Population: 2,652,689 (July 2000 est.)

Ethnic Groups: black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%

Languages: English, Creole (Patois)

Literacy*: total population 85%, male 80.8%, female 89.1% (1991 est.)

Government Type: constitutional parlimentary democracy 

Capital: Kingston

Independence: August 6, 1962 (from UK)

Political Parties and Leaders: Jamaica Labour Party or JLP [Edward Seaga]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Bruce Golding]; People's National Party or PNP [P.J. Patterson]

International Organization Participation: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,350 (1999 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer prices): 9.4% (1999 est.)

Exchange Rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 41.139 (December 1999), 39.044 (1999), 36.550 (1998), 35.404 (1997), 37.120 (1996), 35.142 (1995)

* based on age 15 and over has ever attended school

Information source: www.jis.gov.jm