2014 Edition

Background

The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, 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)

0.93 cu km/yr (32%/16%/52%) 369.9 cu m/yr (2009)

per capita

369.9 cu m/yr (2009)

total

0.93 cu km/yr (32%/16%/52%)

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

252.2 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

10.92% 9.1% 79.98% (2011)

arable land

10.92%

other

79.98% (2011)

permanent crops

9.1%

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 (2011)

Age structure

28.4% (male 423,855/female 409,651) 21.7% (male 319,291/female 316,773) 36.4% (male 525,288/female 542,015) 5.6% (male 79,875/female 84,562) 7.7% (male 102,377/female 126,363) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

28.4% (male 423,855/female 409,651)

15-24 years

21.7% (male 319,291/female 316,773)

25-54 years

36.4% (male 525,288/female 542,015)

55-64 years

5.6% (male 79,875/female 84,562)

65 years and over

7.7% (male 102,377/female 126,363) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

18.41 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

38,516 6 % (2005 est.)

percentage

6 % (2005 est.)

total number

38,516

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.2% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69% (2002/03)

Death rate

6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

52.6 % 40.5 % 12.2 % 8.2 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

12.2 %

potential support ratio

8.2 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

52.6 %

youth dependency ratio

40.5 %

Drinking water source

urban: 97.1% of population rural: 88.8% of population total: 93.1% of population urban: 2.9% of population rural: 11.2% of population total: 6.9% of population (2012 est.)

rural

11.2% of population

total

6.9% of population (2012 est.)

urban

2.9% of population

Education expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2010)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,300 (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

28,400 (2012 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

13.69 deaths/1,000 live births 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

13.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

13.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, English patois

Life expectancy at birth

73.48 years 71.87 years 75.17 years (2014 est.)

female

75.17 years (2014 est.)

total population

73.48 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 87% 82.1% 91.8% (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

91.8% (2011 est.)

male

82.1%

total population

87%

Major urban areas - population

KINGSTON (capital) 571,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

24.9 years 24.4 years 25.4 years (2014 est.)

female

25.4 years (2014 est.)

male

24.4 years

total

24.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

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

Nationality

Jamaican(s) Jamaican

adjective

Jamaican

noun

Jamaican(s)

Net migration rate

-4.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.1% (2008)

Physicians density

0.41 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

2,930,050 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.69% (2014 est.)

Religions

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 .9%, and Moravian .7%), Roman Catholic 2.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.9%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.5%, none 21.3%, unspecified 2.3% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 78.4% of population rural: 82.2% of population total: 80.2% of population urban: 21.6% of population rural: 17.8% of population total: 19.8% of population (2012 est.)

rural

17.8% of population

total

19.8% of population (2012 est.)

urban

21.6% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 12 years 12 years (2002)

female

12 years (2002)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 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 (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

34% 27.1% 42.6% (2012)

female

42.6% (2012)

total

34%

Urbanization

52% of total population (2011) 0.51% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.51% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

52% of total population (2011)

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

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 2011 (2011)

Country name

none Jamaica

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Jamaica

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires a.i. Elizabeth Martinez 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5 [1] (876) 702-6000 [1] (876) 702-6001

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires a.i. Elizabeth Martinez

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 C. VASCIANNIE (since 20 July 2012) 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 C. VASCIANNIE (since 20 July 2012)

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

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 submitted 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) 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 resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts

highest 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)

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$3.826 billion $4.088 billion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$4.088 billion (2013 est.)

revenues

$3.826 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2013 est.) 17.63% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.583 billion (2013 est.) -$1.905 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$13.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $14.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.5 (2004) 37.9 (2000)

Economy - overview

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for nearly 80% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances and tourism each account for 30% of GDP, while bauxite/alumina exports make up roughly 5% of GDP. The bauxite/alumina sector was most affected by the global downturn while the tourism industry and remittance flow remained resilient. Jamaica's economy faces many challenges to growth: high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 140%. The attendant debt servicing cost consumes a large portion of the government's budget, limiting its ability to fund the critical infrastructure and social programs required to drive growth. Jamaica's economic growth rate in the recent past has been stagnant, averaging less than 1% per year for over 20 years. Jamaica's onerous public debt burden is largely the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector. In early 2010, the Jamaican Government initiated the Jamaica Debt Exchange to retire high-priced domestic bonds and reduce annual debt servicing. Despite these efforts, debt continued to be a serious concern, forcing the government to negotiate and sign a new IMF agreement in May 2013 to gain access to approximately $1 billion additional funds. As a precursor, the government instigated a second National Debt Exchange in 2012. The IMF deal requires the government to reform its tax system, eliminate discretionary tax exemptions and waivers, and achieve an annual surplus of 7.5%, excluding debt payments, to reduce its debt below 100% of GDP by 2020. The SIMPSON-MILLER administration now faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline 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. The IMF approved a four-year $932 million Extended Fund Facility arrangement for Jamaica in May 2013.

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for nearly 80% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances and tourism each account for 30% of GDP,

high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 140%. The attendant debt servicing cost consumes a large portion of the government's budget, limiting its ability to fund the critical infrastructure and social programs required to drive growth. Jamaica's economic growth rate in the recent past has been stagnant, averaging less than 1% per year for over 20 years. Jamaica's onerous public debt burden is largely the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector. In early 2010, the Jamaican Government initiated the Jamaica Debt Exchange to retire high-priced domestic bonds and reduce annual debt servicing. Despite these efforts, debt continued to be a serious concern, forcing the government to negotiate and sign a new IMF agreement in May 2013 to gain access to approximately $1 billion additional funds. As a precursor, the government instigated a second National Debt Exchange in 2012. The IMF deal requires the government to reform its tax system, eliminate discretionary tax exemptions and waivers, and achieve an annual surplus of 7.5%, excluding debt payments, to reduce its debt below 100% of GDP by 2020. The SIMPSON-MILLER administration now faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline 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. The IMF approved a four-year $932 million Extended Fund Facility arrangement for Jamaica in May 2013.

Exchange rates

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 99.83 (2013 est.) 88.751 (2012 est.) 87.196 (2010 est.) 87.89 (2009) 72.236 (2008)

Exports

$1.775 billion (2013 est.) $1.747 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 48%, Canada 7.2%, Slovenia 4.2%, Netherlands 4.1%, UAE 4.1% (2012)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

86.6% 15.7% 21.2% 0.5% 34.5% -58.4% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

34.5%

government consumption

15.7%

household consumption

86.6%

imports of goods and services

-58.4%

investment in fixed capital

21.2%

investment in inventories

0.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

6.5% 29.4% 64.1% (2013 est.)

agriculture

6.5%

industry

29.4%

services

64.1% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,000 (2013 est.) $9,000 (2012 est.) $9,100 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.4% (2013 est.) -0.5% (2012 est.) 1.4% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.39 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$25.13 billion (2013 est.) $25.03 billion (2012 est.) $25.15 billion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

10.8% of GDP (2013 est.) 8.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 35.8% (2004)

highest 10%

35.8% (2004)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$5.559 billion (2013 est.) $5.905 billion (2012 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 36.1%, Venezuela 15.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.8%, China 4.8%, Mexico 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2013 est.)

Industries

tourism, bauxite/alumina, agricultural-processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.4% (2013 est.) 6.9% (2012 est.)

Labor force

1.261 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

17% 19% 64% (2006)

agriculture

17%

industry

19%

services

64% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$6.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $7.223 billion (31 December 2011) $6.626 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

123.6% of GDP (2013 est.) 132.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.981 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.928 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $6.239 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.197 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $7.351 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.671 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.723 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

16.3% (2013 est.) 13.7% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

9.557 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

22,940 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

2,120 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

3.066 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

94.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.175 million kW (2010 est.)

Electricity - production

3.957 billion kWh (2010 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

78,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

32,920 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

23,120 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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

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; the ALBA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable links Jamaica, Cuba, and Venezuela; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)

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; the ALBA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable links Jamaica, Cuba, and Venezuela; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

265,000 (2011)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.665 million (2012)

Airports

28 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

11

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

16 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

17

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 Kingston (1,724,928)

container port(s) (TEUs)

Kingston (1,724,928)

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways) 16,148 km 5,973 km (2011)

total

22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways)

unpaved

5,973 km (2011)

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

0.86% of GDP (2012) 0.92% of GDP (2011) 0.86% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

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

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