Jamaica | History, Population, Flag, Map, Capital, & Facts | Britannica

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• Introduction & Quick Facts
• Land
  • Relief
  • Drainage and soils
  • Climate
  • Plant and animal life
• People
  • Ethnic groups and languages
  • Religion
  • Settlement patterns
  • Demographic trends
• Economy
  • Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
  • Resources and power
  • Manufacturing
  • Finance
  • Trade
  • Services
  • Labour and taxation
  • Transportation
• Government and society
  • Constitutional framework
  • Justice
  • Local government
  • Political process
  • Security
  • Health and welfare
  • Housing
  • Education
• Cultural life
  • Cultural milieu
  • Daily life and social customs
  • The arts and cultural institutions
  • Sports and recreation
  • Media and publishing
• History
  • Early period
  • British rule
    • Planters, buccaneers, and slaves
    • Exports and internal strife
    • The crown colony
    • Self-government
  • The independent country

References & Edit History Facts & Stats Images, Videos & Interactives For Students Jamaica summary Quizzes The Country Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz Which Country Is Larger? Quiz Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz Related Questions

• What is the path of Hurricane Melissa?
• What are the strongest hurricanes to hit Jamaica?
• How can people help Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa?
• What is a major feature of the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean?
• What is the salinity of the Atlantic Ocean?

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External Websites

• JewishEncyclopedia.com - Jamaica
• Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Jamaica
• The Commonwealth - Jamaica

Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

• Jamaica - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Jamaica - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Jamaica Ask Anything Quick Summary Homework Help Also known as: Xaymaca Written by Patrick Bryan Professor Emeritus of History, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. Author of The Jamaican People: Race Class and Social Control; Inside Out and Outside In: Factors in the Creation... Patrick BryanAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 6, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Homework Help Jamaica Geography and Climate History and Independence Culture and Traditions Economy and Industries Influence of Reggae Music Tourism and Attractions Key People and Leaders Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything Top Questions

What is the path of Hurricane Melissa?

Hurricane Melissa formed in the Caribbean Sea and made landfall on Jamaica’s southern coast on October 28, 2025, as a Category 5 storm—the strongest ever recorded for the island. The hurricane had sustained winds of 185 miles per hour (295 kilometers per hour). It was expected to cross eastern Cuba before moving toward the Bahamas. The storm is not expected to directly affect the United States.

What are the strongest hurricanes to hit Jamaica?

Jamaica has endured several devastating storms. Hurricane Gilbert (1988) was a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 miles per hour (almost 210 kilometers per hour) that killed at least 45 people and left approximately 500,000 people homeless following the destruction. Sixteen years later, Hurricanes Ivan and Charley (2004) did not directly strike the island, but did bring Category 4 winds that caused $1.4 billion in combined damage. Hurricane Dean (2007), also a Category 4 storm, struck soon after, inflicting widespread destruction valued at about US $329 million.

How can people help Jamaica recover from Hurricane Melissa?

The Jamaican government’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has created a website to coordinate donations of food, medicine, and cash to assist the country with rebuilding in the wake of the storm. Other intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations active in the Hurricane Melissa recovery effort include the United Nations World Food Programme, Project HOPE, and the International Red Cross.

Where is Jamaica located?

Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea, situated about 100 miles west of Haiti, 90 miles south of Cuba, and 390 miles northeast of Cape Gracias a Dios on the Caribbean coast of Central America.

What is the highest point in Jamaica?

The highest point in Jamaica is Blue Mountain Peak, which rises to 7,402 feet (2,256 metres).

What is the official language of Jamaica?

The official language of Jamaica is English, but Jamaican Creole, which has roots in English and West African languages, is also widely spoken.

News •

Norwich reggae night aims to help Jamaica hurricane relief • Jan. 5, 2026, 3:02 AM ET (BBC) ...(Show more) Anderson vows deeper partnerships as Jamaica rebuilds • Jan. 2, 2026, 5:27 PM ET (The Gleaner) Jamaica-bound stolen hurricane relief container in Canada found and shipped • Dec. 31, 2025, 11:27 PM ET (The Gleaner) Alma Mock Yen mourned as role model for generations of journalists • Dec. 31, 2025, 6:24 PM ET (The Gleaner) Hyatt Hotels Cuts Full-Year Guidance Due to Hurricane Damage in Jamaica • Dec. 30, 2025, 11:34 AM ET (Wall Street Journal) Show less

Jamaica, island country of the West Indies. It is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba and Hispaniola. Jamaica is about 146 miles (235 km) long and varies from 22 to 51 miles (35 to 82 km) wide. It is situated some 100 miles (160 km) west of Haiti, 90 miles (150 km) south of Cuba, and 390 miles (630 km) northeast of the nearest point on the mainland, Cape Gracias a Dios, on the Caribbean coast of Central America. The national capital is Kingston.

Quick Facts See article: flag of Jamaica Audio File: National anthem of Jamaica Head Of Government: Prime Minister: Andrew Holness (Show more) Capital: Kingston (Show more) Population: (2025 est.) 2,757,000 (Show more) Head Of State: British Monarch: King Charles III, represented by Governor-General: Sir Patrick Linton Allen (Show more) Form Of Government: constitutional monarchy with two legislative houses (Senate [211]; House of Representatives [63]) (Show more) Official Language: English (Show more) Official Religion: none (Show more) Official Name: Jamaica (Show more) Total Area (Sq Km): 10,949 (Show more) Total Area (Sq Mi): 4,227 (Show more) Monetary Unit: Jamaican dollar (J$) (Show more) Population Rank: (2025) 140 (Show more) Population Projection 2030: 2,806,000 (Show more) Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: (2025) 649.6 (Show more) Density: Persons Per Sq Km: (2025) 250.8 (Show more) Urban-Rural Population: Urban: (2024) 57.8% Rural: (2024) 42.2% (Show more) Life Expectancy At Birth: Male: (2022) 74 years Female: (2022) 77.6 years (Show more) Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: Male: (1999) 74% Female: (2022) 91% (Show more) Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): (2023) 17,606 (Show more) Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): (2023) 6,200 (Show more)

1. All seats appointed by governor-general.

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Christopher Columbus, who first sighted the island in 1494, called it Santiago, but the original indigenous name of Jamaica, or Xaymaca, has persisted. Columbus considered it to be “the fairest isle that eyes have beheld,” and many travelers still regard it as one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. The island’s various Spanish, French, and English place-names are remnants of its colonial history. The great majority of its people are of African ancestry, the descendants of slaves brought by European colonists. Jamaica became independent from the United Kingdom in 1962 but remains a member of the Commonwealth.

Land

Relief

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Interior mountains and plateaus cover much of Jamaica’s length, and nearly half of the island’s surface is more than 1,000 feet (300 metres) above sea level. The most rugged topography and highest elevations are in the east, where the Blue Mountains rise to 7,402 feet (2,256 metres) at Blue Mountain Peak, the island’s highest point. Karst (limestone) landscapes with ridges, depressions, and sinkholes (“cockpits”) characterize the hills and plateaus of the John Crow Mountains, the Dry Harbour Mountains, and Cockpit Country, a region covering 500 square miles (1,300 square km) in western Jamaica. The Don Figuerero, Santa Cruz, and May Day mountains are major landforms in the southwest. Coastal plains largely encircle the island, and the largest alluvial plains are located in the south.

Drainage and soils

Numerous rivers and streams issue from the central highlands, but many disappear intermittently into karst sinkholes and caves. Few rivers are navigable for any great distance, because of their rapid descent from the mountains. The Rio Minho in central Jamaica is the longest river, flowing for some 60 miles (100 km) from the Dry Harbour Mountains to Carlisle Bay. The Black River in the west and the Rio Cobre near Kingston are each longer than 30 miles (50 km).

Britannica Quiz Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz

More than half of the island’s surface is covered with white limestone, beneath which are yellow limestone, older metamorphic rocks (compact rocks formed by heat and pressure), and igneous rocks (formed by the cooling of molten material). The shallow soils of many upland areas are particularly susceptible to erosion. Alluvial soils on the coastal plains chiefly consist of deep loam and clay, and residual clays cover the valley floors.