Jamaica
Americas Β· Capital: Kingston
How it is run: Jamaica is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Jamaica is home to 2.8 million people in Caribbean, where people speak English, Jamaican Patois.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
2.8 million people
That is about 350 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
10,991 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 258 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
24th most people in Americas
30th largest by land in Americas.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Jamaican Patois
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Jamaican dollar ($)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
71.6 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$8,003
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
59.4% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
18.3% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+1876
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.jm
π§ People here are called
Jamaican
π·οΈ Name at home
Jamaica
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Latin American and Caribbean Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Jamaica has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Jamaica
French
JamaΓ―que
Arabic
Ψ¬Ψ§Ω Ψ§ΩΩΨ§
Chinese
ηδΉ°ε
Japanese
γΈγ£γγ€γ«
Russian
Π―ΠΌΠ°ΠΉΠΊΠ°
Portuguese
Jamaica
German
Jamaika
Put it in perspective π
- United States β the most populated country in Americas β has about 120.5Γ as many people as Jamaica.
- Jamaica covers roughly 105 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Jamaica lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 1,419 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: π―π² is the flag of Jamaica. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is JM.
π·οΈ Official name
Jamaica
ποΈ Capital
Kingston
π Region
Americas Β· Caribbean
π€ Country code
JM
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Jamaica π
Dunn's River Falls
A staircase of limestone waterfalls that visitors climb hand-in-hand straight into the Caribbean Sea.
See it in Street Viewπ§ Where on the map
18.3Β° N, 77.5Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-5 β when it is noon in London it is about 07:00 in Kingston.
- Jamaica is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- Jamaica is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- π―π² is the flag of Jamaica. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is JM.
- The capital of Jamaica is Kingston β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Jamaica shares its part of the world with Dominican Republic. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Jamaica has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Jamaica can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Jamaica spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Jamaica?
Kingston
Which money do people spend in Jamaica?
Jamaican dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Jamaica?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Jamaica?
2.8 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.