The economy of Jamaica is service sector dependent, the sector contributes more than 60% of the GDP. The main exports of Jamaica are bauxite, alumina, garments, sugar and bananas.

(Source: BBC)

Gross domestic product (GDP)

The GDP at market prices was JMD 1,083.45 billion in 2009, as compared to JMD 1,009.67 billion in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics)

The GDP growth rate in 2009 was -3%, while in 2008 the growth rate was -0.9%. Furthermore, the GDP growth rate has been on the decline since 2006.

(Source: National Statistics)

(Source: National Statistics)

The GDP per capita at market prices in 2009 amounted to JMD 401,932 in 2009, as compared to JMD 375,734 in 2008.

(Source: National Statistics)

Gross National Income (GNI) per capita

The GNI per capita at current prices in 2009 was JMD 382,827 compared to JMD 360,468 in 2008. GNI per capita at PPP in 2010 was USD 7,207 as compared to USD 7,147 in 2005.

(Source: National Statistics, UNDP)

(Source: UNDP)

Trade balance

Total merchandise imports for 2010 (Jan-Nov) was USD 4,708.8 million, and for the corresponding period of 2009 was USD 4,560.9 million. Total Merchandise exports for 2010 was USD 1,232.7 million as compared to USD 1,234.8 million in the same period of 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

Income tax

Income tax on individual incomes in Jamaica is taxed progressively to 35%.

(Source: taxrates.cc)

Corporate tax

The corporate tax rate in Jamaica is 33.3%.

(Source: taxrates.cc)

Inflation rate

Inflation rate in Jamaica, for 2010, was 11.7% increasing from 10.2% in 2009.

(Source: National Statistics)

FDI inflow

In 2009, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows amounted to USD 540.9 million, compared to USD 1,436.6 million in 2008.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Banking sector assets

The table below displays the assets of the Central Bank of Jamaica.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Consumer price index

The consumer price index in Jamaica is rising steadily, increasing from 97.6 in 2006 to 160.7 in 2010.

(Source: National Statistics)

Base month: December 2006 = 100

Interest rates on saving deposits / time deposits

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Money supply (currency in circulation)

The total money supply for 2009 was JMD 35,204.7 million.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Government expenditure

Government expenditure in Jamaica was JMD 421,458.50 million 2010, increasing from the previous year when it was JMD 351,521 million.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Official exchange rate

The exchange rate per USD in 2010 was 87.38, as compared to 88.49 in 2009.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Government finances 

Fiscal balance

The country has recorded fiscal deficits since 1996-97. The fiscal deficit for 2009-10 was JMD 121,265.2 million, compared to JMD 75,321.6 million in 2008-09.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Total revenue

The country's revenue in FY 2010 was recorded at JMD 293,896.6 million, increasing from 268,623.1 which was in 2009.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Tax revenue

Total tax revenue in 2010 was JMD 265,860.20 million, which was an increase over the previous year’s tax revenue of JMD 246,216.60 million.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Total grants

Total grants to Jamaica amounted to JMD 6,296.70 million in 2009-10, as compared to JMD 7,576.7 million in 2008-09.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Current account balance - surplus/deficit

Jamaica has registered a current account deficit for the past years, which is further expected to continue.

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Balance of payments

(Source: Central Bank of Jamaica)

Labour Force

The labour force in Jamaica in 2010 was recorded at 1,239,900 people, of which the employed labour force included 1,091,000 individuals and unemployed were 148,900 individuals. Males constituted 681,500 and females accounted for 558,400 of the total labour force.

The labour force participation rate was 45.9% in 2010. The labour force participation rate in case of males and females was 51.1% and 40.7% respectively.

(Source: National Statistics)

The unemployment rate in the country increased to 12.38% in 2010 from the previous year’s 11.3%. The male unemployment rate was 9.0% and female unemployment was 15.7% in 2010.

(Source: National Statistics)

Minimum wage

The minimum wages in Jamaica for a 19 year old employee or an apprentice is USD 207.3 per month. 

(Source:doingbusiness.org)

Level of Unionisation

The major trade unions active in the country include:

·         Bustamante Industrial Trade Union

·         National Workers Union

·         Jamaica Association of Local Government Officers

·         Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions

·         Jamaica Civil Service Association

·         Jamaican Union of Public Officers and Public Employers

·         Jamaica Teachers’ Association

(Source: workersunion.org)

Jamaica operates under a constitutional parliamentary system of government, based on the UK model. The chief of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who appoints a governor general, currently Sir Patrick Allen, as her representative within the country. However, the executive power is in the hands of the cabinet led by the Prime Minister, Bruce Golding of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).  

The country’s parliament is bicameral and includes the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives is comprised of 60 members, who are directly elected for a term of five years. Alternatively, the Senate is comprised of 21 members, who are appointed for a five year term by the Governor General.

The major political parties in the country include:

·         People's National Party (PNP)

·         Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)

·         National Democratic Movement (NDM)

(Source: state.gov, IPU)

Regulatory environment in Jamaica

The country’s economic freedom score is 65.7, making its economy the 58^th freest in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. Furthermore, Jamaica ranks 12^th out of the 29 countries in the Central and South America/Caribbean region.

(Source:Heritage.org)

Corruption perception

Jamaica’s CPI rankings have improved since 2009, when it was ranked 99^th, in 2010 it was ranked at 87^th with a score of 3.3, which indicates the perceived levels of corruption have decreased in the country.

(Source:transparency.org)

Freedom of information

Jamaica is ranked 25^th in the World Press Freedom Index 2010 with a score of 7.27, which indicates that media in Jamaica has few restrictions. 

(Source: rsf.org) 

Following are some of the newspapers in the country:

·         Jamaica Gleaner

·         Jamaica Star

·         Jamaica Observer

·         Sunday Herald

(Source: BBC)

Judicial system

The judiciary in Jamaica consists of:

·         Court of Appeal

·         Supreme Court

·         Resident Magistrate's Court

·         Petty Sessions

All appeals against the Supreme Court and the Resident Magistrate’s Court decisions are heard in the Court of Appeal.  The court of appeal consists of a president and six judges.

The Supreme Court has jurisdiction on civil and criminal matters and consists of a Chief Justice, a Senior Puisne Judge and at least twenty other Puisne Judges. The Governor General appoints the Supreme Court judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission.

The Resident Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction within a Parish and a mile beyond its boundary line. This Court presides over both civil and criminal matters.

The Petty Session Court is presided over by Justices of the Peace.

(Source: Ministry of Justice)

The total population of Jamaica in 2010 was 2.70 million.

(Source: National Statistics)

The gender ratio in the country is almost balanced, there are about 95.9 males for every 100 females.

Individuals below the age of 14 constitute 28.5% of the total population.

(Source: UN)

(Source: UN)

Birth and death rate

The birth rate in the year 2009 was 16.33 births per 1,000 people. Alternatively, the death rate was recorded at 6.51 deaths per 1,000 persons. In 2009, total births and total deaths recorded were 44,006 and 17,553 respectively. Furthermore, the mortality rate of infants (per 1,000 live births) was registered at 23.4 for the period of 2005 to 2010.

(Source: National Statistics)

Life expectancy

The average life expectancy in Jamaica for women is 75.2 years and for men it is 68.5 years.

(Source: National Statistics)

Migration and urbanisation

International migrant stock till mid 2010 was recorded at 30,000 individuals, or 1.1% of the entire population.

In 2007, 53% of the population lived in urban areas. From 2005 to 2010 the urban population growth rate was 0.9%, and the rural population grew at a slower rate of 0.1%.

(Source: UN)

Ethnic environment

Ethnic groups in Jamaica include:

·         African

·         East Indian

·         Chinese

·         Others

Africans constitute about 90% of the total population.

(Source: state.gov)

Human Development Index (HDI)

The country ranks 80^th out of 169 countries on the HDI 2010 conducted by the United Nations. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income).

(Source: UNDP)

Literacy rate

The country’s literacy rate from 2003 to 2008 was 86%.

(Source: UNICEF)

Education

The 4 main levels of education in Jamaica are:

·         Pre-primary

·         Primary

·         Secondary

·         Higher education

The country doesn’t have free education after the primary level, but children can avail of scholarships.

(Source: spainexchange)

Healthcare

The healthcare sector in Jamaica comes under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. Healthcare recently underwent reform, when the sector was decentralized, the Ministry of Health was restructured at the central level and privatisation was allowed.

Healthcare in Jamaica is free to all citizens at government hospitals and clinics.

According to World Health Organisation statistics, Jamaica had 8.5 physicians per 10,000 people, which was below the regional average and it had 16.5 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people.

(Source: paho.org, WHO)

According to the UN statistics, approximately 6% of the current expenditure has been allocated for healthcare between 1998-2008.

(Source: UN)

Mass public transit

The transportation in Jamaica is well maintained and systematic. The mass public transport in the country is mainly by roads and railways, but Jamaica also has navigable water ways which are used for commuting.

(Source: Ministry of Transport)

Roads

Jamaica has 15,394 km of road network, of which 844 km are arterial roads, 717 km are secondary roads, 3,225 km are tertiary roads and 282 km are urban roads.

(Source: Ministry of Transport)

Railways

The rail network in Jamaica is 330 km.

(Source: Ministry of Transport)

Ports

The country has total 15 ports:  Port of Black River, Port of Kingston, Port of Lucea,  Port of Morant Bay, Port of Montego Bay , Port of Ocho Rios, Port of Port Antonio, Port of Port Kaiser, Port of Port Royal, Port of Port Esquivel, Port of Port Rhoades, Port of Rio Bueno, Port of Rocky Point, Port of Salt River, and Port of Savanna La Mar.

(Source:world port source)

Airports

(Source: aircraft charter world)

Telecommunications networks

In 2009, Jamaica had 302,451 fixed landline subscribers and 2,956,061 mobile subscribers. Furthermore, in 2010, the country had 1,581,100 internet users, creating an internet penetration rate of 55.5%.

(Source: itu.int, internetworldstats.com)

(Source:internetworldstats.com)