| Jamaica |
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| Area: |
10,991 sq km (4,243 sq miles) |
| Population: |
2.8 million (UN, 2012) |
| Capital City: |
Kingston |
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- Overview
- Country Studies
- Diplomacy & Aid
- Media & News
| Overview |
| Government
Type |
Constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm |
| Independence |
6 August 1962 (from the UK) |
| Constitution |
6 August 1962 |
| Legal system |
Based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage |
18 years of age; universal |
| Executive Branch |
Head of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor-General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
Head of government: Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)
Cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Prime Minister
Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Prime Minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime minister recommended by the prime minister |
| Legislative Branch |
Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the House of Representatives (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 25 February 2016 (next to be held on February 2021)
Election results: seats by party - PNP 31, JLP 32 |
| Judicial Branch |
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in UK; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) |
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| Country Studies |
| We've listed below some useful country studies that provide additional sector-specific information. This list is not all inclusive; we will continue to update the list and eliminate any links that close, are found to be unfactual or deceptive. The links included are those generally considered most relevant to the topic and worthwhile for their content and services. We urge you to explore these resources for their information, ideas, and services. Please suggest other resources you think we should list here. Notify us if you think a resource listed here has become deceptive or unfactual. |
Australian Government - Jamaica
Country profile, economic and trade information, and foreign relations from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. |
BBC News Profile - Jamaica
A guide to history, politics and economic background of countries from BBC News. |
CIA World Factbook - Jamaica
Country profile provides information on country background, geography, people, government, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues. |
Country Health Profile - Jamaica
Information, health situation analysis, and statistics about countries in the Americas. |
FAO and Jamaica
This page from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has information on economic and agricultural issues. It also has a good selection of maps. |
Human Development Report on Jamaica
Provides quick statistics on human development, economy, labor force, and population from the United Nations Development Programme. |
Human Rights Watch - Jamaica
Country background, news and reports related to human rights. |
IAEA - Jamaica
Country factsheet on multilateral and safeguard agreements from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). |
IEA - Jamaica
Country information, energy-related statistics, graphs and publications from the International Energy Agency (IEA). |
IMF - Jamaica
Country information, reports and publications from the International Monetary Fund. |
ITC - Jamaica
Country-specific trade and market profiles, map, and trade statistics from the International Trade Centre (ITC). |
Jamaica: Security Assistance
Country-by-country listing provides information on Political-Military-administered security assistance funds from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. |
Library of Congress - Jamaica
Country portal and resources compiled by the Library of Congress subject experts. |
OHCHR - Jamaica
Country background, treaties, reporting status, calendar of events and publications related to human rights from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR). |
PAHO - Jamaica
PAHO country office for Jamaica. |
UNESCO Worldwide - Jamaica
Highlights cooperation between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and its Member States. |
UNESCO Communication & Information - Jamaica
Country profile, news and links to related projects and websites. |
UNESCO Education Worldwide - Jamaica
Education statistics, publications, plans, ministries, and news for Member States. |
UNESCO Institute for Statistics - Jamaica
A selection of national statistics on education, literacy, science and technology, culture, and communication. |
UNESCO Office for the Caribbean
Cluster Office representing UNESCO member and associate states in the Caribbean. Member States are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saints Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Associate Member States are British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles and Cayman Islands. |
UNESCO World Heritage - Jamaica
Cultural and natural heritage properties and documents on the World Heritage List. |
UNFPA Country Profile - Jamaica
"The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA) supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect." |
UNFPA Caribbean
The UNFPA office in Jamaica serves the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean inclusive of 21 member countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and The Turks and Caicos Islands. |
United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office - Jamaica
Country profile covering history, politics, economy, human rights, relations with the UK, and travel. |
UNAIDS - Jamaica Country Progress Report 2008
This is the Jamaican Ministry of Health's progress report to the UN Secretary-General about the National HIV Program in Jamaica. |
United Nations Country @ a Glance - Jamaica
Country overview, news, economy, environment, health and technology from the United Nations Cyberschoolbus. |
United Nations Statistics Division: Environment Snapshot - Jamaica
Country snapshots offer national environment statistics. |
United Nations Statistics Division: National Accounts - Jamaica
"Statistics database contains a complete and consistent set of time series from 1970 onwards of main national accounts aggregates for all UN Members States and all other countries and areas in the world." |
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics - Jamaica
U.S. trade in goods (imports, exports and balance) with Jamaica. |
U.S. Commercial Service - Jamaica
Country profile about doing business abroad by the Commercial Service, the global business solutions unit of the Department of Commerce. |
U.S. Commercial Service - Caribbean Region
Regional profile about doing business in the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Curacao / Aruba, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks, and Caicos Islands) by the Commercial Service, the global business solutions unit of the Department of Commerce. |
U.S. Department of Energy - Jamaica
Country energy profile for production, consumption, U.S. oil imports, and CO2 emissions. |
U.S. Department of Energy - Caribbean (includes Jamaica)
Regional analysis report from the Energy Information Administration for the Caribbean. |
USAID Health: HIV/AIDS - Jamaica
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) HIV/AIDS intervention program in Jamaica. |
WHO - Jamaica
Information and statistics on the status of public health in Jamaica from the World Health Organization (WHO). |
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| Diplomacy and Aid |
| We've listed below some useful information related to Diplomacy and Aid for this country. This list is not all inclusive; we will continue to update the list and eliminate any links that close, are found to be unfactual or deceptive. The links included are those generally considered most relevant to the topic and worthwhile for their content and services. We urge you to explore these resources for their information, ideas, and services. Please suggest other resources you think we should list here. Notify us if you think a resource listed here has become deceptive or unfactual. |
CARICOM - Jamaica
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973. It is a regional organization dedicated to improving development, trade and economics, international competitiveness and economic leverage, coordination of foreign economic policies, and standards of living and work. |
Commonwealth of Nations - Jamaica
"The Commonwealth is an association of 53 independent states consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace. The Commonwealth's 2 billion citizens, about 30 per cent of the world's population, are drawn from the broadest range of faiths, races, cultures and traditions." |
Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands
The Delegations of the External Service serve European Union interests throughout the world. |
Diplomacy Monitor (St. Thomas University School of Law)
Indexes current government news releases and other documents on diplomatic issues. Browse for documents by topic or documents issued by or affecting a particular nation. |
Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation of Jamaica in the United States. |
Embassy of the United States in Kingston, Jamaica
Diplomatic representation of the U.S. in Jamaica. |
European Union Relations with Jamaica
Overview, country strategy, agreements, and documents on the European Union's relations with Jamaica. |
Group of 15
The G-15, a summit level group of developing countries, facilitates national efforts for development and economic progress of member states. There are 18 member countries: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. |
G-77 at the United Nations
The Group of 77 is an intergovernmental organization of developing states in the UN. It provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development. There are now 130 member states (including Jamaica), although the name G-77 was retained because of its historical significance. |
Inter-American Development Bank and Jamaica
Strategy, projects,and news about Jamaica and the IADB. |
Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the Organization of American States
"The OAS brings together the nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation on democratic values, defend common interests and debate the major issues facing the region and the world. The OAS is the region's principal multilateral forum for strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, and confronting shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption." |
Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations
Website of member state missions and their representatives to the United Nations. |
ReliefWeb - Jamaica
ReliefWeb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), provides news, documents, maps, and background information on emergency assistance by country. |
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
News, operations, statistics, background, analysis and policy, and maps from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Select Jamaica from the "Browse by country" drop-down menu on the right. |
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Jamaica
UNDP helps countries work toward human rights, democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment for sustainable development, and HIV/AIDS prevention. |
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development - Jamaica
Economic, social and environmental policies and plans for sustainable development from the UN Department Economic and Social Affairs. |
USAID - Jamaica
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) economic and humanitarian assistance programs. |
USAID - Caribbean
USAID Assistance in the Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago). |
U.S. Department of State - Jamaica
U.S.-Jamaican relations, humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, and country background notes. |
U.S. Background Notes - Jamaica
Provides country background and foreign policy information for the American public from the Department of State's Bureau of Public Affairs. |
World Bank - Jamaica
World Bank data, projects, and research in Jamaica. |
World Trade Organization - Jamaica
Provides key information on trade statistics, WTO commitments, disputes, trade policy reviews, and notifications for member countries. |
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| Media |
| Here we provide media links and a feed of recent news. |
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- Jampress - government-run
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| News Update |
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| Caribbean Elections provides comprehensive information on the electoral process, politics, and citizenship in the Caribbean. The portal includes election data and resources for the public, teachers, students, and researchers. |
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