GeoRealityMatch
Old stone structure with arched entrance surrounded by palm trees in Kingston, Jamaica.Serene view of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, shrouded in clouds and sunlight.

Jamaica

North America · Caribbean

High safetyModerate cost of livingHigh development
Safety

69th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.919lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#69 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
49.4per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
32.6Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$7,790national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
19.2New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 81% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 8% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$7.5K$15K$13,291 PPP$8,003Inflation, % a year25%0200620102015202020252006, $4,417 a person, $8,577 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2007, $4,716 a person, $8,893 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2008, $5,030 a person, $8,952 at PPP, inflation 22%2009, $4,428 a person, $8,580 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2010, $4,810 a person, $8,521 at PPP, inflation 12.6%2011, $5,233 a person, $8,809 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2012, $5,341 a person, $8,831 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2013, $5,124 a person, $9,101 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2014, $4,975 a person, $9,210 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2015, $5,339 a person, $9,476 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2016, $5,302 a person, $9,948 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2017, $5,605 a person, $10,466 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2018, $5,977 a person, $10,753 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2019, $6,031 a person, $10,845 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2020, $5,299 a person, $9,764 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2021, $5,626 a person, $10,431 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2022, $6,626 a person, $11,886 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2023, $7,542 a person, $12,661 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2024, $7,754 a person, $12,909 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2025, $8,003 a person, $13,291 at PPP, inflation 4%$0$7.5K$15KInflation, % a year25%0200620102015202020252006, $4,417 a person, $8,577 at PPP, inflation 8.6%2007, $4,716 a person, $8,893 at PPP, inflation 9.2%2008, $5,030 a person, $8,952 at PPP, inflation 22%2009, $4,428 a person, $8,580 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2010, $4,810 a person, $8,521 at PPP, inflation 12.6%2011, $5,233 a person, $8,809 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2012, $5,341 a person, $8,831 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2013, $5,124 a person, $9,101 at PPP, inflation 9.3%2014, $4,975 a person, $9,210 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2015, $5,339 a person, $9,476 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2016, $5,302 a person, $9,948 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2017, $5,605 a person, $10,466 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2018, $5,977 a person, $10,753 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2019, $6,031 a person, $10,845 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2020, $5,299 a person, $9,764 at PPP, inflation 5.2%2021, $5,626 a person, $10,431 at PPP, inflation 5.9%2022, $6,626 a person, $11,886 at PPP, inflation 10.3%2023, $7,542 a person, $12,661 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2024, $7,754 a person, $12,909 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2025, $8,003 a person, $13,291 at PPP, inflation 4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
71.6years, at birthModerate
#122 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
74WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
11.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
3.3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
85 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet85 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Serene view of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, shrouded in clouds and sunlight.
How it changed

Jamaica's Human Development Index

0.720High human development

117th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 18th of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #115Belize0.721
  2. #115Libya0.721
  3. #117Jamaica0.720
  4. #117Kyrgyzstan0.720
  5. #117Philippines0.720
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.662 in 1990 to 0.720 in 2023.

0.600.680.750.72019902000201020231990: 0.6621991: 0.6621992: 0.6641993: 0.6641994: 0.6641995: 0.6651996: 0.6641997: 0.6631998: 0.6621999: 0.6622000: 0.6592001: 0.6682002: 0.6722003: 0.6682004: 0.6842005: 0.6872006: 0.6962007: 0.7042008: 0.7112009: 0.7112010: 0.7082011: 0.7112012: 0.7112013: 0.7112014: 0.7122015: 0.7132016: 0.7142017: 0.7152018: 0.7152019: 0.7162020: 0.7112021: 0.7032022: 0.7182023: 0.7200.600.680.7519902000201020231990: 0.6621991: 0.6621992: 0.6641993: 0.6641994: 0.6641995: 0.6651996: 0.6641997: 0.6631998: 0.6621999: 0.6622000: 0.6592001: 0.6682002: 0.6722003: 0.6682004: 0.6842005: 0.6872006: 0.6962007: 0.7042008: 0.7112009: 0.7112010: 0.7082011: 0.7112012: 0.7112013: 0.7112014: 0.7122015: 0.7132016: 0.7142017: 0.7152018: 0.7152019: 0.7162020: 0.7112021: 0.7032022: 0.7182023: 0.720

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
71.6 years2024at birthUp 0.1 years from 71.5 years in 2005
Internet users
90%2024of people onlineUp 74 points from 16% in 2006
Urban population
59%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 6 points from 53% in 2006
Births per woman
1.352024births per womanDown 0.80 from 2.15 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
11%2021of energy usedUp 4 points from 6% in 2004
Access to electricity
98%2024of people with electricityUp 10 points from 88% in 2005
Infant mortality
162024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 17 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 1.1 t from 4 t in 2005
Forest area
56%2023of land under forestUp 7 points from 49% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Reggae's birthplace; high crime in Kingston, resort areas a world apart.

About Jamaica

Jamaica is a Caribbean island of volcanic mountains, waterfalls, white-sand beaches, and a cultural output that has influenced the world far beyond its size, from reggae and rastafari philosophy to rum and jerk cuisine. The people have a directness and expressiveness that is part of the island's character, and the music is everywhere, not as a performance for tourists but as a way of life. Those who want more than a beach will find layers of culture and landscape well worth exploring.

Practical facts

  • CapitalKingston
  • LanguagesEnglish, Jamaican Patois
  • CurrencyJamaican dollar (JMD)
  • Area10,830 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theleft
Weigh Jamaica against your priorities
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Everything we hold on Jamaica

Quick answers

What is Jamaica's Human Development Index?

Jamaica's Human Development Index is 0.720 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #117 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Jamaica safe?

Jamaica scores 1.92 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #69 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Jamaica?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Jamaica at 54.5 (New York = 100); that is #111 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Jamaica?

Life expectancy at birth in Jamaica is 71.6 yrs (World Bank), ranked #122 of 195 countries.