Jamaica

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.jm

Internet hosts

3,906 (2012) country comparison to the world: 149

Internet users

1.581 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 80

Telephone system

general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network 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 mobile-cellular teledensity exceeded 110 per 100 persons in 2011 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) (2010)

Telephones - main lines in use

265,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 123

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.665 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 135

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $3.826 billion expenditures: $4.088 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Central bank discount rate

2% (31 December 2010 est.) NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

17% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 17.63% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.583 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 -$1.905 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$13.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $14.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.5 (2004) country comparison to the world: 38 37.9 (2000)

Economy - overview

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for nearly 80% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances and tourism each account for 30% of GDP, while bauxite/alumina exports make up roughly 5% of GDP. The bauxite/alumina sector was most affected by the global downturn while the tourism industry and remittance flow remained resilient. Jamaica's economy faces many challenges to growth: high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 140%. The attendant debt servicing cost consumes a large portion of the government's budget, limiting its ability to fund the critical infrastructure and social programs required to drive growth. Jamaica's economic growth rate in the recent past has been stagnant, averaging less than 1% per year for over 20 years. Jamaica's onerous public debt burden is largely the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector. In early 2010, the Jamaican Government initiated the Jamaica Debt Exchange to retire high-priced domestic bonds and reduce annual debt servicing. Despite these efforts, debt continued to be a serious concern, forcing the government to negotiate and sign a new IMF agreement in May 2013 to gain access to approximately $1 billion additional funds. As a precursor, the government instigated a second National Debt Exchange in 2012. The IMF deal requires the government to reform its tax system, eliminate discretionary tax exemptions and waivers, and achieve an annual surplus of 7.5%, excluding debt payments, to reduce its debt below 100% of GDP by 2020. The SIMPSON-MILLER administration now faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious crime problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is fueled by the drug trade. The IMF approved a four-year $932 million Extended Fund Facility arrangement for Jamaica in May 2013.

Exchange rates

Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar - 99.83 (2013 est.) 88.751 (2012 est.) 87.196 (2010 est.) 87.89 (2009) 72.236 (2008)

Exports

$1.775 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.747 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 48%, Canada 7.2%, Slovenia 4.2%, Netherlands 4.1%, UAE 4.1% (2012)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.39 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$25.13 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $25.03 billion (2012 est.) $25.15 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 86.6% government consumption: 15.7% investment in fixed capital: 21.2% investment in inventories: 0.5% exports of goods and services: 34.5% imports of goods and services: -58.4% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 6.5% industry: 29.4% services: 64.1% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,000 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 $9,000 (2012 est.) $9,100 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 -0.5% (2012 est.) 1.4% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

10.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 8.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 7% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 35.8% (2004)

Imports

$5.559 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 124 $5.905 billion (2012 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 36.1%, Venezuela 15.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.8%, China 4.8%, Mexico 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 207 6.9% (2012 est.)

Labor force

1.261 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 17% industry: 19% services: 64% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$6.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $7.223 billion (31 December 2011) $6.626 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

16.5% (2009 est.)

Public debt

123.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 132.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $1.981 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.928 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 $6.239 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$7.197 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $7.351 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.671 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 $1.723 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Unemployment rate

16.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 13.7% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

9.557 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Crude oil - imports

22,940 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Crude oil - production

2,120 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Electricity - consumption

3.066 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - from fossil fuels

94.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

2.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 160

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.175 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - production

3.957 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Refined petroleum products - consumption

78,520 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Refined petroleum products - imports

32,920 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - production

23,120 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Area

total: 10,991 sq km country comparison to the world: 168 land: 10,831 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Coastline

1,022 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.93 cu km/yr (32%/16%/52%) per capita: 369.9 cu m/yr (2009)

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Geography - note

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

Irrigated land

252.2 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 10.92% permanent crops: 9.1% other: 79.98% (2011)

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 territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Natural resources

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Terrain

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Total renewable water resources

9.4 cu km (2011)

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

name: Kingston geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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 2011 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires a.i. Elizabeth Martinez embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6 mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5 telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000 FAX: [1] (876) 702-6001

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen C. VASCIANNIE (since 20 July 2012) chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660 FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON MILLER (since 5 January 2012) cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: 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 the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general

Flag description

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

constitutional parliamentary democracy and 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, 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 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 submitted 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 (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the House of Representatives (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 29 December 2011 (next to be held no later than December 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 53.3%, JLP 46.6%; seats by party - PNP 41, JLP 22

National anthem

name: "Jamaica, Land We Love"

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

National symbol(s)

green-and-black streamertail (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew HOLNESS] People's National Party or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER] National Democratic Movement or NDM [Michael WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

New Beginnings Movement or NBM Rastafarians

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 726,263 females age 16-49: 742,958 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 590,673 females age 16-49: 596,414 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 33,369 female: 32,702 (2010 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

0.86% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 112 0.92% of GDP (2011) 0.86% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 1/2 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.4% (male 423,855/female 409,651) 15-24 years: 21.7% (male 319,291/female 316,773) 25-54 years: 36.4% (male 525,288/female 542,015) 55-64 years: 5.6% (male 79,875/female 84,562) 65 years and over: 7.7% (male 102,377/female 126,363) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

18.41 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 38,516 percentage: 6 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.2% (2010) country comparison to the world: 112

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69% (2002/03)

Death rate

6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 52.6 % youth dependency ratio: 40.5 % elderly dependency ratio: 12.2 % potential support ratio: 8.2 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.1% of population rural: 88.8% of population total: 93.1% of population unimproved: urban: 2.9% of population rural: 11.2% of population total: 6.9% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 40

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

28,400 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Health expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 139

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 114 male: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

English, English patois

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.48 years country comparison to the world: 121 male: 71.87 years female: 75.17 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 87% male: 82.1% female: 91.8% (2011 est.)

Major urban areas - population

KINGSTON (capital) 571,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 65

Median age

total: 24.9 years male: 24.4 years female: 25.4 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

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

Nationality

noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican

Net migration rate

-4.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.1% (2008) country comparison to the world: 67

Physicians density

0.41 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

2,930,050 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Population growth rate

0.69% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

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 .9%, and Moravian .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: 78.4% of population rural: 82.2% of population total: 80.2% of population unimproved: urban: 21.6% of population rural: 17.8% of population total: 19.8% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2002)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 34% country comparison to the world: 20 male: 27.1% female: 42.6% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 52% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.51% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Airports

28 (2013) country comparison to the world: 123

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 14 country comparison to the world: 102 by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 5, container 4, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 14 (Denmark 1, Germany 10, Greece 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Discovery Bay (Port Rhoades), Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rocky Point container port(s) (TEUs): Kingston (1,724,928)

Roadways

total: 22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways) country comparison to the world: 104 paved: 16,148 km unpaved: 5,973 km (2011)