Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean. The country had a population of 2,834,683 as of August 2026, having the fourth largest population in the region.It is #142 in global population among nations.
Jamaica's annual population growth rate stood at 0.08% in 2022. As of 2023, 68.9% of Jamaicans were Christians in 2011, predominantly Protestant.
The racial demographics in the island of Jamaica are as follows: 76.3% African, 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% Indian or Afro-Indian, 3.2% White, 1.2% Chinese or Afro-Chinese and 0.8% Others (2024 est.).
Wealth or economic power in Jamaica is disproportionately held by White Jamaicans, Chinese Jamaicans, Lebanese/Syrian Jamaicans, Indian Jamaicans and mixed-race Jamaicans (or locally called the Brown Man or Browning)— despite being minority groups (less than 25% of the country's population), they control most of the country's wealth.
Roughly 10 per cent of the population control over 60% of Jamaica's wealth.
Population size and structure According to the total population was in , compared to only 1,403,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 29%, 63.1% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 7.8% was 65 years or older. Total population (x 1000)Proportionaged 0–14(%)Proportionaged 15–64(%)Proportionaged 65+(%) 19501 40336.060.13.9 19551 54237.158.84.1 19601 62941.853.94.3 19651 76043.551.15.4 19701 86947.047.45.6 19752 01245.348.95.8 19802 13240.353.06.8 19852 29737.355.77.1 19902 36535.157.57.4 19952 46233.858.77.5 20002 58232.559.67.9 20052 68230.461.58.1 20102 74127.164.58.4 20152 79323.667.39.1 20192 73420.869.59.7
Structure of the population
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 1 334 533 1 363 450 2 697 983 100 0–4 106 107 103 764 209 871 7.78 5–9 114 792 111 586 226 378 8.39 10–14 136 183 130 403 266 586 9.88 15–19 139 777 134 881 274 658 10.18 20–24 125 243 125 468 250 711 9.29 25–29 109 919 116 201 226 120 8.38 30–34 87 810 97 685 185 495 6.88 35–39 86 647 97 109 183 756 6.81 40–44 85 656 88 268 173 924 6.45 45–49 79 201 76 188 155 389 5.76 50–54 67 297 70 598 137 895 5.11 55–59 50 717 50 081 100 798 3.74 60–64 44 407 43 650 88 057 3.26 65–69 32 543 32 621 65 164 2.42 70–74 24 627 26 649 51 276 1.90 75–79 19 847 22 915 42 762 1.58 80–84 13 258 17 480 30 738 1.14 85–89 7 267 11 190 18 457 0.68 90–94 2 303 4 618 6 921 0.26 95–99 808 1 695 2 503 0.09 100+ 124 400 524 0.02Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 357 082 345 753 702 835 26.05 15–64 876 674 900 129 1 776 803 65.86 65+ 100 777 117 568 218 345 8.09
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 1 351 515 1 381 024 2 732 539 100 0–4 88 769 85 290 174 059 6.37 5–9 97 299 93 948 191 247 7.00 10–14 106 720 104 712 211 432 7.74 15–19 118 895 113 888 232 783 8.52 20–24 130 614 127 184 257 798 9.43 25–29 126 322 123 540 249 862 9.14 30–34 109 010 112 958 221 968 8.12 35–39 95 108 103 970 199 078 7.29 40–44 77 021 89 154 166 175 6.08 45–49 78 742 87 344 166 086 6.08 50–54 75 767 77 096 152 863 5.59 55–59 69 089 67 139 136 228 4.99 60–64 54 822 56 388 111 210 4.07 65-69 41 595 41 171 82 766 3.03 70-74 32 319 33 155 65 474 2.40 75-79 21 380 23 690 45 070 1.65 80+ 28 043 40 397 68 440 2.50Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 292 788 283 950 576 738 21.11 15–64 935 390 958 661 1 894 051 69.31 65+ 123 337 138 413 261 750 9.58
Vital statistics Registered births and deaths
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude migration rate (per 1000)TFR 1900 750,00026,80016,20010,60035.721.614.1 1901 756,00032,10017,20014,90042.522.819.7-11.8 1902 760,00029,90015,00014,90039.319.819.5-14.3 1903 770,00030,90019,10011,80040.124.815.3 -2.3 1904 780,00028,50019,4009,10036.524.911.6 1.2 1905 790,00031,10017,50013,60039.422.217.2-4.6 1906 790,00030,70021,2009,50038.926.812.1 -12 1907 800,00028,80023,4005,40036.029.26.85.8 1908 810,00031,30018,70012,60038.723.115.6-3.2 1909 820,00032,30018,60013,70039.422.716.7-4.5 1910 820,00031,60018,90012,70038.523.115.4-15.5 1911 831,00032,50018,50014,00039.122.316.811.6 1912 830,00032,50021,10011,40039.225.413.8-14.9 1913 840,00030,20018,60011,60036.022.113.9-1.9 1914 840,00033,40018,40015,00039.821.917.9-1.8 1915 840,00029,80018,60011,20035.522.113.4-13.3 1916 840,00028,70019,4009,30034.223.111.1-11.1 1917 850,00029,90023,6006,30035.227.87.44.4 1918 850,00030,10029,1001,00035.434.21.2-0.1 1919 850,00029,70019,50010,20034.922.912.0-12 1920 860,00036,20022,50013,70042.126.215.9-4.3 1921 858,00029,90024,3005,60034.928.36.6-8.9 1922 870,00032,50020,00012,50037.423.014.4-0.6 1923 890,00034,40020,50013,90038.723.015.76.9 1924 910,00033,70019,90013,80037.021.915.16.8 1925 930,00032,50020,10012,40034.921.613.38.2 1926 950,00036,50019,50017,00038.420.517.919.3 1927 960,00033,30020,30013,00034.721.113.69.1 1928 980,00035,10019,30015,80035.819.716.14.3 19291,000,00034,20018,40015,80034.218.415.84.2 19301,020,00038,30017,60020,70037.517.320.2-0.7 19311,030,00036,40019,50016,90035.318.916.4-6.7 19321,047,00034,20018,20016,00032.717.415.314.7 19331,067,00035,60021,00014,60033.419.713.75.1 19341,081,00034,24718,73115,51631.717.314.4-1.4 19351,096,00037,37919,70617,67334.118.016.1-2.4 19361,111,00036,56119,62916,93232.917.715.2-1.7 19371,123,00035,35217,48117,87131.515.615.9-5.2 19381,142,00037,97019,12418,84633.316.816.50.1 19391,162,00037,47417,53619,93832.315.117.20.1 19401,183,00036,46218,24318,21930.815.415.42.4 19411,205,00037,82917,31720,51231.414.417.01.2 19421,227,00040,16517,54522,62032.714.318.4-0.5 19431,248,00039,37117,55821,81331.514.117.4-0.7 19441,260,00041,77218,97622,79633.215.118.1-8.6 19451,266,00037,95418,87419,08030.014.915.1-10.3 19461,292,00039,91817,27222,64630.913.417.52.6 19471,321,00043,26718,77024,49732.814.218.53.4 19481,345,00041,46317,86923,59430.813.317.50.3 19491,365,00044,37716,85927,51832.512.420.2-5.5 19501,403,00046,45916,67729,78233.111.921.25.9 19511,437,00048,56117,25031,31134.012.121.91.9 19521,468,00048,90216,69532,20733.611.522.1-0.8 19531,496,00051,13115,44235,68934.410.424.0-5.1 19541,521,00053,63016,30237,32836.511.125.4-8.1 19551,542,00055,76715,32840,43937.510.327.2-12.6 19561,560,00058,17714,67043,50738.59.728.8-16.4 19571,576,00060,44514,12946,31639.49.230.2-19.2 19581,592,00063,51714,81348,70440.69.531.1-20.5 19591,609,00063,87416,54947,32539.910.329.6-18.8 19601,629,00068,41314,32154,09242.58.933.6-20.9 19611,652,00066,12814,19351,93540.58.731.8-17.5 19621,679,00064,91314,16750,74639.18.530.6-14.1 19631,707,00066,18915,15951,03039.08.930.1-13.5 19641,735,00068,35913,26755,09239.37.631.7-15.6 19651,760,00069,76814,08455,68439.68.031.6-17.4 19661,783,00071,36414,28857,07640.08.032.0-19.1 19671,804,00067,43813,29554,14337.47.430.0-18.4 19681,824,00065,40214,55750,84535.98.027.9-16.9 19691,845,00064,66814,09450,57435.17.627.4-16 19701,869,00064,37514,35250,02334.47.726.8-13.9 19711,896,00066,27714,07852,19934.97.427.5-13.3 19721,925,00066,21913,97052,24934.37.227.1-12.1 19731,955,00061,85714,15747,70031.67.224.3-9.1 19741,984,00061,50614,37447,13230.97.223.7-9.1 19752,012,00061,46214,00447,45830.36.923.4-9.7 19762,037,00060,65814,67145,98729.67.222.4-10.3 19772,059,00060,42314,24546,17829.16.922.3-11.7 19782,081,00058,18912,14846,04127.95.822.1-11.6 19792,105,00059,12613,29745,82928.06.321.7-10.4 19802,132,00058,58912,70645,88327.56.021.5-8.93.56 19812,165,00059,43513,31546,12027.56.221.3-6.13.50 19822,200,00061,47712,69848,77927.95.822.2-6.33.40 19832,237,00061,41712,58848,82927.45.621.8-5.33.21 19842,270,00057,53313,40544,12825.25.919.4-4.92.73 19852,297,00056,21013,91842,29224.36.018.3-6.72.56 19862,317,00054,06713,34140,72623.15.717.4-8.92.40 19872,332,00052,27012,35239,91822.25.317.0-10.72.27 19882,342,00053,62312,16741,45622.75.217.6-13.42.31 19892,353,00059,10414,31544,78924.76.018.7-14.42.43 19902,365,00059,60612,17447,43225.25.120.1-152.45 19912,381,00059,87913,31946,56025.25.619.6-12.82.44 19922,399,00056,27613,22543,05123.55.517.9-10.42.34 19932,419,00058,62713,92744,70024.25.818.5-10.22.44 19942,440,00057,40413,50343,90123.55.518.0-9.42.38 19952,462,00057,60712,77644,83123.45.218.2-9.32.37 19962,485,00057,37014,85442,51623.16.017.1-7.92.33 19972,509,00059,38515,96743,41823.76.417.3-7.72.42 19982,534,00056,93716,15040,78722.56.416.1-6.22.29 19992,559,00056,91117,55039,36122.26.915.4-5.62.29 20002,582,00054,03516,40037,63520.96.414.6-5.72.13 20012,605,00049,29116,61532,67618.96.412.5-3.71.92 20022,620,00047,46416,72830,73618.26.411.8-61.84 20032,629,00045,55917,26728,29217.46.610.8-7.31.77 20042,639,00044,84316,33228,51117.06.210.8-71.73 20052,644,00046,37017,41328,95717.56.611.0-9.11.81 20062,653,00043,24318,96024,28316.37.29.2-5.81.70 20072,662,00043,38520,55022,83516.37.78.6-5.21.71 20082,672,00043,11219,96623,14616.17.58.7-4.91.70 20092,681,00042,78218,55524,22716.07.08.9-5.71.68 20102,691,00040,50821,50319,00515.18.07.1-3.31.57 20112,700,00039,67316,92622,74714.76.38.4-5.11.54 20122,708,00039,55316,99822,55514.56.38.3-5.41.55 20132,715,00036,74615,42721,31913.55.77.8-5.31.52 20142,721,00036,99618,32018,67613.66.76.9-4.71.51 20152,723,00037,90019,24918,65113.97.16.8-6.11.5320162,727,00036,16019,76116,39913.37.26.1 -4.51.5020172,728,00034,42319,66114,76212.67.25.4 -51.4620182,731,00034,20919,76214,4471.4520192,734,00034,86218,23316,62912.77.75.0 -51.47 20202,735,00033,94120,18813,75312.47.45.0-4.71.43 20212,737,00033,12626,8816,24512.19.82.3 -1.61.39 20222,738,00032,92522,12110,80411.87.84.0 -3.61.38 202329,43921,7517,68810.81.23 202425,94220,4975,4451.09 202528,90021,3007,6001.22
Life expectancy at birth PeriodLife expectancy in YearsPeriodLife expectancy in Years1950–195558.61985–199072.11955–196062.71990–199572.01960–196565.71995–200072.11965–197067.22000–200572.81970–197569.02005–201074.21975–198070.72010–201575.51980–198572.0 Source: UN World Population Prospects
Migration
+ Net Migration Data of Jamaica (2002–2019) Year Population Net migration 2002 2,619,976 -21,177 2003 2,629,413 -18,789 2004 2,638,877 -18,959 2005 2,648,324 -19,436 2006 2,657,760 -14,873 2007 2,667,202 -13,470 2008 2,676,666 -13,741 2009 2,686,105 -14,515 2010 2,695,543 -9,718 2011 2,702,903 -15,480 2012 2,710,004 -15,516 2013 2,713,381 -17,947 2014 2,715,657 -15,252 2015 2,719,470 -14,926 2016 2,721,664 -14,296 2017 2,725,882 -10,647 2018 2,730,982 -9,474 2019 2,734,092 -11,775 2025 - -7,000
Ethnic groups According to the most recent study by the University of the West Indies, Jamaica consists of the following ethnic groups, broken down by percentage: 76.3% African, 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% Indian or Afro-Indian, 3.2% White, 1.2% Chinese or Afro-Chinese and 0.8% Others (2024 est.)
Historical YearPopulationWhite % WBlack % B16613,874N/A86.7%N/A13.3%167317,272N/A45%N/A55%173083,008N/A9.2%N/A90.8%1774209,617N/A6.1%N/A93.9%
Languages English, Jamaican Patois
Religion Protestant 64.8% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 12.0%, Pentecostal 11.0%, Other Church of God 9.2%, New Testament Church of God 7.2%, Baptist 6.7%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.5%, Anglican 2.8%, United Church 2.1%, Methodist 1.6%, Revived 1.4%, Brethren 0.9%, and Moravian 0.7%), Roman Catholic 2.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.9%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.5%, none 21.3%, unspecified 2.3% (2011 est.)
See also Jamaicans Afro-Jamaican Cromanty List of cities and towns in Jamaica
References
External links Jamaica Facts at a glance, The University of the West Indies, Jamaica Statistics Institute of Jamaica – Government agency responsible for census and statistical mapping