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Background
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. Subsequent governments have been open market oriented. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s.
Geography
Location
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Area
total: 10,990 sq km
land: 10,830 sq km
water: 160 sq km
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Border countries
None
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources
bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use
arable land: 14%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 17%
other: 39% (1993 est.)
Note
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
People
Population: 2,665,636 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate
0.51% (2001 est.)
Birth rate
18.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate
5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate
14.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.42 years
male: 73.45 years
female: 77.49 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Nationality
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups
black 90.9%
East Indian 1.3%
white 0.2%
Chinese 0.2%
mixed 7.3%
other 0.1%
Religions
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%
Languages
English, Creole
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 80.8%
female: 89.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital
Kingston
Independence
6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, first Monday in August (1962)
Economy
Overview
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 1999-2000 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.
GDP by sector
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 35.2%
services: 57.4% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line
34.2% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate
8.8% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 1.13 million (1998)
agriculture: 21%
services: 60%
industry: 19%
Unemployment rate
16% (2000 est.)
Communications
Telephones: 353,000 (1996)
Mobile Phones: 54,640 (1996)
Radios: 1.215 million (1997)
Televisions: 460,000 (1997)
Internet users: 60,000 (2000)
Transportation
Railways: total: 370 km
Highways: total: 19,000 km
Waterways: None
Airports: 35 (2000 est.)
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