https://www.humantruth.info/jamaica.html
By Vexen Crabtree 2013
Jamaica | ![]() |
---|---|
Status | Independent State |
Social and Moral Index | 71st best |
Capital | Kingston |
Land Area | 10 830km21 |
Location | North America, The Americas, The Caribbean |
Groupings | Small Islands |
Population | 2.9m2 |
Life Expectancy | 70.50yrs (2017)3 |
GNI | $8 834 (2017)4 |
ISO3166-1 Codes | JM, JAM, 3885 |
Internet Domain | .jm6 |
Currency | Dollar (JMD)7 |
Telephone | +8 |
“The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9
“Jamaica is a powerfully beautiful country, packed with extremes: experience flat beaches twinned to green mountains, electrifying Kingston and relaxed resorts, sweet reggae and slack dancehall. Jamaica, at first blush, is the Caribbean island many know best thanks to its relentless exposure - its music, dreadlocks, dancehall and beaches.
But did you know there are Chinese Jamaicans and Jewish Jamaicans and white Jamaicans who speak patois as fluently as downtown Kingston yardies? Jamaica, perhaps more than any other Caribbean nation, also keeps one foot rooted in Africa. From the evolution of African folk music into reggae, or the shifting of African spice rubs into delicious jerk, it´s rewarding to see how the Jamaican cultural story retains its original voice whilst adapting it to the setting - and of course, rhythms - of the Caribbean.
Understand the above and you can better appreciate the good, red Jamaican soil; the respect Jamaicans have for life and nature; and the meaning `One Love´ has in a place like the Kingston ghettoes. To know Jamaica, experience it. As locals say, `Rock-stone a river naah know sun hot´. That´s patois for `experience brings knowledge,´ and so much more so on an island that can express such simple proverbs so beautifully.”
#economics #human_development #wealth
UN HDI (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better Value11 | |
1 | Switzerland | 0.962 |
2 | Norway | 0.961 |
3 | Iceland | 0.959 |
... | ||
107= | St Lucia | 0.715 |
108 | Guyana | 0.714 |
109 | S. Africa | 0.713 |
110 | Jamaica | 0.709 |
111 | Samoa | 0.707 |
112= | Gabon | 0.706 |
112= | Lebanon | 0.706 |
114 | Indonesia | 0.705 |
The Americas Avg | 0.75 | |
World Avg | 0.72 | |
q=191. |
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better PPP $11 | |
1 | Liechtenstein | $146 830 |
2 | Singapore | $90 919 |
3 | Qatar | $87 134 |
... | ||
112 | Lebanon | $9 526 |
113 | Bhutan | $9 438 |
114 | Philippines | $8 920 |
115 | Jamaica | $8 834 |
116 | Guatemala | $8 723 |
117 | Namibia | $8 634 |
118 | El Salvador | $8 296 |
119 | Bolivia | $8 111 |
The Americas Avg | $16 628 | |
World Avg | $20 136 | |
q=193. |
Social & Moral Development Index12 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank12 | |
1 | Denmark | 27.0 |
2 | Norway | 29.9 |
3 | Sweden | 31.8 |
... | ||
68 | Ecuador | 78.6 |
69 | Northern Cyprus | 79.1 |
70 | Turkey | 79.2 |
71 | Jamaica | 79.3 |
72 | Panama | 80.9 |
73 | UAE | 81.0 |
74 | Kosovo | 81.0 |
75 | Bahamas | 81.6 |
The Americas Avg | 81.5 | |
World Avg | 88.6 | |
q=199. |
The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..
The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.
#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen
Population:
Jamaica's population is predicted to fall to 2 842 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 1.34. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13Population2 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Population2 | |
1 | China | 1.4b |
2 | India | 1.4b |
3 | USA | 327.1m |
... | ||
134 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3.3m |
135 | Mongolia | 3.2m |
136 | Armenia | 3.0m |
137 | Jamaica | 2.9m |
138 | Albania | 2.9m |
139 | Lithuania | 2.8m |
140 | Qatar | 2.8m |
141 | Namibia | 2.4m |
World Avg | 39.0m | |
q=195. |
Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
108 | El Salvador | 70.7 |
109 | Micronesia | 70.7 |
110 | Venezuela | 70.6 |
111 | Jamaica | 70.5 |
112 | Belize | 70.5 |
113 | Vanuatu | 70.4 |
114 | Iraq | 70.4 |
115 | Solomon Islands | 70.3 |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202214 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
111 | Bahamas | 1.38 |
112 | Albania | 1.38 |
113 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1.35 |
114 | Jamaica | 1.34 |
115 | Micronesia | 2.67 |
116 | Canada | 1.33 |
117 | Marshall Islands | 2.67 |
118= | Mauritius | 1.32 |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per 10015 | |
1 | Uganda | 04.3 |
2 | Mali | 04.5 |
3= | Chad | 04.7 |
... | ||
119 | St Lucia | 19.9 |
120= | Brazil | 19.9 |
121 | Argentina | 20.3 |
122 | Jamaica | 21.0 |
123 | Lebanon | 21.1 |
124 | Trinidad & Tobago | 21.9 |
125 | Bahamas | 22.4 |
126 | Costa Rica | 22.6 |
World Avg | 18.3 | |
q=185. |
Migration:
Immigrants16 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 %16 | |
1 | UAE | 88.4% |
2 | Kuwait | 75.5% |
3 | Qatar | 65.2% |
... | ||
160 | Bangladesh | 0.9% |
161 | Tanzania | 0.9% |
162 | Mozambique | 0.8% |
163 | Jamaica | 0.8% |
164 | El Salvador | 0.7% |
165 | Laos | 0.7% |
166 | Nicaragua | 0.7% |
167 | Nigeria | 0.6% |
World Avg | 9.4% | |
q=195. |
Emigrants17 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2010 %17 | |
1 | Dominica | 104.8% |
2 | Palestine | 68.4% |
3 | Samoa | 67.3% |
... | ||
14 | Palau | 38.8% |
15 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 37.7% |
16 | Cape Verde | 37.6% |
17 | Jamaica | 36.1% |
18 | Armenia | 28.2% |
19 | Trinidad & Tobago | 26.7% |
20 | Malta | 26.2% |
21 | Georgia | 25.1% |
World Avg | 11.5% | |
q=192. |
#antisemitism #atheism #christianity #equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #Jamaica #jamaica_antisemitism #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank18 | |
1 | Sweden | 6.1 |
2 | Denmark | 8.6 |
3 | Norway | 9.0 |
... | ||
51 | Ukraine | 63.6 |
52 | Serbia | 63.7 |
53 | Mauritius | 63.7 |
54 | Jamaica | 64.1 |
55 | S. Africa | 64.3 |
56 | Panama | 64.4 |
The Americas Avg | 71.80 | |
World Avg | 86.55 | |
q=199. |
For tables, charts and commentary, see:
#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #jamaica #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines
Compared to The Americas (2025)28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank28 | |
1 | Greenland | 34.3 |
2 | Curaço | 49.7 |
3 | Aruba | 49.9 |
... | ||
25 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 89.3 |
26 | Colombia | 94.5 |
27 | Ecuador | 95.3 |
28 | Jamaica | 95.4 |
29 | Panama | 95.6 |
30 | St Lucia | 96.0 |
31 | Mexico | 98.0 |
32 | El Salvador | 101.3 |
33 | Peru | 101.8 |
The Americas Avg | 92.66 | |
q=44. |
Health (2025)28 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank28 | |
1 | Monaco | 14.3 |
2 | Liechtenstein | 30.1 |
3 | Isle of Man | 32.1 |
... | ||
110 | Saudi Arabia | 94.9 |
111 | Myanmar (Burma) | 94.9 |
112 | Ecuador | 95.3 |
113 | Jamaica | 95.4 |
114 | Panama | 95.6 |
115 | St Lucia | 96.0 |
116 | India | 96.5 |
117 | Fiji | 96.7 |
World Avg | 96.74 | |
q=212. |
The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria29.
21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans29, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia29.
For more, see:
Health:
Jamaica has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Jamaica does better than average for its alcohol consumption rate30 and in its adolescent birth rate31. When it comes to most other metrics, Jamaica does not do well. It does worse than average in its smoking rate32, its average life expectancy11, its fertility rate14 and in its immunizations take-up33. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance34. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Jamaica was static between 1990 and 2019, whereas almost all of the rest of the world improved. In the 2010s, Jamaica was one of only 12 countries that saw their life expectancy drop, although only by a small amount. Jamaica is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 5.85 in 1967.Life Expectancy Higher is better11 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years11 | |
1 | Monaco | 85.9 |
2 | Hong Kong | 85.5 |
3 | Japan | 84.8 |
... | ||
108 | El Salvador | 70.7 |
109 | Micronesia | 70.7 |
110 | Venezuela | 70.6 |
111 | Jamaica | 70.5 |
112 | Belize | 70.5 |
113 | Vanuatu | 70.4 |
114 | Iraq | 70.4 |
115 | Solomon Islands | 70.3 |
The Americas Avg | 72.58 | |
World Avg | 71.28 | |
q=195. |
Alcohol Consumption Lower is better30 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 Per Capita30 | |
1 | Bangladesh | 0.0 |
2 | Kuwait | 0.0 |
3 | Libya | 0.0 |
... | ||
67= | UAE | 3.8 |
68 | N. Korea | 3.9 |
69 | Honduras | 4.0 |
70 | Jamaica | 4.2 |
71 | Sri Lanka | 4.3 |
72= | Bahamas | 4.4 |
72= | Ecuador | 4.4 |
74 | Bolivia | 4.8 |
The Americas Avg | 6.9 | |
World Avg | 6.2 | |
q=189. |
Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202214 | |
1 | US Virgin Islands | 2.00 |
2 | Ecuador | 2.00 |
3 | Nepal | 2.01 |
... | ||
111 | Bahamas | 1.38 |
112 | Albania | 1.38 |
113 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1.35 |
114 | Jamaica | 1.34 |
115 | Micronesia | 2.67 |
116 | Canada | 1.33 |
117 | Marshall Islands | 2.67 |
118= | Mauritius | 1.32 |
The Americas Avg | 1.80 | |
World Avg | 2.47 | |
q=208. |
Smoking Rates Lower is better32 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201432 | |
1 | Guinea | 15 |
2 | Solomon Islands | 26 |
3 | Kiribati | 28 |
... | ||
93 | Oman | 577 |
94 | Malaysia | 584 |
95 | Seychelles | 590 |
96 | Jamaica | 593 |
97 | N. Korea | 610 |
98 | Fiji | 618 |
99 | Cambodia | 645 |
100 | Equatorial Guinea | 649 |
The Americas Avg | 457 | |
World Avg | 819 | |
q=182. |
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Sweden | 1 |
2 | Ireland | 2 |
3 | Denmark | 3 |
... | ||
144 | Marshall Islands | 144 |
145 | Botswana | 145 |
146 | Samoa | 146 |
147 | Jamaica | 147 |
148 | Togo | 148 |
149 | Tonga | 149 |
150 | Nigeria | 150 |
151 | St Lucia | 151 |
The Americas Avg | 94.3 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Overweight Adults Lower is better35 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2016 %35 | |
1 | Vietnam | 18.3 |
2 | India | 19.7 |
3 | Bangladesh | 20.0 |
... | ||
96= | St Vincent & Grenadines | 55.0 |
96= | Solomon Islands | 55.0 |
98 | Denmark | 55.4 |
99 | Jamaica | 55.5 |
100 | Mongolia | 55.6 |
101= | Honduras | 55.8 |
101= | Estonia | 55.8 |
103 | Guatemala | 55.9 |
The Americas Avg | 57.4 | |
World Avg | 49.0 | |
q=191. |
Children's Health:
Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better31 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Per 100031 | |
1 | Hong Kong | 1.6 |
2 | Denmark | 1.8 |
3 | S. Korea | 2.1 |
... | ||
85 | Georgia | 29.7 |
86 | Thailand | 31.6 |
87 | Tuvalu | 31.7 |
88 | Jamaica | 32.0 |
89 | Grenada | 32.1 |
90 | Rwanda | 32.2 |
91 | Antigua & Barbuda | 32.3 |
92 | Myanmar (Burma) | 32.8 |
The Americas Avg | 48.1 | |
World Avg | 43.8 | |
q=195. |
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better33 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2015 Avg %33 | |
1= | Hungary | 99.0 |
1= | China | 99.0 |
3 | Uzbekistan | 98.9 |
... | ||
114 | Moldova | 91.5 |
115 | Iceland | 91.5 |
116 | Trinidad & Tobago | 91.4 |
117 | Jamaica | 90.9 |
118 | Burkina Faso | 90.6 |
119 | Nepal | 90.1 |
120 | Montenegro | 89.9 |
121 | Zimbabwe | 89.7 |
The Americas Avg | 91.3 | |
World Avg | 88.3 | |
q=194. |
#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #jamaica #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism
Compared to The Americas (2025)36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank36 | |
1 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
2 | Puerto Rico | 47.1 |
3 | Costa Rica | 49.7 |
... | ||
20 | Venezuela | 86.1 |
21 | Canada | 87.2 |
22 | Guyana | 87.4 |
23 | Jamaica | 88.6 |
24 | Paraguay | 91.0 |
25 | Belize | 91.3 |
26 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 92.0 |
27 | Trinidad & Tobago | 94.5 |
28= | St Kitts & Nevis | 96.9 |
The Americas Avg | 92.66 | |
q=36. |
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)36 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank36 | |
1 | Sri Lanka | 34.9 |
2 | Uruguay | 43.2 |
3 | Switzerland | 45.0 |
... | ||
114 | Guyana | 87.4 |
115 | Gabon | 87.9 |
116 | Croatia | 88.5 |
117 | Jamaica | 88.6 |
118 | Fiji | 89.1 |
119 | Czechia | 89.3 |
120 | Malaysia | 89.5 |
121 | Lithuania | 89.5 |
World Avg | 84.93 | |
q=199. |
All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.
The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.
For more, see:
Jamaica is positioned 117th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 5 data sets. Jamaica does better than average in terms of its forested percent change 2000-202037 and in its environmental performance38. And finally, it does worse than average in reducing annual meat consumption per person39, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in energy to GDP efficiency40.Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better37 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total37 | |
1 | Guernsey | 82.6% |
2 | Bahrain | 75.2% |
3 | Iceland | 64.7% |
... | ||
20 | Chile | 14.6% |
21 | Cape Verde | 14.6% |
22 | Azerbaijan | 14.2% |
23 | Jamaica | 14.1% |
24 | Italy | 13.8% |
25 | Fiji | 12.9% |
26 | France | 12.5% |
27 | Moldova | 11.9% |
The Americas Avg | -2.1% | |
World Avg | -0.1% | |
q=234. |
From 2010 to 2020, Jamaica restored some of its forest cover, adding 7%. It done about the same amount during the previous decade, adding up to a commendable project and setting a good example.
Environmental Performance Higher is better38 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201838 | |
1 | Switzerland | 87.4 |
2 | France | 84.0 |
3 | Denmark | 81.6 |
... | ||
75 | Malaysia | 59.2 |
76 | Antigua & Barbuda | 59.2 |
77 | UAE | 58.9 |
78 | Jamaica | 58.6 |
79 | Namibia | 58.5 |
80 | Iran | 58.2 |
81 | Belize | 57.8 |
82 | Philippines | 57.7 |
The Americas Avg | 58.8 | |
World Avg | 56.4 | |
q=180. |
Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better40 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Avg40 | |
1 | Rwanda | 0.25 |
2 | Chad | 0.26 |
3 | Tanzania | 0.31 |
... | ||
139 | Saudi Arabia | 1.76 |
140 | Serbia | 1.79 |
141 | Paraguay | 1.79 |
142 | Jamaica | 1.83 |
143 | Moldova | 1.88 |
144 | S. Africa | 1.97 |
145 | Kuwait | 2.02 |
146 | Barbados | 2.04 |
The Americas Avg | 1.42 | |
World Avg | 1.23 | |
q=165. |
International Accords on the Environment Higher is better | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Total Avg Rate | |
1 | Sweden | 83% |
2 | Canada | 82% |
3 | Norway | 81% |
... | ||
128 | Dominica | 54% |
129 | Barbados | 54% |
130 | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 53% |
131 | Jamaica | 53% |
132 | Mali | 53% |
133 | Burundi | 53% |
134 | Iceland | 53% |
135 | Samoa | 52% |
The Americas Avg | 60.7% | |
World Avg | 57.5% | |
q=197. |
Meat Consumption Lower is better39 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 kg39 | |
1 | Congo, DR | 03.0 |
2 | Burundi | 03.5 |
3 | Bangladesh | 04.3 |
... | ||
110 | Costa Rica | 62.2 |
111 | China | 63.6 |
112 | Uruguay | 62.8 |
113 | Jamaica | 63.4 |
114 | Slovakia | 63.5 |
115 | China | 63.6 |
116 | Netherlands | 63.8 |
117 | Malaysia | 65.3 |
The Americas Avg | 70.3 | |
World Avg | 52.5 | |
q=185. |
#cameroon #capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #education #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #jamaica #life_expectancy #modernity #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet
Compared to The Americas (2020)41 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank41 | |
1= | Canada | 21.8 |
2 | USA | 26.4 |
3 | Argentina | 38.2 |
... | ||
24= | Panama | 87.1 |
25 | Venezuela | 89.0 |
26 | Belize | 89.1 |
27 | Jamaica | 94.6 |
28 | Paraguay | 103.1 |
29 | Suriname | 106.6 |
30 | El Salvador | 109.2 |
31 | Nicaragua | 121.4 |
32 | Guatemala | 121.5 |
The Americas Avg | 81.34 | |
q=35. |
Modernity & Learning (2020)41 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Lower is better Avg Rank41 | |
1 | Finland | 7.1 |
2 | Belgium | 12.9 |
3 | Denmark | 13.6 |
... | ||
109 | Palestine | 91.6 |
110 | Mongolia | 91.7 |
111 | Indonesia | 93.3 |
112 | Jamaica | 94.6 |
113 | Kenya | 96.4 |
114 | Botswana | 96.5 |
115 | Morocco | 97.9 |
116 | Samoa | 99.8 |
World Avg | 86.31 | |
q=190. |
The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark42. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone42. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots43.
“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)44
15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe42, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia42.
For more, see:
Modernity and Education:
Secondary Education Higher is better45 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201845 | |
1= | Luxembourg | 100.0% |
1= | Estonia | 100.0% |
1= | Austria | 100.0% |
... | ||
81 | Qatar | 67.5% |
82 | Mauritius | 66.9% |
83 | Oman | 66.4% |
84 | Jamaica | 66.3% |
85 | Egypt | 65.3% |
86 | Argentina | 64.8% |
87 | Greece | 64.8% |
88 | Guyana | 63.3% |
The Americas Avg | 63.0% | |
World Avg | 63.0% | |
q=169. |
Length of Schooling Higher is better46 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2021 Years46 | |
1 | Australia | 21.1 |
2 | New Zealand | 20.3 |
3 | Greece | 20.0 |
... | ||
93 | S. Africa | 13.6 |
94 | Macedonia | 13.6 |
95 | Azerbaijan | 13.5 |
96 | Jamaica | 13.4 |
97 | Sao Tome & Principe | 13.4 |
98 | Palestine | 13.4 |
99 | Malaysia | 13.3 |
100 | Dominica | 13.3 |
The Americas Avg | 14.2 | |
World Avg | 13.5 | |
q=193. |
Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Ukraine | 1 |
2 | Czechia | 2 |
3 | Hungary | 3 |
... | ||
74 | Chile | 74 |
75 | Argentina | 75 |
76 | Costa Rica | 76 |
77 | Jamaica | 77 |
78 | Colombia | 78 |
79 | Liberia | 79 |
80 | Kyrgyzstan | 80 |
81 | Saudi Arabia | 81 |
The Americas Avg | 99.8 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
IQ Higher is better47 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 200647 | |
1= | Hong Kong | 108 |
1= | Singapore | 108 |
3 | S. Korea | 106 |
... | ||
107= | Kenya | 72 |
107= | S. Africa | 72 |
109 | Zambia | 71 |
110= | Jamaica | 71 |
110= | Ghana | 71 |
112 | Namibia | 70 |
113= | Togo | 70 |
113= | Botswana | 70 |
The Americas Avg | 85.3 | |
World Avg | 85.6 | |
q=138. |
Technology and Information:
Internet Users Higher is better48 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201648 | |
1 | Iceland | 100% |
2 | Faroe Islands | 99% |
3 | Norway | 98% |
... | ||
111= | Belize | 45% |
112 | Ukraine | 44% |
113 | Philippines | 44% |
114 | Jamaica | 43% |
115 | Ecuador | 43% |
116 | Thailand | 43% |
117= | Mauritius | 43% |
117= | Cape Verde | 43% |
The Americas Avg | 56.4% | |
World Avg | 48.1% | |
q=201. |
IPv6 Uptake Higher is better49 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Ratio49 | |
1 | Belgium | 55.4 |
2 | Germany | 41.8 |
3 | Switzerland | 35.1 |
... | ||
169= | Cuba | 0.0 |
169= | St Vincent & Grenadines | 0.0 |
169= | Montenegro | 0.0 |
169= | Libya | 0.0 |
169= | Jamaica | 0.0 |
169= | Fiji | 0.0 |
169= | Jordan | 0.0 |
169= | Barbados | 0.0 |
The Americas Avg | 3.36 | |
World Avg | 3.82 | |
q=176. |
Digital Quality of Life Higher is better50 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 202450 | |
1 | Germany | 77.9% |
2 | Finland | 76.9% |
3 | France | 73.9% |
... | ||
82 | Tunisia | 40.4% |
83 | Bangladesh | 40.3% |
84 | Kyrgyzstan | 39.5% |
85 | Jamaica | 38.9% |
86 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | 38.8% |
87 | Trinidad & Tobago | 38.1% |
88 | Ghana | 37.9% |
89 | Kenya | 37.4% |
The Americas Avg | 44.7% | |
World Avg | 48.4% | |
q=121. |
Of the 121 countries examined, Jamaica has the 2nd most expensive internet access (after Cameroon), even for the cheapest speeds51.
National Culture:
On the Corruption Index, Jamaica scored on average 38.8 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 5.2 points.World Giving Index Higher is better52 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 %52 | |
1 | Indonesia | 68.0 |
2 | Kenya | 61.0 |
3 | USA | 59.0 |
... | ||
21= | Poland | 47.0 |
22 | Serbia | 46.0 |
23= | Netherlands | 46.0 |
23= | Jamaica | 46.0 |
23= | Russia | 46.0 |
23= | Iceland | 46.0 |
23= | Honduras | 46.0 |
23= | Mongolia | 46.0 |
The Americas Avg | 43.7 | |
World Avg | 39.6 | |
q=125. |
Corruption Higher is better53 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2022 Points53 | |
1 | Denmark | 90.0 |
2= | Finland | 87.0 |
2= | New Zealand | 87.0 |
... | ||
66 | Sao Tome & Principe | 45.0 |
67= | Montenegro | 45.0 |
67= | Cuba | 45.0 |
69 | Jamaica | 44.0 |
70= | Oman | 44.0 |
70= | Bahrain | 44.0 |
72 | Senegal | 43.0 |
73= | S. Africa | 43.0 |
The Americas Avg | 42.97 | |
World Avg | 42.98 | |
q=180. |
Happiness Higher is better54 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2024 Score54 | |
1 | Finland | 7.7 |
2 | Denmark | 7.5 |
3 | Iceland | 7.5 |
... | ||
70 | Trinidad & Tobago | 5.9 |
71 | Montenegro | 5.9 |
72= | Croatia | 5.9 |
72= | Jamaica | 5.9 |
74 | Bolivia | 5.9 |
75 | Kyrgyzstan | 5.9 |
76 | Dominican Rep. | 5.8 |
77 | Mongolia | 5.8 |
The Americas Avg | 6.31 | |
World Avg | 5.58 | |
q=147. |
Creativity & Culture Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Belgium | 1 |
2 | Netherlands | 2 |
3 | Estonia | 3 |
... | ||
83 | Guatemala | 83 |
84 | Cape Verde | 84 |
85 | Morocco | 85 |
86 | Jamaica | 86 |
87 | Senegal | 87 |
88 | Indonesia | 88 |
89 | Cambodia | 89 |
90 | Peru | 90 |
The Americas Avg | 80.2 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Ireland | 1 |
2 | Denmark | 2 |
3 | Sweden | 3 |
... | ||
143 | Tanzania | 143 |
144 | St Vincent & Grenadines | 144 |
145 | Samoa | 145 |
146 | Jamaica | 146 |
147 | Syria | 147 |
148 | Iran | 148 |
149 | India | 149 |
150 | Cameroon | 150 |
The Americas Avg | 100.5 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Peace Versus Instability:
Global Peace Index Lower is better55 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 Score55 | |
1 | Iceland | 1.12 |
2 | Denmark | 1.31 |
3 | Ireland | 1.31 |
... | ||
74 | Malawi | 1.97 |
75 | UAE | 1.98 |
76 | Kazakhstan | 1.98 |
77 | Jamaica | 1.99 |
78 | Bolivia | 2.00 |
79 | Nepal | 2.01 |
80 | China | 2.01 |
81 | Tunisia | 2.01 |
The Americas Avg | 2.13 | |
World Avg | 2.07 | |
q=163. |
Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Samoa | 1 |
2 | S. Africa | 2 |
3 | Tunisia | 3 |
... | ||
71 | Spain | 71 |
72 | USA | 72 |
73 | Cyprus | 73 |
74 | Jamaica | 74 |
75 | Guyana | 75 |
76 | Fiji | 76 |
77 | Iceland | 77 |
78 | Turkey | 78 |
The Americas Avg | 82.3 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better34 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2017 Rank34 | |
1 | Austria | 1 |
2 | Germany | 2 |
3 | Netherlands | 3 |
... | ||
83 | Sierra Leone | 83 |
84 | Israel | 84 |
85 | Tanzania | 85 |
86 | Jamaica | 86 |
87 | Nicaragua | 87 |
88 | Niger | 88 |
89 | India | 89 |
90 | Cameroon | 90 |
The Americas Avg | 91.5 | |
World Avg | 82.0 | |
q=163. |
Impact of Terrorism Lower is better56 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2019 Score56 | |
1 | Togo | 0.00 |
2 | Mongolia | 0.00 |
3 | Swaziland | 0.00 |
... | ||
41= | Cyprus | 0.42 |
42 | Lithuania | 0.46 |
43= | Sierra Leone | 0.46 |
44 | Jamaica | 0.47 |
45 | Poland | 0.48 |
46 | Gabon | 0.55 |
47 | Malawi | 0.66 |
48 | Azerbaijan | 0.70 |
The Americas Avg | 2.16 | |
World Avg | 2.78 | |
q=150. |
Economic Inequality and Poverty:
Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better57 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 201957 | |
1 | Iceland | 2.40 |
2= | Singapore | 2.50 |
2= | Hong Kong | 2.50 |
... | ||
76 | Mauritius | 9.40 |
77= | Seychelles | 9.60 |
77= | Moldova | 9.60 |
79 | Jamaica | 10.00 |
80= | Samoa | 10.00 |
81 | Tonga | 10.40 |
82 | Mexico | 10.50 |
83= | St Lucia | 10.60 |
The Americas Avg | 12.03 | |
World Avg | 14.59 | |
q=184. |
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better58 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2023 %58 | |
1 | Slovakia | 24.1%59 |
2 | Slovenia | 24.3%59 |
3 | Belarus | 24.4%60 |
... | ||
116 | Suriname | 39.2%61 |
117 | Morocco | 39.5%62 |
118 | Micronesia | 40.1%62 |
119 | Jamaica | 40.2%59 |
120 | Peru | 40.3%61 |
121 | Tanzania | 40.5%63 |
122 | Uruguay | 40.6%61 |
123= | Argentina | 40.7%61 |
The Americas Avg | 44.0% | |
World Avg | 36.5% | |
q=167. |
Income inequality data is rarely available for Jamaica - only for 8 years between 1980 and 2019.
Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better64 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | 2018 Severity64 | |
1 | Armenia | .001 |
2 | Ukraine | .001 |
3 | Serbia | .001 |
... | ||
25 | Brazil | .01665 |
26 | Belize | .017 |
27 | Ecuador | .018 |
28 | Jamaica | .018 |
29 | Paraguay | .019 |
30 | Vietnam | .019 |
31 | Egypt | .019 |
32 | Colombia | .020 |
The Americas Avg | .045 | |
World Avg | .154 | |
q=101. |
#atheism #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #Jamaica #judaism #religion #religion_in_jamaica
Disbelief In God (2007)66 | ||
---|---|---|
Pos. | Higher is better %66 | |
1 | Vietnam | 81 |
2 | Japan | 65 |
3 | Sweden | 64 |
... | ||
62= | Lebanon | 3 |
62= | Congo, (Brazzaville) | 3 |
62= | Poland | 3 |
62= | Jamaica | 3 |
62= | India | 3 |
67 | Angola | 2 |
68= | Chile | 2 |
68= | Central African Rep. | 2 |
68= | Tajikistan | 2 |
68= | Turkmenistan | 2 |
68= | Indonesia | 2 |
73 | Paraguay | 1 |
74= | Nicaragua | 1 |
74= | Bolivia | 1 |
74= | Colombia | 1 |
74= | Costa Rica | 1 |
World Avg | 9.9 | |
q=137. |
Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below67:
Christian | 77.2% |
Muslim | 0.1% |
Hindu | 0.1% |
Buddhist | 0.1% |
Folk Religion | 4.5% |
Jewish | 0.1% |
Unaffiliated | 17.2% |
The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%, Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)68.
Freedom of Religion and Belief: Jamaica's 19th-century blasphemy law was removed in 2013, putting some historical prejudice to bed27. Although Jamaica's Constitution protects freedom of religion (Section 17)27, it causes discrimination against the non-religious and against atheists; for example, public officials must all swear an oath to God27, which therefore makes it illegal for atheists to take up those jobs. Government activity includes explicit Christian engagements with no opening for other faiths and no consideration for those who have no religion27.
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