2017 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

land

10,831 sq km

total

10,991 sq km

water

160 sq km

Area - comparative

about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Coastline

1,022 km

Elevation

18 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point

Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

mean elevation

18 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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Geography - note

third largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola); strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

Irrigated land

250 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

41.4% arable land 11.1%; permanent crops 9.2%; permanent pasture 21.1% 31.1% 27.5% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

41.4%

forest

31.1%

other

27.5% (2011 est.)

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

Population - distribution

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Age structure

27.17% (male 413,325/female 399,190) 20.79% (male 312,400/female 309,477) 38.17% (male 564,414/female 577,059) 5.85% (male 84,271/female 90,612) 8.02% (male 107,310/female 132,503) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

27.17% (male 413,325/female 399,190)

15-24 years

20.79% (male 312,400/female 309,477)

25-54 years

38.17% (male 564,414/female 577,059)

55-64 years

5.85% (male 84,271/female 90,612)

65 years and over

8.02% (male 107,310/female 132,503) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

17.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.5% (2012)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

72.5% (2008/09)

Death rate

6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

48.7 34.9 13.8 7.2 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

13.8

potential support ratio

7.2 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.7

youth dependency ratio

34.9

Drinking water source

urban: 97.5% of population rural: 89.4% of population total: 93.8% of population urban: 2.5% of population rural: 10.6% of population total: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural

10.6% of population

total

6.2% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.5% of population

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,300 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

30,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

13.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English, English patois

Life expectancy at birth

73.7 years 72.1 years 75.4 years (2017 est.)

female

75.4 years (2017 est.)

male

72.1 years

total population

73.7 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school 88.7% 84% 93.1% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

93.1% (2015 est.)

male

84%

total population

88.7%

Major infectious diseases

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

KINGSTON (capital) 588,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

89 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

26 years 25.5 years 26.5 years (2017 est.)

female

26.5 years (2017 est.)

male

25.5 years

total

26 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

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

note

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

Nationality

Jamaican(s) Jamaican

adjective

Jamaican

noun

Jamaican(s)

Net migration rate

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.7% (2016)

Physicians density

0.41 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

2,990,561 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

Population growth rate

0.68% (2017 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 0.9%, and Moravian 0.7%), 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: 79.9% of population rural: 84.1% of population total: 81.8% of population urban: 20.1% of population rural: 15.9% of population total: 18.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural

15.9% of population

total

18.2% of population (2015 est.)

urban

20.1% of population

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.81 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.93 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

37.8% 32.4% 43.8% (2013 est.)

female

43.8% (2013 est.)

male

32.4%

total

37.8%

Urbanization

55.3% of total population (2017) 0.93% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.93% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

55.3% of total population (2017)

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

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

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)

Citizenship

yes yes yes 4 out of the previous 5 years

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

4 out of the previous 5 years

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 2015 (2016)

Country name

none Jamaica from the native Taino word "haymaca" meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Jamaica

etymology

from the native Taino word "haymaca" meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric KHANT (since 30 June 2017) 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5 [1] (876) 702-6000 [1] (876) 702-6348

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric KHANT (since 30 June 2017)

embassy

142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

FAX

[1] (876) 702-6348

mailing address

P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5

telephone

[1] (876) 702-6000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017) 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 [1] (202) 452-0660 [1] (202) 452-0036 Miami, New York Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia (PA), Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle

chancery

1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017)

consulate(s)

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia (PA), Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 452-0036

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 Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016) Cabinet 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 majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general

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

elections/appointments

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

head of government

Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)

Flag description

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

parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; 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, ICC (NGOs), 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 referred 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 resident 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); note - appeals beyond Jamaica's highest courts are referred 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)

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 (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and the minority party leader, 13 seats allocated to the ruling party, and 8 seats allocated to the minority party; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) last held on 25 February 2016 (next to be held no later than February 2021) percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.7%, other 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 32, PNP 31

description

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and the minority party leader, 13 seats allocated to the ruling party, and 8 seats allocated to the minority party; members serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.7%, other 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 32, PNP 31

elections

last held on 25 February 2016 (next to be held no later than February 2021)

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"

note

adopted 1962

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

National symbol(s)

green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black

green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors

green, yellow, black

Political parties and leaders

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew HOLNESS] People's National Party or PNP [Dr. Peter David PHILLIPS] National Democratic Movement or NDM [Peter TOWNSEND]

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

$3.995 billion $3.922 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$3.922 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$3.995 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.5% (31 December 2016 est.) 16.98% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-309 million (2016 est.) $-430 million (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$15.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $14.27 billion (31 December 2015 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 more than 70% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Earnings from remittances and tourism each account for about 15% of GDP, while bauxite/alumina exports have declined to less than 5% of GDP. Jamaica's economy has grown on average less than 1% a year for the last three decades and many impediments remain to growth: a bloated public sector which crowds out spending on important projects; high crime and corruption; red-tape; and a high debt-to-GDP ratio. Jamaica, however, has made steady progress in reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio from a high of almost 150% in 2012 to about 115% in 2017, in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund. The existing Stand By Agreement requires Jamaica to produce an annual primary surplus of 7%, in an attempt to reduce its debt burden below 60% by 2025. Economic growth reached 1.6% in 2016. The HOLNESS administration faces the difficult prospect of maintaining fiscal discipline to make debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious crime problem. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence fueled by the drug trade.

Jamaica's economy has grown on average less than 1% a year for the last three decades and many impediments remain to growth

a bloated public sector which crowds out spending on important projects; high crime and corruption; red-tape; and a high debt-to-GDP ratio. Jamaica, however, has made steady progress in reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio from a high of almost 150% in 2012 to about 115% in 2017, in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund. The existing Stand By Agreement requires Jamaica to produce an annual primary surplus of 7%, in an attempt to reduce its debt burden below 60% by 2025.

Exchange rates

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 125.126 (2016 est.) 125.126 (2015 est.) 116.898 (2014 est.) 110.935 (2013 est.) 88.75 (2012 est.)

Exports

$1.195 billion (2016 est.) $1.255 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 40.8%, Canada 11.9%, Netherlands 10.2%, Russia 5.8%, UK 4.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

81.3% 13.7% 21.1% 0.1% 29.3% -45.5% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

29.3%

government consumption

13.7%

household consumption

81.3%

imports of goods and services

-45.5% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.1%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

7.2% 21.3% 71.4% (2016 est.)

agriculture

7.2%

industry

21.3%

services

71.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,000 (2016 est.) $8,900 (2015 est.) $8,800 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.3% (2016 est.) 0.9% (2015 est.) 0.5% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.96 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$25.33 billion (2016 est.) $24.69 billion (2015 est.) $24.2 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

17% of GDP (2016 est.) 18.1% of GDP (2015 est.) 14.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.1% 35.8% (2004)

highest 10%

35.8% (2004)

lowest 10%

2.1%

Imports

$4.169 billion (2016 est.) $4.449 billion (2015 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 39%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.2%, China 6.4%, Japan 6.2%, Mexico 4.1% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.3% (2016 est.) 3.7% (2015 est.)

Labor force

1.321 million (2016 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 est.) $6.626 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

127.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 122.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.291 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.914 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$8.429 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $8.182 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.343 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $6.881 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.409 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $3.542 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.8% (2016 est.) 13.5% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

13 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

19,160 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

2.757 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

88.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

13% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

988,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

3.894 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

200,000 93% 98% 87% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

87% (2013)

electrification - total population

93%

electrification - urban areas

98%

population without electricity

200,000

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

54,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

845.3 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

34,170 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

19,760 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.jm

Internet users

1,336,653 45.0% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

45.0% (July 2016 est.)

total

1,336,653

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 fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeds 120 per 100 persons 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) (2016)

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 fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeds 120 per 100 persons

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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

310,213 10 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

310,213

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,267,344 110 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (July 2016 est.)

total

3,267,344

Airports

28 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

11

under 914 m

5 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

16 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

17

under 914 m

16 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

6Y (2016)

Merchant marine

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

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 5, container 4, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

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

total

14

National air transport system

92,836 0 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

92,836

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

5

number of registered air carriers

2

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)

paved

16,148 km

total

22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways)

unpaved

5,973 km (2011)

Military branches

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

Jamaica Defense Force

Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2010)

Military expenditures

0.82% of GDP (2016) 0.83% of GDP (2015) 0.87% of GDP (2014) 0.9% of GDP (2013) 0.93% of GDP (2012)

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

Trafficking in persons

Jamaica is a source and destination country for children and adults subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; sex trafficking of children and adults occurs on the street, in night clubs, bars, massage parlors, and private homes; child sex tourism is a problem in resort areas; Jamaicans have been subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor in the Caribbean, Canada, the US, and the UK, while foreigners have endured conditions of forced labor in Jamaica or aboard foreign-flagged fishing vessels operating in Jamaican waters; a high number of Jamaican children are reported missing Tier 2 Watch List – Jamaica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made significant efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, and named a national trafficking-in-persons rapporteur – the first in the region; authorities initiated more new trafficking investigations than in 2013 and concluded a trafficking case in the Supreme Court, but chronic delays impeded prosecutions and no offenders were convicted for the sixth consecutive year; more adult trafficking victims were identified than in previous years, but only one child victim was identified, which was exceptionally low relative to the number of vulnerable children (2015)

current situation

Jamaica is a source and destination country for children and adults subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; sex trafficking of children and adults occurs on the street, in night clubs, bars, massage parlors, and private homes; child sex tourism is a problem in resort areas; Jamaicans have been subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor in the Caribbean, Canada, the US, and the UK, while foreigners have endured conditions of forced labor in Jamaica or aboard foreign-flagged fishing vessels operating in Jamaican waters; a high number of Jamaican children are reported missing

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Jamaica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made significant efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, and named a national trafficking-in-persons rapporteur – the first in the region; authorities initiated more new trafficking investigations than in 2013 and concluded a trafficking case in the Supreme Court, but chronic delays impeded prosecutions and no offenders were convicted for the sixth consecutive year; more adult trafficking victims were identified than in previous years, but only one child victim was identified, which was exceptionally low relative to the number of vulnerable children (2015)