s)

Natural hazards

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Natural resources

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Net migration rate

-4.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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)

Population

2,731,832 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

0.71% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Public debt

146.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

1.215 million (1997)

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)

total

272 km

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%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.4 billion (2004 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.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

fully automatic domestic telephone network

international

country code - 1-876; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables

Telephones - main lines in use

444,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.4 million (2002)

Television broadcast stations

7 (1997)

Televisions

460,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Total fertility rate

1.95 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2004 est.)