Jamaica Country Profile

Full Name: Jamaica

Capital: Kingston (pop. 660,000)

Area: 10,991 sq. km (4,243 sq. miles)

Location: Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean region and is one of the four islands that comprise the Greater Antilles group of islands. Our two closest neighbors are Cuba (about 90 miles to the north) and Haiti(about 115 miles to the east)

Nationality: Jamaican(s)

Population: Approx. 2.7 million (Statistical Institute of Jamaica, 2010)

People: African origin 90.9%, East Indian origin 1.3%, Chinese origin 0.2%, White 0.2%, Mixed 7.3%, Other 0.1%

Life Expectancy: 70 years(Men), 76 years(Women) (UN)

Major Language: English (Official), Patois

Religion: Christianity (Major): Protestant 61.3% (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 34.7% , Rastafarian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Bahai

Government: Constitutional, Westminster-style, parliamentary democracy

Main Political Parties: Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), People National Party (PNP), National Democratic Movement (NDM)

Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor-General, The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen

Prime Minister: The Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller MP (PNP)

Administrative Divisions (14 Parishes): St. James, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny, Westmoreland, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Ann, St. Catherine, Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas

Currency: Jamaican Dollar (JMD)

Exchange Rates (September 2011): US $1 = JMD $86, GBP = JMD $141, EUR 1 = JMD $124 Exchange calculator

GDP: US$9.86 billion (IMF, 2006)

GNI per capita: Us $4,990 (World Bank 2009)

Labor Force: total 1.1 million (2006); services 64.6%; agriculture 18.1%; industry 17.3%

Time Zone: UTC-5

Electricity:110 volt / 50 Hz (USA Plug)

Industry: Tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufacturing, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Agriculture: sugar cane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables, poultry, goats, milk, crustaceans, molluses

Exports: US $2 billion (2006 est.)

Main Exports: Alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, clothing, mineral fuels

Imports: US $4.6 billion (2006 est.)

Main Imports: Food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories for capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials

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

Internet Domain: .jm

International Dialing Code: +1 876

Press:

• The Jamaica Gleaner (daily)
• The Star (daily)
• Jamaica Observer (daily)
• Sunday Herald (weekly)
• The Western Mirror (weekly)
• Xtra News (weekly)
• North Coast Times (weekly)

Radio:

• Hot 120 FM
• Irie FM
• Klas Sports Radio
• Kool 97 FM
• Love 101
• Megajamz 98 FM
• Nationwide News Network
• News Talk 93 FM
• Power 106 FM
• Radio Jamaica (RJR)
• Zip 103 FM

Television:

• Television Jamaica (TVJ)
• Cable News and Sports
• CVM TV
• Hype TV
• Love TV
• Reggae Sun TV
• RE TV
• Sportsmax
• Tempo

Public Holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Ash Wednesday
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Labor Day (23rd May)
• Emancipation Day (1st August)
• Independence Day (6th August)
• National Heroes Day (mid October)
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day