Poverty and living standards in Westmoreland, Jamaica: official figures
An estimated 16.7% of people in Westmoreland lived below the poverty line in 2012, against 19.8% for Jamaica; 6th lowest of 13 (PIOJ/STATIN poverty mapping from the 2011 census and 2012 survey).
How many people in Westmoreland cannot afford enough food?
An estimated 6.4% of people in Westmoreland lived in food poverty (consumption below the food poverty line) in 2012, against 7.2% nationally; 7th highest of 13.
Source: Planning Institute of Jamaica and Statistical Institute of Jamaica · saved copyIs poverty in Westmoreland higher than the national average?
Westmoreland's 2012 poverty estimate was 3.1 percentage points below the national rate of 19.8%.
Source: Planning Institute of Jamaica and Statistical Institute of Jamaica · saved copyHow many people in Westmoreland are poor?
Applying the estimated poverty rate to the 2011 census population gives roughly 24,100 people in poverty in Westmoreland in 2012, of whom roughly 9,200 were in food poverty.
Source: Planning Institute of Jamaica and Statistical Institute of Jamaica · saved copyWhat does the living conditions survey say about poverty in Westmoreland?
Direct estimates from the 2012 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions put poverty in Westmoreland at 18.9% and food poverty at 7.8%, compared with the model-based 16.7% and 6.4%.
Source: Planning Institute of Jamaica and Statistical Institute of Jamaica · saved copyHow deep is poverty in Westmoreland?
Food poverty affected about 38% as many people as total poverty in Westmoreland in 2012 (Jamaica: 36%).
Source: Planning Institute of Jamaica and Statistical Institute of Jamaica · saved copyHow Westmoreland compares with other parishs
Population in poverty (estimate) (2012)
Westmoreland ranks 8 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in poverty (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Saint Catherine | 22.7% |
| 6 | Saint Andrew And Kingston | 19.8% |
| 7 | Trelawny | 17.9% |
| 8 | Westmoreland | 16.7% |
| 9 | Saint Ann | 15.8% |
| 10 | Portland | 15.3% |
| 11 | Saint Mary | 14.8% |
Population in food poverty (estimate) (2012)
Westmoreland ranks 7 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in food poverty (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Saint Catherine | 8.9% |
| 5 | Clarendon | 8.7% |
| 6 | Saint Andrew And Kingston | 6.6% |
| 7 | Westmoreland | 6.4% |
| 8 | Trelawny | 6.3% |
| 9 | Portland | 5.6% |
| 10 | Saint Ann | 5.6% |
More on Westmoreland: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Jamaica
Sources
- Planning Institute of Jamaica and Statistical Institute of Jamaica: Mapping Poverty Indicators: Consumption Based Poverty in Jamaica (2019), Table 2: predicted poverty and mean consumption by parish (pages 7-8 of the report, saved as a 2-page extract because the full file is 93 MB), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2aa1dcb644c0…)
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