Overview
Europeans first saw Jamaica when Christopher COLUMBUS arrived in 1494, and the Spanish settled the island early in the 16th century. The Native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced with 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 recurring 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, corruption, 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
- Location
- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
- Total Area
- 10,991 sq km
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
- Terrain
- mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
- Natural Resources
- bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
- Coastline
- 1,022 km
- Land Borders
- 0 km
People & Society
- Population
- 2,938,503 (2025 est.)
- Languages
- English, Jamaican patois
- 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.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)
- Life Expectancy
- 76.3 years (2024 est.)
- Urbanization
- 57.4% of total population (2023)
Government
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
- Capital
- Kingston
- Independence
- 6 August 1962 (from the UK)
- Constitution
- several previous (pre-independence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)
- Legal System
- common law system based on the English model
- Executive Branch
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
Economy
- Economic Overview
- upper-middle-income Caribbean island economy; key agriculture and tourism sectors; high crime, youth unemployment, and poverty; susceptible to natural disasters and global commodity price shocks; progress in reducing public debt and moderating inflation within target range
- GDP (Official Rate)
- $19.93 billion (2024 est.)
- Major Industries
- agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications