Jamaica
in Caribbean
North America

National active POI
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Dollar - JMD
Spoken languages:
English
Local electricity:
110 V - 50 Hz (plugs: A, B)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
JM
Internet top level domain:
.jm
Country phone prefix:
+1-876
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Jamaica in Caribbean

Safety Score: 3,8 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning please reconsider your need to travel to Jamaica.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Jamaica. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Jamaica

Jamaica with its capital Kingston is located in North America (Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea). It covers some 10,992 square kilometers (about half the size of New Jersey) with 2,990,560 citizens. English is the language commonly spoken used in Jamaica. This country shares no land borders with another country.

Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean, located to the south of Cuba and to the west of the island of Hispaniola. The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate. Some regions on the south coast are relatively dry rain-shadow areas. Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean; as a result, the island sometimes experiences significant storm damage. Visit Nine Mile where Bob Marley was born and now buried. The journey up into the mountains lets you experience the heart of the country.

Popular Destinations in Jamaica

 

Spanish Town
 

Port Antonio
 

Montego Bay
 

Mandeville
 

Kingston
 

Half Way Tree

Administrative regions of Jamaica

About the country

Website: Jamaica Tourism

The landscape is mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain. The average density of population is about 272 per km². The climate in Jamaica can be described as tropicalhot, humid, temperate interior. Potential threats by nature are hurricanes (especially July to November).

To reach someone Jamaica dial +1-876 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".jm". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 110 V - 50 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is JMD.

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.

Flag of Jamaica

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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 167) 10,991sq km
Land (World Rank: 164) 10,831sq km
Water (World Rank: 137) 160sq km
Forest (World Rank: 81) 21.10%
Comparative about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Coastline
1022
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 114) 2,256m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 102) 41.40%
Arable (World Rank: 101) 11.10%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 34) 9.20%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 81) 21.10%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 127) 250sq km
Map reference
Central America and the Caribbean
Environment
Issues
  • - air pollution in Kingston from vehicle emissions
  • - and oil spills
  • - coastal waters polluted by industrial waste
  • - damage to coral reefs
  • - heavy rates of deforestation
  • - sewage
Agreement party
  • - 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
Hazzards hurricanes (especially July to November)
Location
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 138) 2,990,560
Deathrate (World Rank: 135) 0.68%
Birthrate (World Rank: 99) 1.79%
Growthrate (World Rank: 144) 0.68%
Migration rate (World Rank: 150) -0.43%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 123) 1.96%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 148) 25.50
Female (World Rank: 148) 26.50
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 132) 413,325
0 14 female (World Rank: 132) 399,190
15 24 male (World Rank: 126) 312,400
15 24 female (World Rank: 124) 309,477
25 54 male (World Rank: 140) 564,414
25 54 female (World Rank: 138) 577,059
55 64 male (World Rank: 139) 84,271
55 64 female (World Rank: 140) 90,612
65 x male (World Rank: 132) 107,310
65 x female (World Rank: 135) 132,503
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 110) 1.28%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 130) 74years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 141) 75years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 116) 72years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 132) 0.41
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 120) 1.70
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 119) 81.80%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 55) 24.70%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 118) 93.80%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 125) 3,894,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 137) 2,757,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 67) 88.50%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 133) 3.00%
Source renew (World Rank: 53) 13.00%
Crude oil
Imports (World Rank: 64) 19,160bbl / day
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 90) 19,760bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 98) 54,000bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 108) 845bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 96) 34,170bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 169) 3m³
Carbon footprint
13000000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 49) 5% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 129) 1% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 131) 5% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 34) 1% of GDP
National symbol
Guaiacum officinale
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Jamaican
Noun
Jamaican(s)
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.
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

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 139) 25,330,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 163) 1.30%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 139) 9,000USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 108) 7.20%
Source industry (World Rank: 141) 21.30%
Source service (World Rank: 58) 71.40%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 134) 1,321,000
In poverty (World Rank: 122) 16.50%
Products
Industries
  • - agricultural-processing
  • - bauxite/alumina
  • - cement
  • - chemical products
  • - light manufactures
  • - metal
  • - paper
  • - rum
  • - telecommunications
  • - tourism
Agriculture
  • - ackees
  • - bananas
  • - citrus
  • - coffee
  • - goats
  • - milk
  • - poultry
  • - shellfish
  • - sugarcane
  • - vegetables
  • - yams
Exports
  • - alumina
  • - apparel
  • - bauxite
  • - beverages
  • - chemicals
  • - coffee
  • - mineral fuels
  • - rum
  • - sugar
  • - yams
Imports
  • - accessories of capital goods
  • - construction materials
  • - food
  • - fuel
  • - industrial supplies
  • - machinery
  • - other consumer goods
  • - parts
  • - transport equipment

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 111) 310,213
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 132) 10.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 105) 110.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 123) 1,336,650
Population (World Rank: 132) 45.00%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 111) 11.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 113) 17.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 105) 22,121
Paved length (World Rank: 65) 16,148
Unpaved length (World Rank: 101) 5,973
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.