Jamaica Population 2024
Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. It’s the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). As per the UN World Population Prospects report, the population of Jamaica in 2024 is 2,824,738 (2.8 million).
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Estimated Population of Jamaica in 2024 – 2.8 million
Jamaica | 2024 Estimates |
Total Population | 2,824,738 |
Caribbean Rank | 5 |
Sovereignty | Independent |
Land Area | 10,831 sq. km (4,182 sq. mi) |
Area Rank | 160 |
Pop. Density | 273 people/sq. km |
Capital City | Kingston |
Source: UN World Population Prospects
Religion in Jamaica
Jamaica has a multitude of faiths reflecting the island’s diverse cultural elements. Christianity is the majority religion and is followed by 69% of the population. 21.30% of Jamaicans declared themselves to be Non-religious and 2% claimed to be Unspecified
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, followed by 1.90% of the population. Various faiths and traditional religious practices derived from Africa are also practiced on the island, notably Kumina, Convince, Myal, and Obeah.
Other religions in Jamaica include Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and members of the Baháʼí Faith.
Religion/Affiliations | Percentage |
Christians | 69% |
– Protestant | – 64.80% |
– Roman Catholics | – 2.20% |
– Jehovah’s Witness | – 1.90% |
Rastafari | 1.10% |
Other Religion | 6.50% |
No Religion | 21.30% |
Unspecified | 2% |
Christianity in Jamaica
Christianity is the majority religion and Protestantism is the most prevalent professed faith followed by Catholics. Among Christians, 65% are Protestants; Roman Catholics are just 2% of the population. Jehovah’s Witnesses were also followed by the (1.90% population).
Jamaican Protestantism is composed of several denominations: 24% Church of God, 11% Seventh-day Adventist, 10% Pentecostal, 7% Baptist, 4% Anglican, 2% United Church, 2% Methodist, 1% Moravian and 1% Brethren Christian.
Ethnicity in Jamaica
Jamaica is a diverse-ethnic nation. Most of the population are of African or partially African descent, with many being able to trace their origins to the West African countries of Ghana and Nigeria. Other major ancestral areas are Europe, South Asia, and East Asia. The racial composition is as follows
Ethnic group | % |
Black or Black Mixed | 92.10% |
Mixed non-Black | 6.10% |
Indo-Jamaican | 0.80% |
Others | 0.40% |
Unspecified | 0.70% |
Black or Afro-Jamaicans
Afro-Jamaicans are Jamaicans of predominantly or partial Sub-Saharan African descent. They represent the largest ethnic group in the country. A study in 2020 showed that Jamaicans of African descent represent 76.3% of the population, followed by 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% East Indian and Afro-East Indian, 3.2% Caucasian, 1.2% Chinese, and 0.8% other.
Asians
Asians form the second-largest group and include Indo-Jamaicans and Chinese Jamaicans. Most are descended from indentured workers brought by the British colonial government to fill labour shortages following the abolition of slavery in 1838. The southwestern parish of Westmoreland is famous for its large population of Indo-Jamaicans.
Europeans
The majority of European ancestry comes from the English. Other European nationalities with significant influx include Germans, Irish, Portuguese, Poles, and Scots. There is also a small European Jewish community.
There are about 20,000 Jamaicans who have Lebanese and Syrian ancestry.
Others
In recent years immigration has increased, coming mainly from China, Haiti, Cuba, Colombia, and Latin America.
Top Cities in Jamaica by Population
# | City | Population |
1 | Kingston | 661,862 |
2 | Portmore | 182,153 |
3 | Spanish Town | 147,152 |
4 | Montego Bay | 110,115 |
5 | May Pen | 61,548 |
6 | Mandeville | 49,695 |
7 | Old Harbour | 28,912 |
8 | Savanna-la-Mar | 22,633 |
9 | Ocho Rios | 16,671 |
10 | Linstead | 15,231 |