Jamaica :: Central America and Caribbean
Introduction
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 withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence 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:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total:
10,991 sq km
land:
10,831 sq km
water:
160 sq km
country comparison to the world: 166
Area - comparative:
about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,022 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
continental shelf:
200
nm or to edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation:
mean elevation:
18 m
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
agricultural land:
41.4%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
11.1%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
9.2%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
21.1%
(2011 est.)
forest:
31.1%
(2011 est.)
other:
27.5%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km
(2012)
Population distribution:
population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (especially July to November)
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; land erosion
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
Geography - note:
third largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola); strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
People and Society
Population:
2,808,570
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Nationality:
noun:
Jamaican(s)
adjective:
Jamaican
Ethnic groups:
Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7%
(2011 est.)
Languages:
English, English patois
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 0.9%, and Moravian 0.7%), Roman Catholic 2.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.9%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.5%, none 21.3%, unspecified 2.3%
(2011 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
25.2%
(male 360,199/female 347,436)
15-24 years:
17.95%
(male 255,102/female 248,927)
25-54 years:
38.06%
(male 518,583/female 550,410)
55-64 years:
9.63%
(male 133,890/female 136,442)
65 years and over:
9.17%
(male 121,969/female 135,612)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
48
youth dependency ratio:
34.6
elderly dependency ratio:
13.4
potential support ratio:
7.4
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
29.4 years
male:
28.6 years
female:
30.1 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Population growth rate:
-0.07%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Birth rate:
16.1 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Death rate:
7.5 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Net migration rate:
-9.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Population distribution:
population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Urbanization:
urban population:
56.3% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
0.82% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
591,000 KINGSTON (capital)
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.9 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
21.2 years
(2008 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate:
80 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Infant mortality rate:
total:
11.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
13 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
10.1 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.2 years
male:
73.4 years
female:
77.1 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
98.5% of population
rural:
93% of population
total:
96% of population
unimproved:
urban:
1.5% of population
rural:
7% of population
total:
4% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
6%
(2017)
Physicians density:
1.31 physicians/1,000 population
(2017)
Hospital bed density:
1.7 beds/1,000 population
(2017)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
98.5% of population
rural:
99.5% of population
total:
99% of population
unimproved:
urban:
1.5% of population
rural:
0.5% of population
total:
1% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.4%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
32,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
24.7%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 55
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
2.2%
(2014)
country comparison to the world: 109
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 50
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
88.7%
male:
84%
female:
93.1%
(2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
12 years
male:
11 years
female:
13 years
(2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
24.2%
male:
20%
female:
29.3%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Jamaica
etymology:
from the native Taino word "haymaca" meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"
Government type:
parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name:
Kingston
geographic coordinates:
18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference:
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is a blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the English king at the time of the city's founding in 1692 was William III (r. 1689-1702)
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
Independence:
6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Constitution:
history:
several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)
amendments:
proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections, such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections, such as fundamental rights and freedoms, requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017
Legal system:
common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
yes
citizenship by descent only:
yes
dual citizenship recognized:
yes
residency requirement for naturalization:
4 out of the previous 5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
head of government:
Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments:
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 majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch:
description:
bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister and the opposition leader - 13 seats allocated to the ruling party and 8 to the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms or until Parliament is dissolved) ++ House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms or until Parliament is dissolved)
elections:
Senate - last full slate of appointments on 10 March 2016 (next full slate early on 3 September 2020, following dissolution in mid-August) ++ House of Representatives - last held on 3 September 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
election results:
Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 16, women 5, percent of women 23.8% ++ House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - JLP 57%, PNP 42.8%, independent 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 48, PNP 15; composition - men 45, women 18; percent of women 28.6%; note - total Parliament percent of women 27.4%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
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 referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) rather than to the Caribbean Court of Justice (the appellate court 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
Political parties and leaders:
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew Michael HOLNESS] ++ People's National Party or PNP [Dr. Peter David PHILLIPS] ++ National Democratic Movement or NDM [Peter TOWNSEND]
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), 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:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017)
chancery:
1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 452-0660
FAX:
[1] (202) 452-0036
consulate(s) general:
Miami, New York
consulate(s):
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Donald R. TAPIA (since 11 September 2019)
telephone:
[1] (876) 702-6000
(2018)
embassy:
142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
mailing address:
P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5
FAX:
[1] (876) 702-6001
(2018)
Flag description:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly 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):
green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black
National anthem:
name:
Jamaica, Land We Love
lyrics/music:
Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
note: adopted 1962
Economy
Economic overview:
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for more than 70% of GDP. The country derives most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Earnings from remittances and tourism each account for 14% and 20% of GDP, while bauxite/alumina exports have declined to less than 5% of GDP.
++ Jamaica's economy has grown on average less than 1% a year for the last three decades and many impediments remain to growth: a bloated public sector which crowds out spending on important projects; high crime and corruption; red-tape; and a high debt-to-GDP ratio. Jamaica, however, has made steady progress in reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio from a high of almost 150% in 2012 to less than 110% in 2017, in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The current IMF Stand-By Agreement requires Jamaica to produce an annual primary surplus of 7%, in an attempt to reduce its debt burden below 60% by 2025.
++ Economic growth reached 1.6% in 2016, but declined to 0.9% in 2017 after intense rainfall, demonstrating the vulnerability of the economy to weather-related events. The HOLNESS administration therefore faces the difficult prospect of maintaining fiscal discipline to reduce the debt load while simultaneously implementing growth inducing policies and attacking a serious crime problem. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence fueled by advanced fee fraud (lottery scamming) and the drug trade.
GDP real growth rate:
0.7%
(2017 est.)
1.5%
(2016 est.)
0.9%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9%
(2019 est.)
3.7%
(2018 est.)
4.3%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
B+
(2019)
Moody's rating:
B2
(2019)
Standard & Poors rating:
B+
(2019)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$26.06 billion
(2017 est.)
$25.89 billion
(2016 est.)
$25.51 billion
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.847 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,200
(2017 est.)
$9,200
(2016 est.)
$9,100
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 121
Gross national saving:
18.3% of GDP
(2017 est.)
20.6% of GDP
(2016 est.)
18% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
7%
(2017 est.)
industry:
21.1%
(2017 est.)
services:
71.9%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
81.9%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
13.7%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
21.3%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
0.1%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
30.1%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-47.1%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
97.4
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
sugar cane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; shellfish
Industries:
agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
0.9%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Labor force:
1.113 million
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
16.1%
industry:
16%
services:
67.9%
(2017)
Unemployment rate:
7.72%
(2019 est.)
9.13%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Population below poverty line:
17.1%
(2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
2.6%
highest 10%:
29.3%
(2015)
Budget:
revenues:
4.382 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
4.314 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29.7% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0.5% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Public debt:
101% of GDP
(2017 est.)
113.6% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Current account balance:
-$298 million
(2019 est.)
-$288 million
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Exports:
$5.114 billion
(2018 est.)
$4.747 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Exports - partners:
US 39.1%, Netherlands 12.3%, Canada 8.4%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
alumina, bauxite, chemicals, coffee, mineral fuels, waste and scrap metals, sugar, yams
Imports:
$7.314 billion
(2018 est.)
$6.924 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
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 40.6%, Colombia 6.8%, Japan 5.8%, China 5.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.7%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.781 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$2.719 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Debt - external:
$14.94 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$10.24 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Exchange rates:
Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -
128.36
(2017 est.)
125.14
(2016 est.)
125.126
(2015 est.)
116.898
(2014 est.)
110.935
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
99%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
100%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
97%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
4.007 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - consumption:
2.847 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.078 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
83% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
3% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
15% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Crude oil - imports:
24,360 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Refined petroleum products - production:
24,250 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
55,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Refined petroleum products - exports:
823 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Refined petroleum products - imports:
30,580 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - consumption:
198.2 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - imports:
198.2 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
8.9 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
379,420
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
13.5
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
2,882,469
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
102.56
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
good domestic and international service; mobile sector dominates, accounting for 82% of the Internet connections; extensive LTE networks providing coverage to 90% of the island population
(2020)
domestic:
while the number of fixed-lines, 14 per 100, subscriptions has declined, cellular-mobile has grown 103 per 100 subscriptions
(2019)
international:
country code - 1-876 and 1-658; landing points for the ALBA-1, CFX-1, Fibralink, East-West, and Cayman-Jamaican Fiber System submarine cables providing connections to South America, parts of the Caribbean, Central America and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations
(2019)
Internet country code:
.jm
Internet users:
total:
1,548,618
percent of population:
55.07%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
284,756
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
10
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
0
(2020)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
6Y
(2016)
Airports:
28
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 121
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
11
(2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
(2017)
914 to 1,523 m:
4
(2017)
under 914 m:
5
(2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
17
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
1
(2013)
under 914 m:
16
(2013)
Roadways:
total:
22,121 km
(includes 44 km of expressways)
(2011)
paved:
16,148 km
(2011)
unpaved:
5,973 km
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 110
Merchant marine:
total:
39
by type:
bulk carrier 1, container ship 8, general cargo 6, other 24
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 122
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 (1,681,706)
(2017)
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Jamaica Defense Force (JDF): Jamaica Regiment (Ground Forces), Maritime-Air-Cyber Command
(2020)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP
(2019)
1.3% of GDP
(2018)
1% of GDP
(2017)
1% of GDP
(2016)
1% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 74
Military and security service personnel strengths:
assessments of the size of the the Jamaica Defense Forces vary; approximately 3,500 active personnel (3,000 Ground Forces; 300 Coast Guard; 200 Air Wing)
(2019)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the Jamaica Defense Force's inventory is limited and features mostly older equipment imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including the UK and US; since 2010, Jamaica has received limited quantities of military equipment from Australia, Austria, the Netherlands, and the US
(2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation:
17 1/2 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2012)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
none
Trafficking in persons:
current situation:
Jamaica is a source and destination country for children and adults subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; sex trafficking of children and adults occurs on the street, in night clubs, bars, massage parlors, and private homes; child sex tourism is a problem in resort areas; Jamaicans have been subjected to sexual exploitation or forced labor in the Caribbean, Canada, the US, and the UK, while foreigners have endured conditions of forced labor in Jamaica or aboard foreign-flagged fishing vessels operating in Jamaican waters; a high number of Jamaican children are reported missing
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List – Jamaica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made significant efforts to raise public awareness of human trafficking, and named a national trafficking-in-persons rapporteur – the first in the region; authorities initiated more new trafficking investigations than in 2013 and concluded a trafficking case in the Supreme Court, but chronic delays impeded prosecutions and no offenders were convicted for the sixth consecutive year; more adult trafficking victims were identified than in previous years, but only one child victim was identified, which was exceptionally low relative to the number of vulnerable children (2015)
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
