2018 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 withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence 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

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

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea

mean elevation

18 m

note

2256 highest point: Blue Mountain Peak

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; land erosion

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

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

arable land: 11.1% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 9.2% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 21.1% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

41.4% (2011 est.)

forest

31.1% (2011 est.)

other

27.5% (2011 est.)

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Map References

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime Claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

note

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

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

0-14 years

26.01% (male 372,158 /female 359,388)

15-24 years

18.36% (male 261,012 /female 255,223)

25-54 years

38.03% (male 518,984 /female 550,412)

55-64 years

8.89% (male 123,769 /female 126,350)

65 years and over

8.71% (male 115,573 /female 129,221) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

16.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

2.3% (2014)

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate

72.5% (2008/09)

Death Rate

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.8 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

7.2 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.7 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

34.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 97.5% of population

rural: 89.4% of population

total: 93.8% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population

rural: 10.6% of population

total: 6.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2017)

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

1.8% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

1,500 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

34,000 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

13.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

English, English patois

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

76.5 years (2018 est.)

male

72.7 years (2018 est.)

total population

74.5 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school (2015 est.)

female

93.1% (2015 est.)

male

84% (2015 est.)

total population

88.7% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

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

Major Urban Areas Population

589,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

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

Median Age

female

29.3 years (2018 est.)

male

27.8 years

total

28.6 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

21.2 years (2008 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

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

0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

2,812,090 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.05% (2018 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

improved: urban: 79.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 84.1% of population (2015 est.)

total: 81.8% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 20.1% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 15.9% of population (2015 est.)

total: 18.2% of population (2015 est.)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.09 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

34.4% (2017 est.)

male

23.2% (2017 est.)

total

28.3% (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.82% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

55.7% of total population (2018)

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

18 00 N, 76 48 W

name

Kingston

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

4 out of the previous 5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections such as fundamental rights and freedoms requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017 (2018)

history

several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence) (2018)

Country Name

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

chief of mission

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

embassy

142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

FAX

[1] (876) 702-6001 (2018)

mailing address

P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5

telephone

[1] (876) 702-6000 (2018)

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017) (2017)

consulate(s)

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle (2017)

consulate(s) general

Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 452-0036

telephone

[1] (202) 452-0660

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 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

highest courts

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

description

bicameral Parliament consists of:Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and the opposition party leader, 13 seats allocated to the ruling party, and 8 seats allocated to the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms) 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

House of Representatives - last held on 25 February 2016; byelection for 3 seats and 1 seat held on 30 October 2017 and 5 March 2018, respectively (next to be held no later than February 2021)

National Anthem

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

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

4.314 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

4.382 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

3.25% (31 December 2017)

3% (31 December 2016)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

14.91% (31 December 2017 est.)

16.49% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

-$679 million (2017 est.)

-$381 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$14.94 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$10.24 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

35 (2016)

38 (2015)

Economy Overview

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for more than 70% of GDP. The country derives most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Earnings from remittances and tourism each account for 14% and 20% 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 less than 110% in 2017, in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The current IMF 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, but declined to 0.9% in 2017 after intense rainfall, demonstrating the vulnerability of the economy to weather-related events. The HOLNESS administration therefore faces the difficult prospect of maintaining fiscal discipline to reduce the debt load while simultaneously implementing growth inducing policies and attacking a serious crime problem. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence fueled by advanced fee fraud (lottery scamming) and the drug trade.

Exchange Rates

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -

128.36 (2017 est.)

125.14 (2016 est.)

125.126 (2015 est.)

116.898 (2014 est.)

110.935 (2013 est.)

Exports

$1.296 billion (2017 est.)

$1.195 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

alumina, bauxite, chemicals, coffee, mineral fuels, waste and scrap metals, sugar, yams

Exports Partners

US 39.1%, Netherlands 12.3%, Canada 8.4% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

30.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption

13.7% (2017 est.)

household consumption

81.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-47.1% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

21.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

7% (2017 est.)

industry

21.1% (2017 est.)

services

71.9% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$14.77 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$9,200 (2017 est.)

$9,200 (2016 est.)

$9,100 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$26.06 billion (2017 est.)

$25.89 billion (2016 est.)

$25.51 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

0.7% (2017 est.)

1.5% (2016 est.)

0.9% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

18.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

20.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

18% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

29.3% (2015)

lowest 10%

29.3% (2015)

Imports

$5.151 billion (2017 est.)

$4.169 billion (2016 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 40.6%, Colombia 6.8%, Japan 5.8%, China 5.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.7% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

0.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

4.4% (2017 est.)

2.3% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

1.348 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

16.1%

industry

16%

services

67.9% (2017)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$8.393 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.715 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$5.38 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

17.1% (2016 est.)

Public Debt

101% of GDP (2017 est.)

113.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$3.781 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.719 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$3.55 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.427 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$604 million (2016)

$176 million (2010)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$15.03 billion (2016)

$10.86 billion (2010)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$7.326 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.382 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$3.55 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.427 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

29.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

12.2% (2017 est.)

12.8% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

8.9 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

24,360 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - rural areas

87% (2013)

electrification - total population

93% (2013)

electrification - urban areas

98% (2013)

population without electricity

200,000 (2013)

Electricity Consumption

2.847 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

83% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

15% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

1.078 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

4.007 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

198.2 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

198.2 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

55,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

823 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

30,580 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

24,250 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2017 est.)

total

239,120 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

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

Internet Country Code

.jm

Internet Users

percent of population

45% (July 2016 est.)

total

1,336,653 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

the 1999 agreement to open the market for telecommunications services resulted in rapid growth in mobile-cellular telephone usage 103 per 100 subscriptions, while the number of fixed-lines 10 per 100 subscriptions has declined (2017)

general assessment

fully automatic domestic telephone network; LTE networks providing coverage to 90% of the island population (2017)

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

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

297,027 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

103 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

3,091,222 (2017 est.)

Airports

28 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

2 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

4 (2017)

total

11 (2017)

under 914 m

5 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

17 (2013)

under 914 m

16 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

6Y (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, container ship 8, general cargo 11, other 19 (2017)

total

41 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

92,836 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

5 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

2 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

Kingston (1,567,442) (2016)

major seaport(s)

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

Roadways

paved

16,148 km (2011)

total

22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways) (2011)

unpaved

5,973 km (2011)

Military Branches

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

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)