2012 Edition

Background

The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by 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 gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent 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, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.

Area

10,991 sq km 10,831 sq km 160 sq km

total

10,991 sq km

water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Coastline

1,022 km

Elevation extremes

Caribbean Sea 0 m Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

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 from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements

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 none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.41 cu km/yr (34%/17%/49%) 155 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

155 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.41 cu km/yr (34%/17%/49%)

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

Irrigated land

250 sq km (2002)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

15.83% 10.01% 74.16% (2005)

arable land

15.83%

other

74.16% (2005)

permanent crops

10.01%

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines 12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Natural resources

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Total renewable water resources

9.4 cu km (2000)

Age structure

29.5% (male 433,686/ female 419,296) 62.8% (male 896,832/ female 917,543) 7.7% (male 99,259/ female 122,571) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

29.5% (male 433,686/ female 419,296)

15-64 years

62.8% (male 896,832/ female 917,543)

65 years and over

7.7% (male 99,259/ female 122,571) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

18.89 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.2% (2007)

Death rate

6.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2009)

Ethnic groups

black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)

Health expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,200 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

32,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

14.3 deaths/1,000 live births 14.87 deaths/1,000 live births 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

14.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, English patois

Life expectancy at birth

73.43 years 71.78 years 75.15 years (2012 est.)

female

75.15 years (2012 est.)

total population

73.43 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 87.9% 84.1% 91.6% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

91.6% (2003 est.)

male

84.1%

total population

87.9%

Major cities - population

KINGSTON (capital) 580,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

24.4 years 23.9 years 24.9 years (2012 est.)

female

24.9 years (2012 est.)

male

23.9 years

total

24.4 years

Nationality

Jamaican(s) Jamaican

adjective

Jamaican

noun

Jamaican(s)

Net migration rate

-5.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.85 physicians/1,000 population (2003)

Population

2,889,187 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

0.714% (2012 est.)

Religions

Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 82% of population rural: 84% of population total: 83% of population urban: 18% of population rural: 16% of population total: 17% of population

rural

16% of population

total

17% of population

urban

18% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 15 years (2008)

female

15 years (2008)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

27.1% 22.5% 33.1% (2009)

female

33.1% (2009)

total

27.1%

Urbanization

52% of total population (2010) 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

52% of total population (2010)

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 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

Capital

Kingston 18 00 N, 76 48 W UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

18 00 N, 76 48 W

name

Kingston

time difference

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

Constitution

6 August 1962

Country name

none Jamaica

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Jamaica

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Pamela BRIDGEWATER 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5 [1] (876) 702-6000 [1] (876) 702-6001

chief of mission

Ambassador Pamela BRIDGEWATER

embassy

142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

FAX

[1] (876) 702-6001

mailing address

P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5

telephone

[1] (876) 702-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Stephen VASCIANNIE 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 452-0660 [1] (202) 452-0081 Miami, New York

chancery

1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Stephen VASCIANNIE

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 452-0081

telephone

[1] (202) 452-0660

Executive branch

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009) Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 5 January 2012) Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister 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 the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general

cabinet

Cabinet is 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 Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)

elections

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 the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general

head of government

Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 5 January 2012)

Flag description

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

Government type

constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Independence

6 August 1962 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

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

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in UK; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system

common law system based on the English model

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 8 seats) and the House of Representatives (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) last held on 29 December 2011 (next to be held no later than December 2016) percent of vote by party - PNP 53.3%, JLP 46.6%; seats by party - PNP 41, JLP 22

election results

percent of vote by party - PNP 53.3%, JLP 46.6%; seats by party - PNP 41, JLP 22

elections

last held on 29 December 2011 (next to be held no later than December 2016)

National anthem

"Jamaica, Land We Love" Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE adopted 1962

lyrics/music

Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE

name

"Jamaica, Land We Love"

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

National symbol(s)

green-and-black streamertail (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew HOLNESS]; People's National Party or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Michael WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; shellfish

Budget

$3.83 billion $4.764 billion (2012 est.)

expenditures

$4.764 billion (2012 est.)

revenues

$3.83 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2010 est.) NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.1% (31 December 2012 est.) 19.51% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.523 billion (2012 est.) -$1.723 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$14.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $14.62 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.5 (2004) 37.9 (2000)

Economy - overview

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for nearly 65% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 15% of GDP and exports of bauxite and alumina make up about 10%. The bauxite/alumina sector was most affected by the global downturn while the tourism industry was resilient, experiencing an increase of 4% in tourist arrivals. Tourism revenues account for roughly 10% of GDP, and both arrivals and revenues grew in 2010, up 4% and 6% respectively. Jamaica's economy faces many challenges to growth: high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 120%. Jamaica's onerous public debt burden is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector. In early 2010, the Jamaican government created the Jamaica Debt Exchange in order to retire high-priced domestic bonds and significantly reduce annual debt servicing. Despite the improvement, debt servicing costs still hinder the government's ability to spend on infrastructure and social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking economy. Jamaica was hard hit by the effects of the global economic crisis, experiencing economic contractions from 2008-10 and growth remains low. The SIMPSON-MILLER administration faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments, while simultaneously attacking a serious crime problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is fueled by the drug trade. As of late 2012, the SIMPSON-MILLER government was working to negotiate a new IMF Stand-by agreement to gain access to additional funds.

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for nearly 65% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 15% of GDP and expo

high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 120%. Jamaica's onerous public debt burden is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector. In early 2010, the Jamaican government created the Jamaica Debt Exchange in order to retire high-priced domestic bonds and significantly reduce annual debt servicing. Despite the improvement, debt servicing costs still hinder the government's ability to spend on infrastructure and social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking economy. Jamaica was hard hit by the effects of the global economic crisis, experiencing economic contractions from 2008-10 and growth remains low. The SIMPSON-MILLER administration faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments, while simultaneously attacking a serious crime problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is fueled by the drug trade. As of late 2012, the SIMPSON-MILLER government was working to negotiate a new IMF Stand-by agreement to gain access to additional funds.

Exchange rates

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 88.59 (2012 est.) 85.893 (2011 est.) 87.196 (2010 est.) 87.89 (2009) 72.236 (2008)

Exports

$1.718 billion (2012 est.) $1.665 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 36.8%, Canada 18.1%, Netherlands 7.3%, UK 5.4%, Norway 4.3% (2011)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition by sector

6.5% 29.9% 63.5% (2012 est.)

agriculture

6.5%

industry

29.9%

services

63.5% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,100 (2012 est.) $9,100 (2011 est.) $9,000 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.9% (2012 est.) 1.3% (2011 est.) -1.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.26 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$25.18 billion (2012 est.) $24.96 billion (2011 est.) $24.65 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 35.8% (2004)

highest 10%

35.8% (2004)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$6.019 billion (2012 est.) $5.859 billion (2011 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 32.8%, Venezuela 15%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.2%, China 6.3%, Mexico 4.1% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (2010 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.8% (2012 est.) 7.5% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Labor force

1.325 million (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

17% 19% 64% (2006)

agriculture

17%

industry

19%

services

64% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$7.223 billion (31 December 2011) $6.626 billion (31 December 2010) $6.201 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

16.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

127.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 127.6% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.282 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$7.309 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $7.012 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.229 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.131 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.028 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.962 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

14.2% (2012 est.) 14.1% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

9.217 million Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

23,780 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

4.801 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

93.5% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

4.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.198 million kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

5.208 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

78,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

9,145 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

68,410 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

22,790 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

privately-owned Radio Jamaica Limited and its subsidiaries operate multiple TV stations, subscription cable services, and radio stations; 2 other privately-owned television stations; roughly 70 radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.jm

Internet hosts

3,906 (2012)

Internet users

1.581 million (2009)

Telephone system

fully automatic domestic telephone network 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 mobile-cellular teledensity exceeded 110 per 100 persons in 2011 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; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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 mobile-cellular teledensity exceeded 110 per 100 persons in 2011

general assessment

fully automatic domestic telephone network

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; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

272,100 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.975 million (2011)

Airports

27 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

6 (2012)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

12

under 914 m

6 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

(2012)

total

15

under 914 m

(2012)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 4, cargo 5, container 4, roll on/roll off 1 14 (Denmark 1, Germany 10, Greece 3) (2010)

foreign-owned

14 (Denmark 1, Germany 10, Greece 3) (2010)

total

14

Ports and terminals

Discovery Bay (Port Rhoades), Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rocky Point

Roadways

22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways) (2005)

total

22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways) (2005)

Manpower available for military service

726,263 742,958 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

742,958 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

726,263

Manpower fit for military service

590,673 596,414 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

596,414 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

590,673

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

33,369 32,702 (2010 est.)

female

32,702 (2010 est.)

male

33,369

Military branches

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

Jamaica Defense Force

Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2010)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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