Jamaica Country Assessment

amaica Context

Jamaica is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean spanning approximately 1 million hectares in size – 82 km wide by 234 km long––and is more than 2 256 metres at its highest point, Blue Mountain Peak. Its varied topography and climate allow for a diversity of habitats and growing conditions. The island is located in the Atlantic Ocean hurricane belt and has been subjected to significant damage and loss of lives from a succession of hurricanes and tropical storms. The population, approximately 2.7 million with an average annual growth rate of 0.3 per cent, is projected to not exceed 3.0 million by 2030.

According to most assessments, Jamaica has undergone significant social, political and economic changes over the past three years. Jamaica is a highly indebted middle income country which recently graduated to the status of upper middle income country after several years of straddling the lower-upper middle income threshold. Jamaica’s HDI value for 2011 is 0.727—in the high human development category—positioning the country at 79 out of 187 countries and territories. Between 1980 and 2011, Jamaica’s HDI value increased from 0.607 to 0.727, an increase of 20.0 per cent or average annual increase of about 0.6 per cent1,2. The 2009 National Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report highlighted that Jamaica has made good progress in eight out of the 14 targets for 2015. The country has achieved universal primary education and has reduced absolute poverty, malnutrition and hunger. The country is also on track in a number of areas including combating HIV/AIDS, halting and reversing the incidence of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis, access to reproductive health, and provision of safe drinking water and basic sanitation.