Population and Demographics of Jamaica
Population broadly stable in 2024 · median age 32 years
The current population picture in Jamaica starts with 2.84 million people and -0.02% annual change, and its age structure leaves 73.09% of residents in the 15-to-64 group. The medium projection reaches 2.46 million in 2050, placing the mid-century total 13.5% below 2024.
Population Over Time in Jamaica
Since 2000, Jamaica's population has grown from 2.608M to 2.839M, a net shift of about 0.23 million. The UN medium projection places 2050 at 2.455M, about 13.5% below the 2024 reference point. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Jamaica's demographic structure is mixed when the 2024 population is divided into the three broad age groups. Children under 15 make up 18.70% of the population, compared with 8.21% aged 65 or older, and 73.09% are 15 to 64. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
In the World Bank 2024 series, females account for 50.6% of Jamaica's population and males 49.4%. Females exceed males by 1.2 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 50.6% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.4% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Two current indicators frame Jamaica: -0.02% annual population change and fertility at 1.4, while 18.70% are children, 73.09% are 15 to 64 and 8.21% are older adults.
Jamaica's population path over 2000 to 2024 records +8.9% change, with a further -13.5% indicated under the 2050 medium scenario; births, deaths and migration are not apportioned here without a dedicated component series.
2024 estimate for Jamaica. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Jamaica vs. World
A same-year comparison shows Jamaica at -0.02% annual growth, 1.4 children per woman and a median age of 32, against world values of +0.87%, 2.25 and 30.6.
| Indicator | Jamaica | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | -0.02% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.4 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 32 | 30.6 | 2024 |
All three comparison rows use 2024 values from the same harmonized country table. That table attributes its demographic series to UN World Population Prospects 2024, so no different-year values are mixed into this comparison.
Key Takeaways
At 2.839M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of -0.02%.
Age structure is a key feature of the profile: 18.70% are under 15 and 8.21% are 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 50.6% female and 49.4% male.
The 2050 medium projection is 2.455M, 13.5% below the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Jamaica?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Jamaica is 2,839,175 people.
Is the population of Jamaica growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Jamaica's population is broadly stable, with annual change of -0.02%.
What percentage of the population of Jamaica is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 8.21% of Jamaica's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Jamaica in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Jamaica's 2050 population at 2,454,940.
What is the fertility rate in Jamaica?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Jamaica is 1.4 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.