Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean. It is known for its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and vibrant culture.
Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean. It is known for its beautiful beaches, historic sites, and vibrant culture.
The Arawak and Taino peoples were the first inhabitants of Jamaica. Christopher COLUMBUS claimed the island for Spain in 1494, leading to the decline of the native population due to disease and enslavement. The British took control of Jamaica in 1655, and it became a major center for sugar production using enslaved African labor. Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962 and has since developed a vibrant culture known for its music, cuisine, and contributions to sports.
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Cuba and west of Haiti
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 10,991 sq km
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 580 m
tropical; hot and humid; tempered by northeast trade winds; rainy season (May to November)
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains; some fertile valleys
bauxite, gypsum, limestone, marble, arable land
arable land: 10.21%
permanent crops: 4.55%
permanent pasture: 2.27%
forest: 44.55%
other: 38.42% (2018 est.)
total: 2,938,503 (2025 est.)
male: 1,453,759
female: 1,484,744
comparison rankings: total 139; male 138; female 138
black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 1% (including Chinese, European, Syrian/Lebanese) (2011 est.)
English (official), Jamaican Patois (an English-based creole language with West African influences)
Protestant 65.8% (Pentecostal 24.3%, Seventh-day Adventist 11.1%, Baptist 7.6%, Church of God 6.3%, Anglican 4.1%, other Protestant 12.4%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other 1.3%, none 30.3% (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 20.83% (male 312,764/female 287,202)
15-24 years: 15.1% (male 226,504/female 218,348)
25-54 years: 43.12% (male 645,878/female 634,659)
55-64 years: 10.14% (male 150,200/female 160,659)
65 years and over: 10.81% (male 145,113/female 174,375) (2025 est.)
conventional long form: Jamaica
conventional short form: Jamaica
local long form: Jamaica
local short form: Jamaica
etymology: possibly from the Arawak word "Xaymaca," meaning "land of wood and water" or "land of springs"
parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 17 59 N, 76 47 W
time difference: UTC-5 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named for the English town of Kingston upon Hull
14 parishes: Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations