Facts about Jamaica (Jamaica)

home > kids' guide to jamaica

Channels

Skip Navigation

Community

resources

about us

Kids' Guide to Jamaica

Share |

Facts about Jamaica

Published Jun 1, 2002

Official Name: Jamaica
Capital City:Kingston
Size:4,411 square miles. Slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut in the U.S.
Length:146 miles
Width: 22-51 miles
Population: 2,605,800 (July 2000 estimate).
Population of a few selected cities:Kingston, 800,000; Montego Bay, 82,000; Mandeville, 13,681; Port Antonio, 10,426; Ocho Rios, 5,851; Negril, 1,166
Annual population growth rate:0.46%
Average Temperature: 82° F
Climate: Tropical. Hot, Humid, temperate interior.
Average Rainfall:78 inches annually
Population: 2.6 million (July 2000 estimate).

Language:English

Ethnic Groups:Black (90.9%), mixed (7.3%), East Indian (1.3%), white (0.2%), Chinese (0.2%)

Natural Resources: Bauxite, gypsum and limestone.

Principal exports: Bauxite and alumnia, apparel, sugar, bananas, coffee, citrus and citrus products, rum, cocoa.

Major Trading partners: Consumer Goods, construction materials, electrical equipment, food, fuel, machinery and transportation equipment.

Exchange Rate: Approximately $86 Jamaican dollars is equal to $1 US dollar. See the latest exchange rate.

GDP per capitia: US3,350 (purchasing power parity)

Head of State: The head of state is the governor-general, who is appointed by the monarch of England.

Head of Government: The head of government in Jamaica is the Prime Minister who is elected by the Jamaican people. The prime minister is the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives.

Language: The official language is English but Patois, a dialect, is widely spoken across the island

Flag: The Jamaican flag has 3 colors, green, black and gold. Black stands for hardships overcome and to be faced; Gold, for natural wealth and beauty of sunlight; and Green stands for hope and agricultural resources. Click here for a flag you can color.

Money:The money in Jamaica is called Jamaican Dollars (JMD). Bank notes are issued for the following amounts $50, $100, $500, $1000. The heads of famous Jamaican people appear on the notes. One Jamaican dollar is equal to about $0.01 USD US dollars. The exchange rates change everyday. Click here for a Currency Converter.

There are 1 cent, 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents 1 dollar, 10 dollar and 20-dollar coins. The heads of famous Jamaican people also appear on the back of the coins.

Religion: The majority of Jamaicans are Christian. Children learn about God and the bible at public school. They also have public prayer in school.

Some things Jamaica is well known for:

Blue Mountain Coffee
The Jamaican Bobsled team
Reggae Music and Bob Marley
Jerk Sauce
The Beautiful beaches and coral reefs

More Information & Other Related Articles
• For information on the Jamaian National Symbols (Anthem, Plegde etc) see our Jamaica Overveiw.
• To see pictures of Jamaican Currency see our Jamaican Money Page.
• For Historical dates please see our Jamaica Overveiw SectionSee Historical dates in our Jamaica Overview Section.

Share |

Comments

105 comment(s) on this page. Add your own comment below.

Shenna

Sep 10, 2010 9:05am [ 1 ]

I think that jamaica is so pretty. it very cultural and i love it

Sinead Austwick

Sep 19, 2010 1:57am [ 2 ]

Usain Bolt makes Jamacia the best country!!!

Sinead Austwick

Sep 19, 2010 1:59am [ 3 ]

Usain Bolt makes Jamacia the best country!!!

Sinead Austwick

Sep 19, 2010 2:01am [ 4 ]

Usain Bolt makes Jamacia the best country!!!

Rikki

Sep 19, 2010 5:03pm [ 5 ]

; whats the main religions of jamaica.

NICKI MINAJ

Sep 27, 2010 3:53pm [ 6 ]

I LOVE JAMAICA AND SPEAKING OF JAMAICA I DID A VIDEO WTH SEAN KINGSTN IN JAMICA

awesomeness unleashed

Oct 11, 2010 6:04pm [ 7 ]

jamaica is the fastest country in the world there awesome

Shan

Oct 13, 2010 3:12am [ 8 ]

Jamaica is such a lovely country and thre food is the best

mykalah

Oct 15, 2010 3:53pm [ 9 ]

I LOVE JAMAICA FOR EVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

leelee

Oct 18, 2010 8:30am [ 10 ]

i like Jamaica

David Martinez

Oct 18, 2010 9:02am [ 11 ]

jamaicons go to jamaica!!!!

Ben K

Oct 20, 2010 8:27am [ 12 ]

what jobs do they do help i need it for the next lesson in 10 minueets

U.R. mum

Oct 22, 2010 3:47am [ 13 ]

Who is the leader man?

jimmy

Nov 3, 2010 4:36am [ 14 ]

I love Jamaica I've been to Negril its amazing! :) If you can choose to go anywhere go to Jamaica :D

stevie

Nov 4, 2010 2:50pm [ 15 ]

Bob marley, is the best

rebekah

Nov 8, 2010 4:37am [ 16 ]

jamaica is bum ting wah gwan

alsjfajdf

Nov 12, 2010 1:16pm [ 17 ]

i went to jamica a couple of years ago for vaction... i went to magirta ville and won the butt shaking contest on the bar and i kicked my aunt off the bar

Theresea

Nov 16, 2010 11:26am [ 18 ]

i think jamaica is a wonderful country and it is very cultural

connor

Nov 19, 2010 2:30pm [ 19 ]

i love marley hes da best

Dionne

Nov 21, 2010 5:50am [ 20 ]

i dont really like jamaica. i am half jamaican qaurter dominican republican and quarter austrailian. ive been there and its actually not that great lol , im not trying to be depressig but its not that fabulous "/

ally

Nov 24, 2010 8:19pm [ 21 ]

I love Jamaica but, I feel that we are loving our culture.

Shannay

Dec 1, 2010 3:01pm [ 22 ]

Jamaica is the best place that ever existed in the universe .I love Jamaica !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shannay

Dec 1, 2010 3:05pm [ 23 ]

Jamaica is the best place that ever existed in the universe .I love Jamaica !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

elka

Dec 2, 2010 1:10pm [ 24 ]

i am from jamaica and i love ot there and i hopeful from that i love jamaica i LOVE JAMACIA

chinyere mclean

Dec 7, 2010 4:14pm [ 25 ]

I AM FROM JAMAICA

shell

Dec 13, 2010 8:29pm [ 26 ]

dionne,.. what is not great about jamaica?,.. i want to kno,.. please!!

Dec 31, 2010 2:00pm [ 27 ]

jamica rocks

Isabella

Jan 12, 2011 10:12am [ 28 ]

I want to know where a place is....♥

nitai

Jan 20, 2011 1:52pm [ 29 ]

ma ba black sheeeeep!!

alex

Feb 1, 2011 8:08am [ 30 ]

jamacia is rubbish

Amoy

Feb 2, 2011 7:20am [ 31 ]

I was born in jamaica and i love love love jamaica undersill i move,now i know how munch i miss jamaica

Miley Cyrus

Feb 3, 2011 2:34pm [ 32 ]

This is just outstanding. I mean, really, it just is, can't you believe it?

joie

Feb 7, 2011 3:01pm [ 33 ]

I want to go to Jamacia!! But i hear that it's dangerous.

jessica

Feb 7, 2011 7:52pm [ 34 ]

i have to learn about jamaica 4 a school report and the website helps alot!!!!!!thx

oli harkness

Feb 8, 2011 9:19am [ 35 ]

JAMAICA IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

explosivejoseph23

Feb 22, 2011 11:31am [ 36 ]

Nicki Minaj is so HOT!!!!!!!!!!I cannot see one of her videos without saying shes so dang FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

andres

Feb 25, 2011 2:53pm [ 37 ]

yah mon

mike

Feb 28, 2011 3:22pm [ 38 ]

Oh i wante 2 go ther

Carl

Mar 2, 2011 6:14am [ 39 ]

I don't like people from other countries

Edward Aldis

Mar 2, 2011 6:18am [ 40 ]

I love Jamaican women

Miranda

Mar 3, 2011 11:14am [ 41 ]

I love the Jamaican hotels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

asha

Mar 3, 2011 4:22pm [ 42 ]

jamaica is a very beautiful nice place i love jamaica it is like the summer every day

kindprincess13

Mar 7, 2011 1:38pm [ 43 ]

jamaica is too hot for sexy mamas like me juno

ali

Mar 9, 2011 10:11am [ 44 ]

Bob Marley, is the best. Noone will ever change that! (:

courtneycirello

Mar 22, 2011 10:03am [ 45 ]

i never been there but i would love to go there some one take me there

christi

Mar 22, 2011 11:17am [ 46 ]

i wld love to visit jamaica bec alot of people say its beautifull.........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shieanne miller

Mar 22, 2011 2:36pm [ 47 ]

My parents have been to Jamaica in December

Shieanne miller

Mar 22, 2011 2:40pm [ 48 ]

LOVE Jamaica! It's sooooooo pretty and beautiful there!

shanika

Mar 23, 2011 10:23am [ 49 ]

one day i wont to go to jamacia... i have did a lot of research and it seem fun...

keyle

Mar 23, 2011 1:09pm [ 50 ]

i love jamaica

gina

Mar 24, 2011 3:12pm [ 51 ]

my parents went to jamaica and it was spontaneously beautiful!!!!

taylor

Mar 28, 2011 12:36pm [ 52 ]

jamaica is dah best/lamest..but its alil ch8t dea do but dah bahamas is reallii of dah freakii n chain..WOOT WOOT!!!!!!!!!! @TAYTAY

Sam!

Mar 29, 2011 2:41pm [ 53 ]

@stevie Hell yeah, im reaserching Jamaica just for him

marcus padolski

Mar 30, 2011 4:26am [ 54 ]

I love Jamaican men !!

clara

Apr 6, 2011 7:33pm [ 55 ]

I love Jamaica sooo much if you go you should go horseback riding in the ocean it is awesome!!!!! also my driver was Usain Bol's driver once no joke and I saw Usain's school in real life.

mickey mouse

Apr 7, 2011 6:56pm [ 56 ]

im jamaican whole n jamaica is awesome n all the jamaicans haterz sut up if u hav nothing nic e2 say dont say anything at all n some parts of jamaica is bad but itz a wild n fun island

yuan

Apr 7, 2011 7:27pm [ 57 ]

jamaica a di best

STEPHEN

Apr 9, 2011 3:17am [ 58 ]

Wo i think Jamaica is a place to be once in life tyme, please make an attempt to visit.

Bella good

Apr 13, 2011 9:48am [ 59 ]

I love you guys but i really love how your speak awesome mon

jessica nesitay

Apr 16, 2011 10:37am [ 60 ]

i love sean kingston jamiaca my world

angela

Apr 25, 2011 10:26am [ 61 ]

hey dionne im 1/8th jamacian an i don't appreciate what you said

kristina

Apr 27, 2011 5:05pm [ 62 ]

i went to jamaica in january with my family and the whole contry is beautiful <3 everyone would came to you and smile :) i went to a lot of places. i stayed at a hotel in montego bay. but we went to negril to shop (shopping was a lot of fun) you really hadto fight for the right price. we went to rick's cafe where i went cliff diving. dunns river falls is an amazing place as well. and rose hall great house gave you a very wierd feeling from all the murder committed in the house. over all an amazing place. the breeze at time was the most amazing thing in the world. it only rain for 10 minutes. they speak petois... even though the official language is english.

georgia

Apr 28, 2011 3:22am [ 63 ]

i love it

amie

Apr 28, 2011 6:08pm [ 64 ]

heheks>>>i love jamaica island

Talbert

Apr 30, 2011 5:40am [ 65 ]

@Dionne -trying to work out the three parents, Australian, Dominican & Jamaican smh

dawson

May 2, 2011 11:47am [ 66 ]

jamaica is beast

dewayne carter

May 2, 2011 12:26pm [ 67 ]

mann i want 2 visit jamaica it looks nice there it looks calm and very pretty good thang im coming dis summer

uyuy

May 4, 2011 12:17pm [ 68 ]

love jamaica

Kimberly Houston

May 9, 2011 9:30am [ 69 ]

I luv Jamaica

Herman Martinez

May 11, 2011 9:30am [ 70 ]

I should bring $1 to jamaica I would be ritch

jerry

May 11, 2011 11:27am [ 71 ]

I need facts for my school

veronica

May 11, 2011 11:28am [ 72 ]

i love jamaica

da real leelee

May 12, 2011 1:50pm [ 73 ]

i wanna visit jamaica ahah

Usain Bolt

May 15, 2011 5:36pm [ 74 ]

i think usain bolt is sexy!

bre and shy

May 16, 2011 7:27am [ 75 ]

i love jamaica

seth bjornson

May 18, 2011 6:36am [ 76 ]

i like jerk sauce

jball4

May 24, 2011 5:32pm [ 77 ]

jamaica rocks

keri helson

May 26, 2011 7:30pm [ 78 ]

i love jamica yall kno who his is wmiss keri babay peacem lol

ama

Jun 8, 2011 8:37am [ 79 ]

jamacia is were i come from and its the best country ever!

rio

Jun 8, 2011 8:39am [ 80 ]

i like jamaica becasue my friend is from jamacia

ama

Jun 8, 2011 8:40am [ 81 ]

jamacias fab

tymirah mea

Jun 13, 2011 10:06am [ 82 ]

i luvv jamica dhvtts were im from born nd rised i really wanna movee backk there jamica is myy project in skol cuz i love it like my moms cookinqqq

Tamera

Jul 3, 2011 3:18pm [ 83 ]

i think jamaica is a fantastic place if you are a fan of sun i am so i think think it is really wonderful

Hassan

Jul 26, 2011 12:13pm [ 84 ]

Jamaica is one of the happiest places I ever been in the globe despite the many sterotypes and bad things we read in the media. I had no problems for the 2 1/2 years i stayed there. I have my most fondest memories being on the land of wood and water.

bob marley

Jul 28, 2011 8:09am [ 85 ]

ya mon, an eyy nicki minaj

henry werry

Aug 3, 2011 1:17am [ 86 ]

all those facts are boring like hell

henry werry

Aug 3, 2011 1:18am [ 87 ]

all those facts are boring like hell

henry werry

Aug 3, 2011 1:20am [ 88 ]

these facts are allright

dylan

Aug 10, 2011 11:05pm [ 89 ]

this website has really good information

Natasia

Aug 14, 2011 7:16pm [ 90 ]

I am so proud to be from Jamaica. The culture, music, beaches and people are beyond beautiful and this is why we have an increasing rate in tourism. Jamaica is the most beautiful place on earth!

Geneva Clark

Aug 25, 2011 4:32pm [ 91 ]

I love Jamaica because the beach is clean and fresh

Holly

Oct 10, 2011 2:00pm [ 92 ]

This Website Has Amazing Fact's about jamaica

Nov 29, 2011 2:23pm [ 93 ]

i like jamaica

nicola

Dec 1, 2011 6:49am [ 94 ]

i Love jamcica i have never been but its amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

trenton

Dec 12, 2011 9:40am [ 95 ]

ya jamaica beast just like sean cause i got a autograph from him

timyra wright

Dec 14, 2011 9:44am [ 96 ]

i want to eat some of jamacian food

Nivekcsf

Dec 30, 2011 8:06pm [ 97 ]

Jamaica is a very lovely country

ariana

Feb 13, 2012 3:47pm [ 98 ]

wow jamaica sounds boring go Dominican Republic

STAR!

Mar 7, 2012 2:01pm [ 99 ]

i am so happy to quarter Jamaican because Jamaica is the best place on and the reason why is because i love bob marly and usan bolt .

Poppy Fletcher

Mar 11, 2012 11:15am [ 100 ]

I love Jamaica its sooo pretty!!!!! :):):):)

mackenzie

May 8, 2012 1:07pm [ 101 ]

i love this wabsite it helps with every thing

Bradi127

May 9, 2012 7:52pm [ 102 ]

Jamaica is awsome!!!.it has sweet hotels

whitney

May 9, 2012 9:17pm [ 103 ]

So awesome yall should use this for facts

Batman

Aug 13, 2012 7:27pm [ 104 ]

Jamaica is awesome! Nuff said :)

YaMan

Aug 13, 2012 10:55pm [ 105 ]

Jamaica have a bob sled team.

Add a Comment

Please be civil.

Browse the latest articles

More from Kids' Guide to Jamaica

Dr. Suess One Fish Two Fish read in Jamaica Patois Teach yourself Jamaican patois/patwa with children stories. Listen to this booking reading of "Dr. Seuss One Fish Two Fish" by Dr. Seuss read in Jamaican patois/patwa.

The Jamaican National Anthem: "Jamaica, Land We Love" The Jamaican National Anthem is "Jamaica, Land We Love" . All persons should stand at attention, (i.e., heels together) at the playing of the National Anthem and men should remove their hats. Singing of the National Anthem should form part of the ceremony of raising and lowering of the flag at the beginning and end of term in schools and at Independence celebrations.

Photos from Christmas in Jamaica What does Christmas in Jamaica look like. Here are a few photos from Linda Lowe of the Christmas in Jamaica. Check it out today.

Traditional Jamaican Happy Birthday Song - Video and Lyrics Some birthday traditions in Jamaica are very similar to what you will find in the rest of the world; birthday candles, birthday cake and games. In Jamaica however we have a special Birthday Song. For many Jamaicans growing in Jamaica this song would be sung at a birthday party. Here is the traditional Jamaican Happy Birthday song made popular by Miss Lou on her show "Ring Ding". We have provided the lyrics in English and Patois/Patwa. Enjoy!!!

Children stories read in Jamaican patois/patwa Teach yourself Jamaican patois/patwa with children stories. Listen and watch the videos of children's stories, including Dr Suess, read in Jamaican Patois.

Children in Jamaica Here you will learn something about school life in Jamaica and how Jamaican children spend their time. "Yah Man" (Don't say "Mon" to a Jamaican) are you ready for a trip to Jamaica. In our "Kids Guide" you can learn about Jamaica - it's people, landscape, children, food, and language.

Regions in Jamaica We have added a resource in our "Kids Guide to Jamaica". Learn about the counties, parishes and different regions of Jamaica.