Topic: Photos of Honduras

Topic: Introduction
Background: Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded, despite COVID and severe storm-related setbacks in 2020 and 2021.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 112,090 sq km

land: 111,890 sq km

water: 200 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,575 km

border countries (3): Guatemala 244 km; El Salvador 391 km; Nicaragua 940 km
Coastline: 823 km (Caribbean Sea 669 km, Gulf of Fonseca 163 km)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation: highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 684 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 45.3% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 900 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Caratasca - 1,110 sq km
Population distribution: most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Geography - note: has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
Map description: Honduras map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean.Honduras map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 9,459,440 (2022 est.)

note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s)

adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical/Protestant 48%, Roman Catholic 34%, other 1%, none 17% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has one of the world's highest murder rates. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low. Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s and is now 1.2% annually with a birth rate that averages 2.1 children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Honduras' young adult population - ages 15 to 29 - is projected to continue growing rapidly for the next three decades and then stabilize or slowly shrink. Population growth and limited job prospects outside of agriculture will continue to drive emigration. Remittances represent about a fifth of GDP.Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and has one of the world's highest murder rates. More than half of the population lives in poverty and per capita income is one of the lowest in the region. Poverty rates are higher among rural and indigenous people and in the south, west, and along the eastern border than in the north and central areas where most of Honduras' industries and infrastructure are concentrated. The increased productivity needed to break Honduras' persistent high poverty rate depends, in part, on further improvements in educational attainment. Although primary-school enrollment is near 100%, educational quality is poor, the drop-out rate and grade repetition remain high, and teacher and school accountability is low.Honduras' population growth rate has slowed since the 1990s and is now 1.2% annually with a birth rate that averages 2.1 children per woman and more among rural, indigenous, and poor women. Honduras' young adult population - ages 15 to 29 - is projected to continue growing rapidly for the next three decades and then stabilize or slowly shrink. Population growth and limited job prospects outside of agriculture will continue to drive emigration. Remittances represent about a fifth of GDP.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 1,411,537/female 1,377,319)

15-24 years: 21.03% (male 969,302/female 972,843)

25-54 years: 37.79% (male 1,657,260/female 1,832,780)

55-64 years: 5.58% (male 233,735/female 281,525)

65 years and over: 5.4% (2020 est.) (male 221,779/female 277,260)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.2

youth dependency ratio: 47.5

elderly dependency ratio: 7.7

potential support ratio: 13 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 24.4 years

male: 23.5 years

female: 25.2 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.19% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 17.92 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.68 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; unlike other Central American nations, Honduras is the only one with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers - the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area
Urbanization: urban population: 59.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.527 million TEGUCIGALPA (capital), 956,000 San Pedro Sula (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.3 years (2011/12 est.)

note: median age a first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 65 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 15.08 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 12.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.17 years

male: 71.63 years

female: 78.82 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 73.2% (2011/12)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 90.7% of population

total: 96.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 9.3% of population

total: 3.9% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.7% of population

rural: 87.9% of population

total: 93% of population

unimproved: urban: 3.3% of population

rural: 12.1% of population

total: 7% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 22,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1000
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.4% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7.1% (2011/12)
Education expenditures: 4.9% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.5%

male: 88.2%

female: 88.7% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years

male: 10 years

female: 11 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.8%

male: 11.1%

female: 27.7% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 20.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 9.81 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 7.72 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Land use: agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 4% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 45.3% (2018 est.)

other: 25.9% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 59.6% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.91% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,162,028 tons (2016 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Caratasca - 1,110 sq km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 315 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 114 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.178 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 92.164 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Honduras

conventional short form: Honduras

local long form: Republica de Honduras

local short form: Honduras

etymology: the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Tegucigalpa; note - article eight of the Honduran constitution states that the twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela, jointly, constitute the capital of the Republic of Honduras; however, virtually all governmental institutions are on the Tegucigalpa side, which in practical terms makes Tegucigalpa the capital

geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

etymology: while most sources agree that Tegucigalpa is of Nahuatl derivation, there is no consensus on its original meaning
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982

amendments: proposed by the National Congress with at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Congress in its next annual session; constitutional articles, such as the form of government, national sovereignty, the presidential term, and the procedure for amending the constitution, cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2021
Legal system: civil law system
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIERREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; CASTRO is Honduras' first female president

head of government: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022); Vice Presidents Salvador NASRALLA, Doris GUTIERREZ, and Renato FLORENTINO (since 27 January 2022)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term; election last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held in 30 November 2025); note - in 2015, the Constitutional Chamber of the Honduran Supreme Court struck down the constitutional provisions on presidential term limits

election results:
2021: Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya elected president; percent of vote - Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (LIBRE) 51.1%, Nasry Juan ASFURA Zablah (PNH) 36.9%, Yani Benjamin ROSENTHAL Hidalgo (PL) 10%, other 2%

2017: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 43%, Salvador NASRALLA (Alianza de Oposicion contra la Dictadura) 41.4%, Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano (PL) 14.7%, other 0.9%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 28 November 2021 (next to be held on 30 November 2025)

election results: percent of vote by party - LIBRE 39.8%, PNH 31.3%, PL 16.4%, PSH 10.9%, DC 0.8%, PAC 0.8%; seats by bloc or party - LIBRE 51, PNH 40, PL 21, PSH 14, DC 1, PAC 1; composition - men 93, women 35, percent of women 27.3%

note: seats by bloc or party as of 1 May 2022 - LIBRE 50, PNH 44, PL 22, PSH 10, DC 1, PAC 1
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 principal judges, including the court president, and 7 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, constitutional, and labor chambers); note - the court has both judicial and constitutional jurisdiction

judge selection and term of office: court president elected by his peers; judges elected by the National Congress from candidates proposed by the Nominating Board, a diverse 7-member group of judicial officials and other government and non-government officials nominated by each of their organizations; judges elected by Congress for renewable, 7-year terms

subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace
Political parties and leaders: Anti-Corruption Party or PAC [Julio LOPEZ]
Christian Democratic Party or DC [Carlos PORTILLO]
Democratic Liberation of Honduras or Liderh [Lempira VIANA]
Democratic Unification Party or UD [Alfonso DIAZ]
The Front or El Frente [Kelin PEREZ]
Honduran Patriotic Alliance or AP [Romeo VASQUEZ Velasquez]
Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Guillermo VALLE]
Liberal Party or PL [Yani Benjamin ROSENTHAL Hidalgo]
Liberty and Refoundation Party or LIBRE [Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales]
National Party of Honduras or PNH [Juan Nasry ASFURA]
New Route or NR [Esdras Amado LOPEZ]
Opposition Alliance against the Dictatorship or Alianza de Oposicion contra la Dictadura [Salvador NASRALLA] (electoral coalition)
Savior Party of Honduras or PSH [Salvador Alejandro Cesar NASRALLA Salum]
Vamos or Let’s Go [Jose COTO]
We Are All Honduras (Todos Somos Honduras) or TSH [Marlon Oniel ESCOTO Valerio]
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended), IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

chancery: 1220 19th Street NW, Suite #320, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702

FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751

email address and website:
https://hondurasembusa.org/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

consulate(s): Dallas, McAllen (TX)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Laura F. DOGU (since 12 April 2022)

embassy: Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa M.D.C.

mailing address: 3480 Tegucigalpa Place, Washington DC  20521-3480

telephone: [504] 2236-9320,

FAX: [504] 2236-9037

email address and website:
usahonduras@state.gov

https://hn.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of cerulean blue (top), white, and cerulean blue, with five cerulean, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water and the peace and prosperity of its people

note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
National symbol(s): scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer; national colors: blue, white
National anthem: name: "Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras)

lyrics/music: Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING

note: adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Maya Site of Copan (c); Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (n)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high underemployment. While historically dependent on the export of bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to include apparel and automobile wire harnessing.   Honduras’s economy depends heavily on US trade and remittances. The US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2006 and has helped foster foreign direct investment, but physical and political insecurity, as well as crime and perceptions of corruption, may deter potential investors; about 15% of foreign direct investment is from US firms.   The economy registered modest economic growth of 3.1%-4.0% from 2010 to 2017, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. In 2017, Honduras faced rising public debt, but its economy has performed better than expected due to low oil prices and improved investor confidence. Honduras signed a three-year standby arrangement with the IMF in December 2014, aimed at easing Honduras’s poor fiscal position.Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America, suffers from extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, as well as high underemployment. While historically dependent on the export of bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to include apparel and automobile wire harnessing. Honduras’s economy depends heavily on US trade and remittances. The US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in 2006 and has helped foster foreign direct investment, but physical and political insecurity, as well as crime and perceptions of corruption, may deter potential investors; about 15% of foreign direct investment is from US firms. The economy registered modest economic growth of 3.1%-4.0% from 2010 to 2017, insufficient to improve living standards for the nearly 65% of the population in poverty. In 2017, Honduras faced rising public debt, but its economy has performed better than expected due to low oil prices and improved investor confidence. Honduras signed a three-year standby arrangement with the IMF in December 2014, aimed at easing Honduras’s poor fiscal position.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $50.89 billion (2020 est.)

$55.91 billion (2019 est.)

$54.46 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4.8% (2017 est.)

3.8% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $5,100 (2020 est.)

$5,700 (2019 est.)

$5,700 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $25.145 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (2019 est.)

4.3% (2018 est.)

3.9% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: B1 (2017)

Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2017)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.)

industry: 28.8% (2017 est.)

services: 57% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 77.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 13.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 43.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -58.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, bananas, maize, coffee, melons, oranges, poultry, beans
Industries: sugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 3.735 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 39.2%

industry: 20.9%

services: 39.8% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (2017 est.)

6.3% (2016 est.)

note: about one-third of the people are underemployed
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.8%

male: 11.1%

female: 27.7% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 52.1 (2018 est.)

45.7 (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2%

highest 10%: 38.4% (2014)
Budget: revenues: 4.658 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 5.283 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 39.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

38.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$380 million (2017 est.)

-$587 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $7.16 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.14 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 53%, El Salvador 8%, Guatemala 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: clothing and apparel, coffee, insulated wiring, bananas, palm oil (2019)
Imports: $11.5 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$11.78 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 42%, China 10%, Guatemala 8%, El Salvador 8%, Mexico 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, clothing and apparel, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, insulated wiring (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.708 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.814 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $9.137 billion (2019 est.)

$8.722 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -

23.74 (2017 est.)

22.995 (2016 est.)

22.995 (2015 est.)

22.098 (2014 est.)

21.137 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 81% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 91% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 68% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.991 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 8,140,480,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 540 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 787 million kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 3.16 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 46.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 10.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 24.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 8.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 25,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 25,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 66,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 12,870 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 56,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.523 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 61,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 8.462 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 19.8 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 531,763 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,960,654 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Honduras is among the poorest countries in Central America and has long been plagued by an unstable political framework which has rendered telecom sector reform difficult; fixed-line teledensity, at only 4.9%, is significantly lower than the Latin American and Caribbean average; poor fixed-line infrastructure has been exacerbated by low investment and topographical difficulties which have made investment in rural areas unattractive or uneconomical; the internet has been slow to develop; DSL and cable modem technologies are available but are relatively expensive, while higher speed services are largely restricted to the major urban centers; the demand for broadband is steadily increasing and there has been some investment in network upgrades to fiber-based infrastructure; these factors have encouraged consumer take-up of mobile services, a sector where there is lively competition supported by international investment; mobile subscriptions are substantially below the regional average; revenue growth from the mobile sector looks promising in coming years as companies invest in their networks, expand their reach and upgrade their capabilities to accommodate mobile broadband services; mobile data as a proportion of overall mobile revenue has increased steadily, though low-end SMS services will continue to account for the bulk of data revenue for some years; political developments during the last few years have not facilitated the much-needed reform of legislation governing the telecoms sector; regulator frees up 3.5GHz fequencies for mobile use; Tigo and Amazon Web Services partner to offer cloud services.   (2021)

domestic: private sub-operators allowed to provide fixed lines in order to expand telephone coverage contributing to a fixed-line teledensity of slightly over 5 per 100; mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 70 per 100 persons (2020)

international: country code - 504; landing points for both the ARCOS and the MAYA-1 fiber-optic submarine cable systems that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased servicesHonduras is among the poorest countries in Central America and has long been plagued by an unstable political framework which has rendered telecom sector reform difficult; fixed-line teledensity, at only 4.9%, is significantly lower than the Latin American and Caribbean average; poor fixed-line infrastructure has been exacerbated by low investment and topographical difficulties which have made investment in rural areas unattractive or uneconomical; the internet has been slow to develop; DSL and cable modem technologies are available but are relatively expensive, while higher speed services are largely restricted to the major urban centers; the demand for broadband is steadily increasing and there has been some investment in network upgrades to fiber-based infrastructure; these factors have encouraged consumer take-up of mobile services, a sector where there is lively competition supported by international investment; mobile subscriptions are substantially below the regional average; revenue growth from the mobile sector looks promising in coming years as companies invest in their networks, expand their reach and upgrade their capabilities to accommodate mobile broadband services; mobile data as a proportion of overall mobile revenue has increased steadily, though low-end SMS services will continue to account for the bulk of data revenue for some years; political developments during the last few years have not facilitated the much-needed reform of legislation governing the telecoms sector; regulator frees up 3.5GHz fequencies for mobile use; Tigo and Amazon Web Services partner to offer cloud services.
Broadcast media: multiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by multiple cable TV networks; Radio Honduras is the lone government-owned radio network; roughly 300 privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .hn
Internet users: total: 4,159,935 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 42% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 396,916 (2020)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 26

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 251,149 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 450,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HR
Airports: total: 103 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 90

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 16

under 914 m: 73 (2021)
Railways: total: 699 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 164 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

115 km 1.057-mm gauge
420 km 0.914-mm gauge
Roadways: total: 14,742 km (2012)

paved: 3,367 km (2012)

unpaved: 11,375 km (2012) (1,543 km summer only)

note: an additional 8,951 km of non-official roads used by the coffee industry
Waterways: 465 km (2012) (most navigable only by small craft)
Merchant marine: total: 505

by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 244, oil tanker 82, other 178 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army (Ejercito), Honduran Naval Force (FNH; includes marines), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH), Honduran Military Police of Public Order (PMOP); Security Secretariat: Public Security Forces (includes Honduran National Police paramilitary units) (2022)

note: the PMOP was created in 2013 to support the Honduran National Police (HNP) against narcotics trafficking and organized crime; since its creation, the PMOP’s role in internal security has expanded; it was used against election protesters in 2017, for example, and it has been accused of human rights violations; as of 2022, the PMOP was composed of 8 battalions of military personnel (approximately 5,000 troops) who had undergone some police training; it reported to military authorities but conducted operations sanctioned by both civilian security officials and military leaders
Military expenditures: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $510 million)

1.6% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $500 million)

1.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $510 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 16,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,500 Navy, including about 1,000 marines; 2,000 Air Force; 5,000 Military Police of Public Order); approximately 18,000 National Police (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FFAA's inventory is comprised of mostly older imported equipment from Israel, the UK, and the US; since 2010, Honduras has received limited amounts of military equipment from several countries, including Colombia, Israel, and the Netherlands (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary 2- to 3-year military service (men and women); no conscription (2022)

note: as of 2017, women made up over 4% of the active duty military
Military - note: the armed forces, including the PMOP, are subordinate to the Secretariat of Defense, while the HNP reports to the Secretariat of Security; the National Interinstitutional Security Force is an interagency command that coordinates the overlapping responsibilities of the HNP, PMOP, National Intelligence Directorate, and Public Ministry (public prosecutor), but exercises coordination, command, and control responsibilities only during interagency operations involving those forces (2022)

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala DifferendumInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims the Belizean-administered Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize in its constitution, but agreed to a joint ecological park around the cays should Guatemala consent to a maritime corridor in the Caribbean under the OAS-sponsored 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 247,000 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs between 2004 and 2018) (2021)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States and precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs; some experimental coca cultivationtransshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States and precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs; some experimental coca cultivation


This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).

Topic: Afghanistan-1.9% (2016 est.)

Topic: Albania6.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Algeria0.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: American SamoaNA

Topic: AndorraNA

Topic: Angola2.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Anguilla4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda6.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Argentina2.7% (2017 est.)

note: based on private sector estimates

Topic: Armenia5.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: ArubaNA

Topic: Australia1.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Austria6.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan-3.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The5.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bahrain0.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bangladesh10.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Barbados2.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Belarus5.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Belgium0.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Belize-0.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Benin3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bermuda2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bhutan6.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bolivia2.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Botswana-4.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Brazil0% (2017 est.)

Topic: British Virgin Islands1.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Brunei1.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Bulgaria3.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso10.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Burma8.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Burundi-2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde2.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cambodia10.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cameroon3.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Canada4.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cayman Islands2.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Central African Republic3.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Chad-4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Chile-0.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: China6.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Colombia-2.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Comoros1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the1.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the-3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cook Islands1% (2002)

Topic: Costa Rica1.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire4.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Croatia1.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Cuba-1.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: CuracaoNA

Topic: Cyprus13.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Czechia7.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Denmark2.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Djibouti2.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Dominica-13% (2017 est.)

Topic: Dominican Republic3.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Ecuador-0.6% (2017 est.)

note: excludes oil refining

Topic: Egypt3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: El Salvador3.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea-6.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Eritrea5.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Estonia9.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Eswatini5.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia10.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: European Union3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA

Topic: Faroe Islands3.4% (2009 est.)

Topic: Fiji2.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Finland6.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: France2% (2017 est.)

Topic: French PolynesiaNA

Topic: Gabon1.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The-0.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Gaza Strip2.2% (2017 est.)

note: see entry for the West Bank

Topic: Georgia6.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Germany3.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Ghana16.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: GibraltarNA

Topic: Greece3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: GreenlandNA

Topic: Grenada10% (2017 est.)

Topic: GuamNA

Topic: Guatemala1.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: GuernseyNA

Topic: Guinea11% (2017 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau2.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Guyana-5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Haiti0.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Honduras4.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Hong Kong1.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Hungary7.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Iceland2.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: India5.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Indonesia4.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Iran3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Iraq0.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Ireland7.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Israel3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Italy2.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Jamaica0.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Japan1.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: JerseyNA

Topic: Jordan1.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Kazakhstan5.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Kenya3.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Kiribati1.1% (2012 est.)

Topic: Korea, North1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Korea, South4.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Kosovo1.2% (2016 est.)

Topic: Kuwait2.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan10.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Laos8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Latvia10.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Lebanon-21.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Lesotho12.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Liberia9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Libya60.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: LiechtensteinNA

Topic: Lithuania5.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg1.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Macau2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Madagascar5.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Malawi1.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Malaysia5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Maldives14% (2012 est.)

Topic: Mali6.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Malta-3.3% (2016 est.)

Topic: Marshall IslandsNA

Topic: Mauritania1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Mauritius3.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Mexico-0.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA

Topic: Moldova3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Monaco6.8% (2015)

Topic: Mongolia-1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Montenegro-4.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Montserrat-21% (2017 est.)

Topic: Morocco2.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Mozambique4.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Namibia-0.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: NauruNA

Topic: Nepal12.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Netherlands3.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: New Caledonia3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: New Zealand1.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Nicaragua3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Niger6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Nigeria2.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: NiueNA

Topic: North Macedonia-7.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA

Topic: Norway1.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Oman-3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Pakistan5.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: PalauNA

Topic: Panama6.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Papua New Guinea3.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Paraguay2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Peru2.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Philippines7.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Poland7.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Portugal3.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Puerto Rico-2.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Qatar3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Romania5.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Russia-1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Rwanda4.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Saint Lucia6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Samoa-1.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: San Marino-1.1% (2012 est.)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Saudi Arabia-2.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Senegal7.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Serbia3.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Seychelles2.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Sierra Leone15.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Singapore5.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Slovakia2.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Slovenia8.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Solomon Islands3.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Somalia3.5% (2014 est.)

Topic: South Africa1.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Spain4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Sri Lanka4.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Sudan4.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Suriname1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Sweden4.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Switzerland3.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Syria4.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Taiwan3.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Tajikistan1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Tanzania12% (2017 est.)

Topic: Thailand1.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Togo5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Tonga5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago-4.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Tunisia0.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)9.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Turkmenistan1% (2017 est.)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Tuvalu-26.1% (2012 est.)

Topic: Uganda4.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: Ukraine3.1% (2017 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates1.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: United Kingdom3.4% (2017 est.)

Topic: United States2.3% (2017 est.)

Topic: Uruguay-3.6% (2017 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan4.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Vanuatu4.5% (2017 est.)

Topic: Venezuela-2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Vietnam8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Virgin IslandsNA

Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA

Topic: West Bank2.2% (2017 est.)

note: includes Gaza Strip

Topic: World3.2% (2017 est.)

Topic: Yemen8.9% (2017 est.)

Topic: Zambia4.7% (2017 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe0.3% (2017 est.)


Topic: Photos of Jamaica

Topic: Introduction
Background: 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 withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence 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, corruption, the COVID-19 pandemic, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 10,991 sq km

land: 10,831 sq km

water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,022 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation: highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 18 m
Natural resources: bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
Land use: agricultural land: 41.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 9.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.1% (2018 est.)

other: 27.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
Geography - note: third largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola); strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
Map description: Jamaica map showing major population centers of this island nation in the Caribbean Sea.Jamaica map showing major population centers of this island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,818,596 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Jamaican(s)

adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups: Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)
Languages: English, English patois
Religions: Protestant 64.8% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 12.0%, Pentecostal 11.0%, Other Church of God 9.2%, New Testament Church of God 7.2%, Baptist 6.7%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.5%, Anglican 2.8%, United Church 2.1%, Methodist 1.6%, Revived 1.4%, Brethren 0.9%, and Moravian 0.7%), Roman Catholic 2.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.9%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.5%, none 21.3%, unspecified 2.3% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.2% (male 360,199/female 347,436)

15-24 years: 17.95% (male 255,102/female 248,927)

25-54 years: 38.06% (male 518,583/female 550,410)

55-64 years: 9.63% (male 133,890/female 136,442)

65 years and over: 9.17% (2020 est.) (male 121,969/female 135,612)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48

youth dependency ratio: 34.6

elderly dependency ratio: 13.4

potential support ratio: 7.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 29.4 years

male: 28.6 years

female: 30.1 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.08% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 15.91 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Urbanization: urban population: 57% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 595,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.2 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio: 80 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 11.17 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 12.43 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.75 years

male: 73.98 years

female: 77.6 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.3% of population

rural: 93.9% of population

total: 96.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population

rural: 6.1% of population

total: 3.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 6.1% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.6% of population

rural: 99.4% of population

total: 98.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.4% of population

rural: 0.6% of population

total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.4% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 32,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1,000
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.7% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 9.4% (2020 est.)

male: 15% (2020 est.)

female: 3.8% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.4% (2016)
Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 88.7%

male: 84%

female: 93.1% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years

male: 11 years

female: 13 years (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 20.6%

male: 16.8%

female: 25.4% (2019 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston from vehicle emissions; land erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 13.25 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 8.23 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 1.08 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Land use: agricultural land: 41.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 9.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.1% (2018 est.)

other: 27.5% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 57% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.15% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,051,695 tons (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 140 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 1.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 114 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 10.823 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Jamaica

etymology: from the native Taino word "haymaca" meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Kingston

geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name is a blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the English king at the time of the city's founding in 1692 was William III (r. 1689-1702)
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland

note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation
Independence: 6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Constitution: history: several previous (preindependence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)

amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections, such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections, such as fundamental rights and freedoms, requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2017
Legal system: common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)

head of government:  Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (21 seats; 13 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and 8 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the opposition party leader; members serve 5-year terms (no term limits) or until Parliament is dissolved)
House of Representatives (63 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms (no term limits) or until Parliament is dissolved)

elections: Senate - last full slate of appointments early on 3 September 2020 (next full slate in 2025)
House of Representatives - last held on 3 September 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition (as of June 2021) - men 13, women 8, percent of women 38.1%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - JLP 57%, PNP 42.8%, independent 0.2%; seats by party - JLP 48, PNP 15; composition (as of June 2021) - men 45, women 18; percent of women 28.6%; note - total Parliament percent of women 31%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of president of the court and a minimum of 4 judges); Supreme Court (40 judges organized in specialized divisions); note - appeals beyond Jamaica's highest courts are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) rather than to the Caribbean Court of Justice (the appellate court for member states of the Caribbean Community)

judge selection and term of office: chief justice of the Supreme Court and president of the Court of Appeal appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister; other judges of both courts appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; judges of both courts serve till age 70

subordinate courts: resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts
Political parties and leaders: Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew Michael HOLNESS]
Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP [Gilbert EDWARDS]
People's National Party or PNP [Mark GOLDING]
United Independents' Congress or UIC [Joseph PATTERSON]Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Andrew Michael HOLNESS]
Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP [Gilbert EDWARDS]
People's National Party or PNP [Mark GOLDING]
United Independents' Congress or UIC [Joseph PATTERSON]
International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Audrey Patrice MARKS (since 18 January 2017)

chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660

FAX: [1] (202) 452-0036

email address and website:
firstsec@jamaicaembassy.org

http://www.embassyofjamaica.org/

consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

consulate(s): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Concord (MA), Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Richmond (VA), San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador N. Nickolas PERRY (since 13 May 2022)

embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

mailing address: 3210 Kingston Place, Washington DC  20521-3210

telephone: (876) 702-6000 (2018)

FAX: (876) 702-6348 (2018)

email address and website:
KingstonACS@state.gov

https://jm.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side); green represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects hardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden sunshine and the island's natural resources
National symbol(s): green-and-black streamertail (bird), Guaiacum officinale (Guaiacwood); national colors: green, yellow, black
National anthem: name: "Jamaica, Land We Love"

lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE

note: adopted 1962
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Blue and John Crow Mountains

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for more than 70% of GDP. The country derives most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Earnings from remittances and tourism each account for 14% and 20% of GDP, while bauxite/alumina exports have declined to less than 5% of GDP.   Jamaica's economy has grown on average less than 1% a year for the last three decades and many impediments remain to growth: a bloated public sector which crowds out spending on important projects; high crime and corruption; red-tape; and a high debt-to-GDP ratio. Jamaica, however, has made steady progress in reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio from a high of almost 150% in 2012 to less than 110% in 2017, in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The current IMF Stand-By Agreement requires Jamaica to produce an annual primary surplus of 7%, in an attempt to reduce its debt burden below 60% by 2025.   Economic growth reached 1.6% in 2016, but declined to 0.9% in 2017 after intense rainfall, demonstrating the vulnerability of the economy to weather-related events. The HOLNESS administration therefore faces the difficult prospect of maintaining fiscal discipline to reduce the debt load while simultaneously implementing growth inducing policies and attacking a serious crime problem. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence fueled by advanced fee fraud (lottery scamming) and the drug trade.The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which accounts for more than 70% of GDP. The country derives most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Earnings from remittances and tourism each account for 14% and 20% of GDP, while bauxite/alumina exports have declined to less than 5% of GDP. Jamaica's economy has grown on average less than 1% a year for the last three decades and many impediments remain to growth: a bloated public sector which crowds out spending on important projects; high crime and corruption; red-tape; and a high debt-to-GDP ratio. Jamaica, however, has made steady progress in reducing its debt-to-GDP ratio from a high of almost 150% in 2012 to less than 110% in 2017, in close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The current IMF Stand-By Agreement requires Jamaica to produce an annual primary surplus of 7%, in an attempt to reduce its debt burden below 60% by 2025. Economic growth reached 1.6% in 2016, but declined to 0.9% in 2017 after intense rainfall, demonstrating the vulnerability of the economy to weather-related events. The HOLNESS administration therefore faces the difficult prospect of maintaining fiscal discipline to reduce the debt load while simultaneously implementing growth inducing policies and attacking a serious crime problem. High unemployment exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence fueled by advanced fee fraud (lottery scamming) and the drug trade.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $25.89 billion (2020 est.)

$28.83 billion (2019 est.)

$28.57 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 0.7% (2017 est.)

1.5% (2016 est.)

0.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $8,700 (2020 est.)

$9,800 (2019 est.)

$9,700 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $15.847 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (2019 est.)

3.7% (2018 est.)

4.3% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2019)

Moody's rating: B2 (2019)

Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7% (2017 est.)

industry: 21.1% (2017 est.)

services: 71.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 81.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 13.7% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 30.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -47.1% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, goat milk, yams, poultry, coconuts, oranges, bananas, gourds, plantains, grapefruit
Industries: agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 1.113 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 16.1%

industry: 16%

services: 67.9% (2017)
Unemployment rate: 7.72% (2019 est.)

9.13% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 20.6%

male: 16.8%

female: 25.4% (2019 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.1% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35 (2016)

38 (2015)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%

highest 10%: 29.3% (2015)
Budget: revenues: 4.382 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 4.314 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 101% of GDP (2017 est.)

113.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 29.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: -$298 million (2019 est.)

-$288 million (2018 est.)
Exports: $5.92 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.79 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 32%, Netherlands 11%, Germany 9%, Canada 7%, Iceland 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: bauxite, refined petroleum, aluminum, rum, fruits, nuts (2019)
Imports: $8.25 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.89 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 43%, China 11% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, natural gas, packaged medicines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.781 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$2.719 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $13.876 billion (2019 est.)

$13.912 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -

128.36 (2017 est.)

125.14 (2016 est.)

125.126 (2015 est.)

116.898 (2014 est.)

110.935 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 99% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 97% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.216 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 3,050,780,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.149 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 87.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 61,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 82,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 61,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 20,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 24,250 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 823 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 30,580 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

consumption: 693.422 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 667.115 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 10.002 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 9.276 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 549,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 49.7 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 436,249 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,873,259 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Jamaica’s telecom sector has for many years been propped up by the mobile sector, which accounts for the vast majority of internet connections and voice lines; it also accounts for just over half of telecom sector revenue; the merger between Digicel and Claro’s Jamaican business in 2012 strengthened Digicel’s position in the market, but in recent quarters Digicel Group’s financial difficulties have caused it considerable problems; the Group has considered selling off its units in the Pacific region, while it has renegotiated a number of bonds to reduce its debt to about $5.8 billion; assets have been placed under the management of a newly created holding company; both Digicel and its only rival, Flow (supported by its new owner Liberty Global), have extended their LTE networks across the island, particularly during the pandemic in response to a sharp increase in data traffic; the 700MHz licensee Symbiote Investments, trading as Caricel Jamaica, had its license revoked at the end of 2018 due to breaches of the terms of the Telecommunications Act. The UK-based Privy Council in August 2020 refused Caricel’s application for permission to appeal the revocation of its telecom licenses; to fill the gap in the market, a new operator, Rock Mobile, was licensed in May 2021, with obligations to provide 95% population coverage within two years; in December 2020, the government announced the rollout of a national broadband network costing up to $237 million; the funding will be spent on improving connectivity in under served areas, improving access to education, and deploying networks to public locations such as hospitals, municipal institutions, and police stations; to aid in this national broadband effort, the government received a donation of 650km of fiber cabling from local cable TV providers and the two main toll road operators; to encourage the use of digital channels as the country deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, companies such as Scotiabank have given their customers zero-rated data access to mobile banking applications, while Digicel Jamaica has subsidized data plans and zero-rated data access to some educational platforms and websites. (2021)

domestic: fixed-line subscriptions nearly 15 per 100, cellular-mobile roughly 97 per 100 subscriptions (2020)

international: country code - 1-876 and 1-658; landing points for the ALBA-1, CFX-1, Fibralink, East-West, and Cayman-Jamaican Fiber System submarine cables providing connections to South America, parts of the Caribbean, Central America and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .jm
Internet users: total: 1,621,552 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 55% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 385,603 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 0 (2020)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 6Y
Airports: total: 28 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 5 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 16 (2021)
Roadways: total: 22,121 km (2011) (includes 44 km of expressways)

paved: 16,148 km (2011)

unpaved: 5,973 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 43

by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 5, general cargo 9, oil tanker 1, other 27 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Discovery Bay (Port Rhoades), Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rocky Point

container port(s) (TEUs): Kingston (1,647,609) (2019)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Jamaica Defense Force (JDF): Jamaica Regiment (Ground Forces), Maritime-Air-Cyber Command (includes Coast Guard, Air Wing, Military Intelligence Unit, Special Activities Regiment, and Military Cyber Corps), Support Brigade (logistics, engineers, health service, and military police); Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) (2022)

note: both the JDF and JCF are under the Ministry of National Security
Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $300 million)

1.4% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $260 million)

1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $190 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 4,000 active duty personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Jamaica Defense Force is lightly armed with a limited inventory featuring equipment mostly from Europe and the US (2022)
Military service age and obligation: no conscription; 18-23 for voluntary military service (17 with parental consent; 18-28 for the reserves); since 2017, the JDF's standard mode of recruitment is to enroll recruits ages 18-23 through the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC); in the JNSC, soldiers receive basic military, vocational, and life skills training; upon completion of 1-year of service, soldiers can continue on with the JDF or seek other opportunities with law enforcement (2022)
Military - note: as of 2022, the JDF’s primary missions were maritime/border and internal security, including support to police operations to combat crime and violence

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified
Illicit drugs: the largest Caribbean source of marijuana which is trafficked to other Caribbean countries for illegal weapons and other contraband; transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America to North America and other international markets