Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

6 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

1.215 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

fully automatic domestic telephone network domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

292,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

45,178 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

7 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

460,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.27 billion expenditures: $3.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.265 billion (FY98/99 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$3.8 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$102.7 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Key sectors in this island economy are bauxite (alumina and bauxite account for more than half of exports) and tourism. Since assuming office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and privatized government enterprises. Continued tight monetary and fiscal policies have helped slow inflation - although inflationary pressures are mounting - and stabilize the exchange rate, but have resulted in the slowdown of economic growth (moving from 1.5% in 1992 to 0.5% in 1995). In 1996, GDP showed negative growth (-1.4%) and remained negative through 1999. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; the weak financial condition of business in general resulting in receiverships or closures and downsizings of companies; the shift in investment portfolios to non-productive, short-term high yield instruments; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt for government bailouts to various ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial sector. Depressed economic conditions in 1999 led to increased civil unrest, including a mounting crime rate. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon encouraging investment in the productive sectors, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, stabilizing the labor environment, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing proper fiscal and monetary policies.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.939 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.386 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 92.7% hydro: 2.21% nuclear: 0% other: 5.09% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 41.139 (December 1999), 9.044 (1999), 36.550 (1998), 35.404 (1997), 37.120 (1996), 35.142 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum

Exports - partners [time series]

US 39.5%, EU (excluding UK) 15.6%, UK 12.1%, Canada 11.5% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $8.8 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7.4% industry: 42.1% services: 50.5% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,350 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

-0.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 31.9% (1991)

Imports [time series]

$2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals, fertilizers

Imports - partners [time series]

US 50.9%, EU (excluding UK) 9.5%, Caricom countries 10.4%, Latin America 6% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.4% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.13 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)

Population below poverty line [time series]

34.2% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15.5% (1998)

Area [time series]

total: 10,990 sq km land: 10,830 sq km water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Coastline [time series]

1,022 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

350 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 14% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 17% other: 39% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Natural resources [time series]

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Administrative divisions [time series]

14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland

Capital [time series]

Kingston

Constitution [time series]

6 August 1962

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica

Data code [time series]

JM

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Stanley Louis MCLELLAND embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [1] (809) 929-4850 through 4859 FAX: [1] (809) 926-6743

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660 FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991) head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since NA 1993) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

6 August 1962 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister; Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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 eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 50, JLP 10

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party or PNP [P. J. PATTERSON]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office, and a more conservative government installed. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$30 million (FY95/96 est.)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 725,975 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 510,419 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 27,202 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30% (male 411,448; female 392,559) 15-64 years: 63% (male 832,314; female 837,133) 65 years and over: 7% (male 80,059; female 99,176) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.51 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

14.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

English, Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.21 years male: 73.26 years female: 77.26 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 85% male: 80.8% female: 89.1% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican

Net migration rate [time series]

-8.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

2,652,689 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.46% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.11 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

36 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 23 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 18,700 km paved: 13,100 km unpaved: 5,600 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,930 GRT/3,065 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

petroleum products 10 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel (Longswharf)

Railways [time series]

total: 370 km standard gauge: 370 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km belong to the Jamaica Railway Corporation in common carrier service, but are no longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned and used to transport bauxite