Some facts about my beautiful country . . .

Jamaica
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
LocationCaribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates18 15 N, 77 30 W
Areatotal: 10,990 sq kmland: 10,830 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Border countriesNone
Climatetropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrainmostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremeslowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resourcesbauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land usearable land: 14%permanent crops: 6%permanent pastures: 24%forests and woodland: 17%other: 39% (1993 est.)
Notestrategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
People
Population: 2,665,636 (July 2001 est.)
Population growth rate0.51% (2001 est.)
Birth rate18.12 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate14.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birthtotal population: 75.42 yearsmale: 73.45 yearsfemale: 77.49 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate2.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Nationalitynoun: Jamaican(s)adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groupsblack 90.9%East Indian 1.3%white 0.2%Chinese 0.2%mixed 7.3%other 0.1%
ReligionsChurch 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%
LanguagesEnglish, Creole
Literacydefinition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85%male: 80.8%female: 89.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country nameconventional long form: noneconventional short form: Jamaica
Government typeconstitutional parliamentary democracy
CapitalKingston
Independence6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holidayIndependence Day, first Monday in August (1962)
Economy
OverviewKey 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 line34.2% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate8.8% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 1.13 million (1998) agriculture: 21%services: 60%industry: 19%
Unemployment rate16% (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 kmWaterways: NoneAirports: 35 (2000 est.)
Map & Flag
Click on the images below for enlarged views of the Jamaican map and flag.