|
|
|
|
|
|
Background: 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.
|
|
|
|
Common Name: Jamaica
|
Local Official Name: Jamaica
|
|
Abbreviated Name: Jamaica
|
Official Name: Jamaica
|
|
pol_offnamescript.php?variable=pol_offnamescript">
Official Script Name: Jamaica
|
Local Common Name: Jamaica
|
|
Former Name: Jamaica
|
Territory of: NA
|
|
|
Head of State: Queen ELIZABETH II
|
Government Type: constitutional parliamentary democracy
|
Independence: 1962 August 6 (from UK)
|
Constitution: 1962 August 6
|
National Holiday: Independence Day, first Monday in August
|
International Organization Participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
|
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
|
Dependent Areas: NA
|
Legal System: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
Suffrage: 18 years
|
Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
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
Legislative Branch:
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
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal
|
Party Leaders: Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party or PNP [Percival James PATTERSON]
|
International Disputes: NA
|
Illicit Drugs: major 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location of Jamaica: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
|
|
Continent: North America
|
Land Area Total: 10,991 sq km
|
|
Region: Caribbean |
Land Area Land: 10,831 sq km
|
|
Capitol City: Kingston
|
Land Area Water: 160 sq km
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latitude: 018 15 N
|
Border Boundary Land: 0 km
|
|
Longitude: 077 30 W
|
Border Boundary Coastline: 1,022 km
|
|
|
|
Arable Land: 15.83 %
|
Pastures: 0.00 %
|
|
Crops: 10.01 %
|
Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Highest Elevation: 2,256 m
|
Location: Blue Mountain Peak
|
|
Lowest Elevation: 0 m
|
Location: Caribbean Sea
|
|
|
|
Largest City in Jamaica: Kingston
|
Kingston Largest City Population: 655,000
|
|
|
Threatened Species: 240
|
Environmental Issues: 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
|
Environmental Agreements: 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
Irrigated Land: 250
|
Bordering Countries: NA
|
Natural Resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone
|
Geographical Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
|
Comparative Area of Jamaica: slightly smaller than Connecticut
|
Jamaica's Geography: strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
|
Natural Hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic Overview: The economy, which depends heavily on tourism and bauxite, has been stagnant since 1995. After five years of recession, the economy grew 0.8% in 2000 and 1.1% in 2001, but the global economic slowdown, particularly in the United States after the 11 September terrorist attacks, has stunted the economic recovery. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to various ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial sector. Depressed economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including a mounting crime rate. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon encouraging investment, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing proper fiscal and monetary policies.
|
|
|
|
GDP: $9,800,000,000 USD
|
Currency: Jamaican dollar
|
|
GDP per Capita: $3,700 USD
|
Currency Code: JMD
|
|
GDP Growth Rate: 1.10 %
|
|
|
|
Currency Exchange Rate History: Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 47.277 (December 2001), 45.996 (2001), 42.701 (2000), 39.044 (1999), 36.550 (1998), 35.404 (1997)
|
|
|
|
GDP of Agriculture: 7.00 %
|
GDP of Industry: 28.00 %
|
|
GDP of Services: 65.00 % |
|
|
|
|
Inflation Rate: 6.90 % |
Population in Poverty: 34.20 %
|
|
Unemployment Rate: 16.00 %
|
Tourism: 1,248,000.00 visitors each year
|
|
|
|
Consumption by lowest 10%: 2.90 %
|
Budget Revenue in USD: $2,230,000,000 USD
|
|
Consumption by upper 10%: 28.90 %
|
Budget Expenditures in USD: $2,560,000,000 USD
|
|
|
|
Electricity Production: 6,740,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
|
|
Electricity Consumption: 6,270,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
|
Electricity Production by Source:
|
|
|
Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 89.44%
|
Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
Hydro Electricity Production: 3.22%
|
Other Electricity Production: 7.34%
|
|
|
|
Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Consumption: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
|
|
Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
|
|
Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
|
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
|
|
|
|
External Debt: $5,200,000,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $102,700,000 USD
|
|
|
Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Agricultural Products: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk
|
Primary Industries: tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products
|
Industrial Growth Rate: -2.00 %
|
|
|
Import Amount in USD: $3,100,000,000 USD - machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals, fertilizers
|
Import Partners: US 47.8%, Caricom countries 12.4%, Latin America 7.2%, EU (excluding UK) 4.7%
|
Export Amount in USD: $1,600,000,000 USD - alumina, bauxite; sugar, bananas, rum
|
Export Partners: US 35.7%, EU (excluding UK) 15.9%, UK 13%, Canada 10.5%
|
|
|
GINI Index: 36.40%
|
Labor Force Number of People: 1,130,000
|
Labor Force by Occupations: services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radio Broadcast Stations: 23 |
Number of People with Radios: 1,215,000 |
|
Television Broadcast Stations: 7 |
Number of People with Televisions: 460,000 |
|
Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 353,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 54,640 |
|
|
|
Internet Service Providers: 21 |
Internet Users: 60,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Country Code: .jm |
Newspapers: 63 |
|
Two Letter Country Code: JM |
Weights and Measures: |
|
Phone Country Code: +1-876 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
|
|
Telephone Systems: general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highways: 13,433 km |
Railways: 272 km
|
|
Gas And Oil Pipelines: 10 km |
Waterways: 0 km
|
|
Airports: 11 |
Heliports: 0
|
|
|
|
Motor Vehicles: 85 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 10,728,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Per capita CO2 emissions: 4.30 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Merchant Marines: total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,954 GRT/25,250 DWT
ships by type: petroleum tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Latvia 2, United States 2
|
Ports and Harbors: Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel (Longswharf)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population: 2,758,124 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 20.82 births per 1,000 people |
|
Population Density: 236.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 6.52 deaths per 1,000 people |
|
Population Growth: 0.80% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.41 babies born per woman |
|
|
|
Population Male 0-14: 464,297 |
Population Female 0-14: 449,181 |
|
Population Male 15-64: 808,718 |
Population Female 15-64: 835,394 |
|
Population Male 65+: 90,100 |
Population Female 65+: 110,434 |
|
|
|
Population 0-14: 33.10% |
Literacy Rate: 87.90% |
|
Population 15-64: 59.60% |
Literacy rate of Males: 84.10% |
|
Population 65+: 7.30% |
Literacy rate of Females: 91.60% |
|
|
|
Population that is Male: 49.00
% |
Population that is Female: 51.00% |
|
Life expectancy at birth in years: 73.24 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 15.98 Babies die per 1,000 births |
|
Life expectancy at birth for Males: 71.54 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 75.03 years |
|
|
|
Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 1.20%
|
Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 22,000
|
|
|
Number of people who died of AIDS: 900 |
|
|
Disease Risk:
|
Diseases:
|
Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -6.27
|
Nationality: JAMAICAN
|
Ethnic Groups: black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%
|
|
|
Primary Language: English
|
Other Languages: English, patois English
|
|
|
Primary Religion: Protestant
|
Other Religions: 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 cu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years of age years
|
Manpower Available: 747,043 People
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 523,550 People
|
Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 27,729 People per year
|
Expenditures: $30,000,000 USD per year
|
Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
Jamaica Spa and Resort Directory
|
Jamaica Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
|
Jamaica Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
|
