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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.jm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,402 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

1.067 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network domestic: NA international: country code - 1-876; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables

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

342,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.7 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

7 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.8 billion expenditures: $3.21 billion; including capital expenditures of $180.4 million (2005 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Current account balance [time series]

$-974 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$7.162 billion (2005 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37.9 (2003)

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

$18.5 million; note - US aid only (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from remittances, tourism, and bauxite/alumina. The global economic slowdown, particularly after the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth; the economy rebounded moderately in 2003-04, with brisk tourist seasons. But the economy faces serious long-term problems: high interest rates, increased foreign competition, exchange rate instability, a sizable merchandise trade deficit, large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a growing stock of internal debt - the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most notably the financial sector in the mid-1990s. The ratio of debt to GDP is 135%. Inflation, previously a bright spot, is expected to remain in the double digits. Uncertain economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including gang violence fueled by the drug trade. In 2004, the government faced the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth. Attempts at deficit control were derailed by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, which required substantial government spending to repair the damage. Despite the hurricane, tourism looks set to enjoy solid growth for the foreseeable future.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.974 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.717 billion kWh (2004)

Exchange rates [time series]

Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 62.51 (2005), 61.197 (2004), 57.741 (2003), 48.416 (2002), 45.996 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$1.608 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 25.8%, Canada 19.3%, UK 10.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, China 7%, Norway 6.4%, Germany 5.6% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$9.127 billion (2005 est.)

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

$12.18 billion (2005 est.)

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

agriculture: 4.9% industry: 33.7% services: 61.5% (2005 est.)

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

$4,500 (2005 est.)

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

1.8% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)

Imports [time series]

$4.093 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners [time series]

US 41.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 14%, Venezuela 5.5%, Japan 4.6% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-2% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15.3% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

32.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.2 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 19.3% industry: 16.6% services: 64.1% (2004)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

69,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

19.1% (2003 est.)

Public debt [time series]

128.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.17 billion (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.5% (2005 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 10,991 sq km land: 10,831 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, 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

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 the Panama Canal

Irrigated land [time series]

250 sq km (2002)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 15.83% permanent crops: 10.01% other: 74.16% (2005)

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 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 [time series]

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Natural resources [time series]

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Government

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 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 [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

6 August 1962

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange JOHNSON embassy: Mutual Life Building, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 5 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859 FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEY 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 [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Kenneth O. HALL (since 15 February 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 30 March 2006) 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; 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; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime minister

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, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

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 16 October 2002 (next to be held no later than October 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%; seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

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

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Hyacinth BENNETT]; People's National Party or PNP [Percival James 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

Introduction

Background [time series]

The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated, replaced by African slaves. England siezed the island in 1655 and a plantation economy - based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee - was established. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of which became small farmers. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and 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 created by the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. The cycle of violence, drugs, and poverty has served to impoverish large sectors of the populace. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 592,018 females age 18-49: 616,500 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 478,761 females age 18-49: 504,541 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 27,923 females age 18-49: 27,889 (2005 est.)

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

Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing

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

0.4% (2003 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33.1% (male 464,297/female 449,181) 15-64 years: 59.6% (male 808,718/female 835,394) 65 years and over: 7.3% (male 90,100/female 110,434) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

22,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 15.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

English, patois English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.24 years male: 71.54 years female: 75.03 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 87.9% male: 84.1% female: 91.6% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 23 years male: 22.4 years female: 23.5 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Jamaican(s) adjective: Jamaican

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

2,758,124 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.8% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Baptist 8.8%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 5.5%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Brethren 1.1%, 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation 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

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Jamaica is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and labor; information suggests that women from the Dominican Republic and Eastern Europe are also trafficked to Jamaica for sexual exploitation; women and children are trafficked internally from rural to urban and tourist areas for sexual exploitation; there may also be trafficking for domestic servitude and forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Jamaica is placed on the Tier 2 Watch List based on the determination that it is making significant efforts to undertake future action

Transportation

Airports [time series]

35 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 10 ships (1000 GRT or over) 124,323 GRT/184,247 DWT by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 10 (Germany 3, Greece 6, Italy 1) (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky Point

Railways [time series]

total: 272 km standard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge note: 207 of these km belonging to the Jamaica Railway Corporation had been in common carrier service until 1992 but are no longer operational; 57 km of the remaining track is privately owned and used by ALCAN to transport bauxite (2003)

Roadways [time series]

total: 18,700 km paved: 13,009 km unpaved: 5,610 km (1999)