World Atlas: Jamaica. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Jamaica.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Jamaica. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Jamaica. But let's start with the flag of Jamaica here:
Jamaica - Overview:
What you should know about Jamaica? Let's start with this: 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 of Jamaica
Where on the globe is Jamaica? The location of this country is Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba. Total area of Jamaica is 10,991 sq km, of which 10,831 sq km is land. So this is quite a small country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain. The lowest point of Jamaica is Caribbean Sea 0 m, the highest point Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m. And the climate is tropical; hot, humid; temperate interio.
Inhabitants of Jamaica
Let's take a look how many people live in Jamaica. The number is: 2,990,561 (July 2017 est.). So this is not very populous country. Who lives here? black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.). What are the languages in Jamaica? English, English patois. And the 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.). How old are the people in average? 26 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 73.7 years. Where the people live in Jamaica? Here: population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel. The major urban areas of Jamaica are: Kingston (capital) 588,000 (2015).
Government and Economy of Jamaica
The capital of Jamaica is Kingston and the government type parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm. Let's take a look at the 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. Regarding the economy of Jamaica, important industrial products are tourism, bauxite/alumina, agricultural-processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications. Important agricultural products are sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; shellfish. The most important export commodities are alumina, bauxite, sugar, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, apparel, mineral fuels and the most important export partners are US 40.8%, Canada 11.9%, Netherlands 10.2%, Russia 5.8%, UK 4.1% (2016). The most important import commodities are food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials and the most important import partners are US 39%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.2%, China 6.4%, Japan 6.2%, Mexico 4.1% (2016). How rich is Jamaica and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $9,200 (2017 est.). This is quite a low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 16.5% (2009 est.).