Jamaica is an island country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the larger islands in the region, but still smaller than both Cuba and Hispaniola. Jamaica is well known internationally and has become a popular
. In an average year, visitors to the island outnumber the residents by far, as the
amounts to only around 2.7 million people. Yet, although the island is relatively small in size and population, Jamaican culture and music reaches far and wide and has become well-known around the world; the Rastafari belief, for example, originated in Jamaica. Bob Marley, the most famous Rastafari, helped bring reggae music and Rastafarianism international attention.
Demographics
Over half of Jamaica's population is living in
urban areas and cities, with Kingston being the capital and
largest city, located on the southeastern coast of the island. The island's
fertility rate is slightly bellow the natural replacement rate and
population growth is minimal. Many Jamaicans have migrated to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, causing the low population growth rate to decrease further, and a many of them have brought their culture and music with them.
Life expectancy at birth is slightly lower than average at around 74 years of age.
Jamaican economy
Overall, the country is politically stable, yet while resources are abundant, the economy has struggled throughout the country's history. However, the economic outlook for the island seems positive: the
GDP growth rate is expected to increase above two percent annually in the near future, the
inflation rate appears to be stabilizing somewhat and
unemployment is decreasing considerably, as is the
national debt in relation to GDP. Presently, the economy is largely based on services,
generating around 60 percent of GDP; the majority of which is associated with tourism and accommodation on the island. A similar distribution can be found regarding
employment within each sector. It is also apparent that the industrial sector is weak, as it only contributes around 20 percent to both GDP and employment. This has resulted in a negative
trade balance due to a visible dependence on imports - the majority of which come from the United States, which is Jamaica’s largest trade partner for both
imports as well as
exports.
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