Facts and figures

• Jamaica lies 90 miles (145 km) south of Cuba and 550 miles (885 km) south of Miami
• Jamaica is 11,424 square kilometers (4,411 sq. miles) in size
• Jamaica is 146 miles long and 51 miles wide (just a bit smaller than the state of Connecticut)
• Jamaica is the largest English-speaking and third largest Caribbean island
• Jamaica is divided into 3 counties and 14 parishes
• Jamaica has a mountainous interior with the highest peak at 7,402 feet
• Kingston is the capital city and the major commercial centre
• Montego Bay is the second city and a major tourist destination
• Jamaica occupies the strategic location between the Jamaica Channel and the Cayman Trench, which are the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
• Jamaica's main natural resources are Bauxite, Gypsum, Limestone

Distance Between Major Local Points

Climate The island has seasonal rainfall and the annual average temperature is approximately 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit). Currency The official currency is the Jamaican dollar. For current conversion rates you may click here, or visit the Bank of Jamaica website.

Population

• Jamaica’s population stood at 2.624 million people in 20O2
• The annual population growth rate is currently 0.5 %
• Jamaica has a population density of 595 per sq. mile

Age Structure

• 0-14 years: 31.9% (male 422,200; female 380,864)
• 15-64 years: 60.5% (male 779,400; female 809,400)
• 65 years and over: 7.6% (male 91,300; female 109,100) (2002 est.)

Time

Jamaica is on Eastern Standard Time (EST), five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Jamaica does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Government

Jamaica has a stable constitutional parliamentary democracy.

Public Holidays

Jamaicans observe ten (10) public holidays each year.