Jamaica Demographics

Population of Jamaica (2026)

View live population, charts & trends: Population of Jamaica

Jamaica Population
2,833,404
see live
Yearly Change
−0.13%
Global Share
0.03%
Global Rank

Median Age

The median age in Jamaica is 33.3 years (2026).

Fertility in Jamaica

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 represents the Replacement-Level Fertility : the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration. A value below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline


Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.33
(Live Births per Woman, 2026)

Life Expectancy in Jamaica

See also: Countries in the world ranked by Life Expectancy

Both Sexes
71.9
(life expectancy at birth, both sexes combined)
Females
74.4
(life expectancy at birth, females)
Males
69.3
(life expectancy at birth, males)


Infant Mortality Rate and Deaths of Children under 5 Years Old in Jamaica


Infant Mortality
14.7
(infant deaths per 1,000 live births)
Deaths under age 5
17.9
(per 1,000 live births)


Jamaica Urban Population

Currently, 59.9% of the population of Jamaica is urban (1,698,250 people in 2026)


Population Density

The 2026 population density in Jamaica is 262 people per km² (678 people per mi2), calculated on a total land area of 10,831 km² (4,182 sq. miles).

Largest Urban Places in Jamaica

The 30 largest of 74 urban places, ranked by population at the census of September 12, 2022 (by Statistical Institute of Jamaica).

RankUrban PlacePopulation
1Kingstonin: Kingston, St. Andrew & St. Thomas611,154
2Spanish Town168,900
3Portmore161,442
4Montego Bay118,013
5May Pen75,491
6Mandeville54,082
7Old Harbour52,294
8Ocho Riosin: St, Ann & St. Mary26,503
9Savanna-la-Mar22,004
10Falmouth21,570
11Port Antonio20,345
12Morant Bay17,792
13Barrett Townin: St. James & Trelawny17,169
14Yallahs16,635
15St. Ann's Bay16,226
16Linstead16,215
17Tower Isle13,840
18Negrilin: Westmoreland & Hanover13,779
19Junction13,152
20Drax Hall12,798
21Runaway Bay12,358
22Port Maria11,913
23Longville ParkFree Town, in: Clarendon & St. Catherine11,303
24Ewarton11,094
25Santa Cruz10,798
26Hayes10,664
27Grange Hill10,429
28Bog Walk10,261
29Oracabessa9,900
30Christiana9,706
See all 74 urban places in Jamaica

See also

Sources

Definitions

Population Pyramid

A Population pyramid (also called "Age-Sex Pyramid") is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population.

Types:

  • Expansive - pyramid with a wide base (larger percentage of people in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and high fertility rates) and narrow top (high death rate and lower life expectancies). It suggests a growing population. Example: Nigeria Population Pyramid
  • Constrictive - pyramid with a narrow base (lower percentage of younger people, indicating declining birth rates with each succeeding age group getting smaller than the previous one). Example: United States
  • Stationary - with a somewhat equal proportion of the population in each age group. The population is stable, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Stages:

Population pyramid stages

Dependency Ratio

There are three types of age dependency ratio: Youth, Elderly, and Total. All three ratios are commonly multiplied by 100.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Definition: population ages 0-15 divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 0-15] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Elderly dependency ratio

Definition: population ages 65-plus divided by the population ages 16-64.

Formula: ([Population ages 65-plus] ÷ [Population ages 16-64]) × 100

Total dependency ratio

Definition: sum of the youth and old-age ratios.

Formula: (([Population ages 0-15] + [Population ages 65-plus]) ÷ [Population ages 16-64] ) × 100

NOTE: Dependency Ratio does not take into account labor force participation rates by age group. Some portion of the population counted as "working age" may actually be unemployed or not in the labor force whereas some portion of the "dependent" population may be employed and not necessarily economically dependent.