Latin America & Caribbean

Jamaica: official statistics and sources

21 official bodies for Jamaica, from Statistical Institute of Jamaica to Integrity Commission, with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: English. Capital: Kingston.

Who holds power in Jamaica

• Head of state: King Charles III (King)
• Representative of the head of state: Sir Patrick Allen (Governor-General of Jamaica)
• Head of government: Andrew Holness (Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Economic Growth and Job Creation of Jamaica)
• Foreign minister: Kamina Johnson Smith (Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica)

Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. How local power works in Jamaica: 2 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.

Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.

Government, regions and cities

• Government and power in Jamaica: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
• All 13 parishs: Saint Andrew And Kingston, Saint Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, Saint James…
• The 4 largest cities: Kingston

Key figures

What the figures show

World Bank data give a population of 2.8 million for Jamaica in 2025, against 2.8 million in 2015. Of the 33 UN members in the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region, 20 have more people; worldwide it comes 137th.

Jamaica's economy produced $22.7 billion of goods and services in 2025, in current US dollars. That works out at $8,003 a head; the regional median is $10,989.

Real GDP grew by 0.1% in 2025, World Bank figures show. For 2026 the IMF expects 0.0%.

Across 2025 the annual rate was 4.0%. The IMF forecasts 5.9% for 2026.

The ILO's modelled unemployment rate for 2025 is 3.3%; the national statistics office may publish a different figure from its own survey.

The IMF records general government gross debt of 66.0% of GDP for 2025, compared with a median of 65.6% across the World Bank's Latin America and Caribbean region; its 2026 projection is 64.3%.

Life expectancy at birth: 71.6 years (2024).

• Annual inflation since 2015: highest 10.3% (2022), lowest 2.4% (2016).
• Debt ratio 2015: 115.9%; 2025: 66.0%.
• GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +50%.

Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.

Official sources in Jamaica

Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output

• Statistical Institute of Jamaica
  Consumer price index, labour force survey, GDP, census and trade statistics for Jamaica.
• Planning Institute of Jamaica
  Publishes the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica and the Survey of Living Conditions.

Central bank interest rates and money

• Bank of Jamaica
  Monetary policy reports, interest and exchange rates, financial stability reports and statistics.

Parliament debates, votes, bills

• Houses of Parliament (House of Representatives and Senate)
  Bills, Acts, Hansard, order papers and committee reports.

Government

• Government of Jamaica portal
  Government services, ministry information and official notices.
• Office of the Prime Minister
  Prime Minister's statements, Cabinet decisions and policy announcements.

Laws and the official gazette the text of laws

• Laws of Jamaica (Ministry of Justice)
  Consolidated Acts and subsidiary legislation of Jamaica.

Courts judgments

• Court of Appeal of Jamaica
  Judgments of the Court of Appeal, court lists and practice directions.
• Supreme Court of Jamaica
  Supreme Court judgments, court lists and practice directions.

Public audit how public money was spent

• Auditor General's Department
  Auditor General reports on public accounts, performance audits and special investigations.

Elections results and rules

• Electoral Commission of Jamaica
  Voter registration, voters lists and official election results.

Regulators

• Financial Services Commission
  Regulation of securities, insurance and pensions, with licensee lists and enforcement notices.
• Fair Trading Commission
  Competition investigations, decisions and market studies.
• Office of Utilities Regulation
  Tariff determinations and regulatory decisions for electricity, water and telecommunications.
• Office of the Information Commissioner
  Data protection guidance, registration and enforcement under the Data Protection Act.

Access to information requests to public bodies

• Access to Information Unit
  Monitors compliance with the Access to Information Act, trains officers and publishes Appeal Tribunal decisions.

Public registers companies, land, charities

• Companies Office of Jamaica
  Registers companies and business names and provides online search of company records and filings.
• National Land Agency
  Keeps land titles, surveys and valuations, with online title searches.
• Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies (Charities Authority)
  As the Charities Authority, registers charitable organisations and publishes the register of charities.
• Integrity Commission
  Receives statutory declarations of public officials, publishes contract award reports and investigation reports.

Public contracts government tenders and awards

• Government of Jamaica Electronic Procurement (GOJEP)
  Publishes government tenders and contract awards.

Notes

Jamaica's final court of appeal is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (UK).

Freedom of information in Jamaica

The Appeal Tribunal is named on the Access to Information Unit site. The law text could not be read (TLS error), so other fields are left empty.

Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.

Jamaica by subject

• Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
• Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
• Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
• Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
• Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
• Housing homes, cities, water and power
• Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
• Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
• Education schools, universities and literacy
• Environment emissions, air, forests and water

Common questions

What is the population of Jamaica?

2.8 million (2025, World Bank). National figures: Statistical Institute of Jamaica.

What is the inflation rate in Jamaica?

4.0% (2025, World Bank). Official index: Statistical Institute of Jamaica.

What is Jamaica's GDP?

$22.7 billion (2025, World Bank).

How much government debt does Jamaica have?

66.0% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).

Who publishes official statistics in Jamaica?

Statistical Institute of Jamaica: https://statinja.gov.jm/

Is there a freedom of information law in Jamaica?

Access to Information Act, 2002 (2002). Appeals: Access to Information Appeal Tribunal.

What is the central bank of Jamaica?

Bank of Jamaica: https://boj.org.jm/

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