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The Population of Jamaica
By Demographics

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CLICK TO ENLARGE (Jamaica Population Statistics 2017)

Population of Jamaica, contributed by Coleen Clarke

According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, Jamaica’s population stood at an estimated 2,728,864, as at December 2017, the most populated country in the Caribbean.

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The female/ male ratio is 1,377,472 females vs 1,351,392 males, that's 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

New! 2017 Population Data

The breakdown was as follows at December 2017:

0 yrs -1.2%
Female -16496
Male -17094
1 yrs -1.3%
Female -17449
Male -18028
2 yrs -1.4%
Female -18059
Male -19089
3 yrs -1.3%
Female -17821
Male -18301
4 yrs -1.3%
Female -17480
Male -18294
0–4 yrs -6.5%
Female -87307
Male -90806
5 yrs -1.4%
Female -18765
Male -19604
6 yrs -1.4%
Female -18819
Male -19658
7 yrs -1.5%
Female -19431
Male -20167
8 yrs -1.5%
Female -20323
Male -20727
9 yrs -1.5%
Female -20634
Male -20728
5–9 yrs -7.3%
Female -97972
Male -100884
10 yrs -1.5%
Female -20251
Male -20926
11 yrs -1.6%
Female -20960
Male -21375
12 yrs -1.6%
Female -21506
Male -22112
13 yrs -1.6%
Female -21448
Male -21936
14 yrs -1.6%
Female -21350
Male -21807
10–14 yrs -7.8%
Female -105515
Male -108157
15 yrs -1.6%
Female -21828
Male -22447
16 yrs -1.7%
Female -22998
Male -23955
17 yrs -2.0%
Female -25945
Male -27468
18 yrs -1.8%
Female -24608
Male -25471
19 yrs -1.8%
Female -24214
Male -24880
15–19 yrs -8.9%
Female -119594
Male -124221
20 yrs -1.9%
Female -25256
Male -26083
21 yrs -2.0%
Female -26509
Male -27509
22 yrs -2.1%
Female -28232
Male -28874
23 yrs -2.1%
Female -28098
Male -28673
24 yrs -1.9%
Female -26037
Male -27059
20–24 yrs -10.0%
Female -134132
Male -138197
25–29 yrs -9.0%
Female -122183
Male -122877
30–34 yrs -8.0%
Female -111378
Male -106318
35–39 yrs -6.9%
Female -98215
Male -89335
40–44 yrs -6.2%
Female -90475
Male -80078
45–49 yrs -6.3%
Female -89749
Male -83093
50–54 yrs -5.7%
Female -77564
Male -76916
55–59 yrs -4.9%
Female -67153
Male -67311
60–64 yrs -3.7%
Female -51363
Male -50437
65–69 yrs -2.9%
Female -39604
Male -40280
70–74 yrs -2.2%
Female -30509
Male -29287
75 & over yrs -3.6%
Female -54758
Male -43196
Total - 100%
Females 1,377,472
Males 1,351,392

Source: Statistical Institute Of Jamaica: http://statinja.gov.jm/Demo_SocialStats/newEndofYearPopulationbyAgeandSex2008.aspx

Population Of Jamaica, By Labour Force 2018

Births

About 80% of babies born in Jamaica are born to teenage mothers. There is an estimated 20.04 births per 1,000 and the fertility rate is an estimated 2.3 children born per woman. In addition, the population growth rate is an estimated 0.779%.

Deaths

Majority of deaths in Jamaica are as a result of crime and violence and the victims are mainly young males. Over 1500 persons died as a result of crime and violence in 2007.

An estimated 900 persons died from HIV/ AIDS in 2003. The death rate is an estimated 6.37 deaths per 1,000 and the infant mortality rate is 15.57 deaths per 1,000 live births. The life expectancy rate is an estimated 71.88 years for males and 75.38 years for females.

Ethnic Groups

The Jamaican population consists of three main ethnic groups – Black, East Indian, and White. The other ethic groups include Chinese, Lebanese and Syrians.

Blacks account for 90% of the population, the White 0.4%, the East Indian – 1.5% and 7.3 % of the population is multiracial.

Despite the population of Jamaica being dominantly black, the people are bonded by the country’s motto "Out of many, one people".

The Chinese

The Chinese came to Jamaica in the 1800s as indentured labourers shortly after the abolition of slavery in 1834 to suffice the labour market.

Along with their labour skills, the Chinese took with them their entrepreneurial skills as well as their kitchen craft. The patties we all love today were inspired by the Chinese.

Today, you can find grocery shops, haberdasheries or supermarkets owned by a Chinese all around the island. Additionally, the chain restaurants, Juici Patties and Tastee Patties are owned by Chinese or Chinese descendants.

The East Indians

The East Indians also came to Jamaica as indentured labourers. Today the East Indians are operators of boutiques, duty free shops and jewelry stores mainly in the resort towns and cities (Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios and Kingston).

The Whites

The original whites or Caucasians in Jamaica were the owners and masters of the slaves in Jamaica, and most were originally from Europe.

After the abolition of slavery, many of them remained and continued running their sugar estates. One such family was the Lawsons, who owned and operated the Sugar Estate in Hampden, Trelawny.

The Mulattoes

These groups of people are a mixed, usually between black and white. Many of the offspring were produced during slavery, as the 'Bakra' (master) would sleep with the young slave women.

A prominent offspring of this group was one of our national heroes – George William Gordon, whose mother was a slave. Bob Marley was one of those as well.

We Jamaicans are said to be among the warmest and friendliest people in the world. Nicknamed the sprint factory of the Caribbean, Jamaica has been consistently producing world class athletes for over 40 years.

Bert Cameron, Donald Quarrie, George Rhoden, Herbert McKenley, Arthur Wint, Merlene Ottey, Veronica Campbell, Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt are just a few of the names that have brought Jamaica fame. We are a strong people, brilliant, athletic, resourceful and resilient.

Indeed, 'wi likkle but wi tallawah'.

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