Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 10,991 sq km
country comparison to the world: 168
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,022 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:
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mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 10.92%
permanent crops: 9.1%
other: 79.98% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
252.2 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.4 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 0.93 cu km/yr (32%/16%/52%)
per capita: 369.9 cu m/yr (2009)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English, English patois
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9% (2001 census)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,909,714 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 29% (male 428,643/female 414,348)
15-24 years: 21.8% (male 318,132/female 315,945)
25-54 years: 36% (male 514,172/female 532,094)
55-64 years: 5.5% (male 78,510/female 82,565)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 100,820/female 124,485) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 54 %
youth dependency ratio: 41.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 12.2 %
potential support ratio: 8.2 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 25.2 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18.65 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.63 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 52% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
KINGSTON (capital) 580,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.2
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
110 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 69
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 13.98 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 119
male: 14.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 73.44 years
country comparison to the world: 122
male: 71.81 years
female: 75.15 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.09 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
69% (2002/03)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.2% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.41 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
32,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 67
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.9% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 118
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.4% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 31
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87%
male: 82.1%
female: 91.8% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12.9 years (2010)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 38,516
percentage: 6 % (2005 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 34%
country comparison to the world: 20
male: 27.1%
female: 42.6% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
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
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew HOLNESS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
New Beginnings Movement or NBM
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela E. BRIDGEWATER (since 1 December 2010)
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
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
green-and-black streamertail (bird)
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Jamaica, Land We Love"
lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
note: adopted 1962
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounted for more than 60% of GDP at the end of 2011. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 15% of GDP and exports of bauxite and alumina make up roughly 5%. The bauxite/alumina sector was most affected by the global downturn while the tourism industry was resilient. Tourism revenues account for roughly 5% of GDP in 2011. Jamaica's economy faces many challenges to growth: high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of nearly 130%. Jamaica's onerous public debt burden is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably to the financial sector. In early 2010, the Jamaican Government created the Jamaica Debt Exchange in order to retire high-priced domestic bonds and significantly reduce annual debt servicing. Despite the improvement, debt servicing costs still hinder the government''s ability to spend on infrastructure and social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking economy. Jamaica was hard hit by the effects of the global economic crisis, experiencing economic contractions from 2008-10 and growth remains low. The SIMPSON-MILLER administration faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order 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. As of late 2012, the SIMPSON-MILLER government was working to negotiate a new IMF Stand-by agreement to gain access to additional funds.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$24.69 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$14.64 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8,900 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 86.2%
government consumption: 15.9%
investment in fixed capital: 21%
investment in inventories: 0.5%
exports of goods and services: 33.7%
imports of goods and services: -57.2%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 29%
services: 64.4% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; shellfish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro-processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.26 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 17%
industry: 19%
services: 64% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.5% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 35.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.5 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 38
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $3.884 billion
expenditures: $4.499 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-4.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
132.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2% (31 December 2010 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.63% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.723 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.309 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.351 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7.223 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 79
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-1.905 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.747 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
alumina, bauxite, sugar, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 48%, Canada 7.2%, Slovenia 4.2%, Netherlands 4.1%, UAE 4.1% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.905 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 36.1%, Venezuela 15.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.8%, China 4.8%, Mexico 4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.981 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$14.09 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.957 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.066 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.175 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
94.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,120 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22,940 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 146
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23,120 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
78,520 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
32,920 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 152
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.557 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
265,000 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 123
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.665 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 135
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
privately owned Radio Jamaica Limited and its subsidiaries operate multiple TV stations, subscription cable services, and radio stations; 2 other privately owned television stations; roughly 70 radio stations (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.jm
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,906 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 149
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.581 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 123
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m:
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 22,121 km (includes 44 km of expressways)
country comparison to the world: 103
paved: 16,148 km
unpaved: 5,973 km (2011)
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17 1/2 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 726,263
females age 16-49: 742,958 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 590,673
females age 16-49: 596,414 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 33,369
female: 32,702 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.86% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 323
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none