Jamaica
Jamaica
People: Jamaican
Jamaica is the birthplace of reggae music and has produced more world-record sprinters per capita than any other nation. Jamaica is located in Caribbean and has a population of around 2.8 million. Its capital city is Kingston, and the most widely spoken official language is English. As an island nation, Jamaica has no land borders.
By the numbers, Jamaica is the 139th most populous of the 196 countries covered on this site, home to 0.04% of the world's population. By land area it ranks 159th out of 196, with a population density of roughly 257 people per km².
Facts last checked 31 August 2026.
Jamaica — key facts at a glance
| Official Name | Jamaica |
|---|---|
| Capital City | Kingston |
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Caribbean |
| Population | 2,825,544 |
| Area | 10,991 km² |
| Currency | Jamaican dollar (JMD) $ |
| Official Languages | English, Jamaican Patois |
| Dialling Code | +1 |
| Internet TLD | .jm |
| Timezone | UTC-05:00 |
| Drives on the | Left side |
| Emergency Number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
| ISO Code | JM / JAM |
| Borders | Island nation / no land borders |
Travelling to Jamaica?
Packing for Jamaica? Grab a ready-made Jamaica packing list so nothing gets left behind. Pack a universal travel adapter for your devices. You can also check clothing and shoe sizes in Jamaica before you shop, and look up popular foods from Jamaica if you want to know what's on the menu.
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Getting to and around Jamaica
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Planning a trip to Jamaica?
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Frequently Asked Questions about Jamaica
What is the capital and currency of Jamaica?
The capital of Jamaica is Kingston and the currency is the Jamaican dollar (JMD), symbol $.
What is the capital of Jamaica?
The capital of Jamaica is Kingston.
What currency does Jamaica use?
Jamaica uses the Jamaican dollar (JMD, symbol: $).
What language do they speak in Jamaica?
The official languages of Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois.
What is the dialling code for Jamaica?
The international dialling code for Jamaica is +1.
What side of the road does Jamaica drive on?
Jamaica drives on the left-hand side of the road.
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