Jamaica
Location:
Jamaica is the third largest island of the Greater Antilles of the West Indies, situated
south of Cuba.
Official Name:
Jamaica
Capital: Kingston
Land area (km2):
10,991
Coastline (km):
1,022
Maritime Boundaries (Nau. miles):
12 Territorial Sea, EEZ (Under discussion)
Area of Continental Shelf (km2):
1,863. The shelf area surrounding the Morant and Pedro
cays provides an additional 4,559 km2
Population Number (hab.):
2,496,000 (1994)
Capital (hab.):
587,798 (1990)
Population Growth (%):
1,0 (1990-1995)
Density (hab./km2): 227,1
(1994)
Coastal Population (hab.):
2,496,000
Language: English
Economy
Currency: Jamaican dollar
J$
Exchange Rate: 7,82
J$ = 1 US $ (1991)
Gross National Product:
US$ 3.678 million (1993)
Per capita income (US $):
1,440,0 (1993)
Fisheries: Jamaica
is a significant producer of fish and fishery products in the Caribbean but only
for internal consumption and not for export.
Oil and Gas: The
Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, through its subsidiary PETROJAM,
operates a refinery on the shores of Kingston harbor. It primarily supplies the
domestic market but small surpluses of fuel oil, diesel and asphalt are exported.
Maritime Transport & Harbors:
The principal ports are Kingston (general cargo, cement,
gypsum, oil), Montego Bay (general cargo, tourism, oil),
Portland Bight (bauxite, alumina, fuel oil, sugar), among
others.
Tourism: Tourism is
vital to the economy and provides a large portion of foreign-exchange
earning, with an steady increase in visitors arrivals and their expenditure. The annual
tourist receipts are US$ 740 million (1994).
Member of ONU, Commonwealth, CARICOM, OEA, IOCARIBE