PEOPLE
Arawaks
from South America had settled in Jamaica prior to Christopher
Columbus' first arrival at the island in 1494. During Spain's
occupation of the island, starting in 1510, the Arawaks were exterminated
by disease, slavery, and war. Spain brought the first African
slaves to Jamaica in 1517. In 1655, British forces seized the
island, and in 1670, Great Britain gained formal possession.
Sugar
made Jamaica one of the most valuable possessions in the world
for more than 150 years. The British Parliament abolished slavery
as of August 1, 1834. After a long period of direct British colonial
rule, Jamaica gained a degree of local political control in the
late 1930s, and held its first election under full universal adult
suffrage in 1944. Jamaica joined nine other U.K. territories in
the West Indies Federation in 1958 but withdrew after Jamaican
voters rejected membership in 1961. Jamaica gained independence
in 1962, remaining a member of the Commonwealth.
Historically, Jamaican emigration has been heavy. Since the United Kingdom restricted emigration in 1967, the major flow has been to the United States and Canada. About 20,000 Jamaicans emigrate to the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually. New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the U.S. cities with a significant Jamaican population. Remittances from the expatriate communities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, estimated at up to $1.6 billion per year, make increasingly significant contributions to Jamaica's economy.
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Jamaican(s).
Population (2006 est.): 2,673,800.
Annual growth rate (2006): 1.5%.
Ethnic groups: African 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, Chinese 0.2%, White 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%.
Religious affiliation: Anglican, Baptist and other Protestant, Roman Catholic, Rastafarian, Jewish.
Languages: English, Patois.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 14. Literacy (age 15 and over)--79.9%.
Health (2005): Infant mortality rate--19.2/1,000. Life expectancy--female 75 yrs., male 73 yrs.
Work force (2006, 1.25 million): Industry--17.1%; agriculture--17.9%; services--64.9%.
