Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Jamaica
References & Edit History Facts & Stats
Images, Videos & Interactives
Jamaica Map showing the location of Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea, positioned south of Cuba and west of Haiti, with neighboring countries and territories such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Central American nations labeled. Jamaica is highlighted with its capital, Kingston, marked. Port Antonio, Jamaica Map of Jamaica showing its boundaries, major cities, and towns including Kingston, Montego Bay, Spanish Town, and Mandeville. The map is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and includes a small locator inset showing Jamaica's position in the Caribbean region. Map of Jamaica highlighting major physical features, including mountain ranges such as the Blue Mountains and Dry Harbour Mountains, key peaks like Blue Mountain Peak and Dolphin Head, plains, rivers, and coastal points. Surrounding bodies of water including the Caribbean Sea, Bluefields Bay, and Kingston Harbour are labeled. An inset locator map shows Jamaica's position in the Caribbean. Blue Mountains Jamaica: Martha Brae River Jamaica: Ethnic composition Jamaica: Religious affiliation
At a Glance
default image
Jamaica summary
Quizzes
Flags of all countries of the world. Flags of the world. National flags. Country flags. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, geography and travel, explore discovery
The Country Quiz
7:023 Geography: Think of Something Big, globe showing Africa, Europe, and Eurasia
Which Country Is Larger By Area? Quiz
Flags of the world against blue sky. Countries, International. Globalization, global relations, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Poland, Palestine, Japan. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
Which Country Is Larger By Population? Quiz
Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map.
Which Country Is Larger? Quiz
Opened passport with visas, stamps, seals, world map. (travel, tourism)
Guess the Country by Its Neighbors Quiz
Related Questions
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
print Print
Please select which sections you would like to print:
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

People of Jamaica

in

Jamaica

Also known as: Xaymaca
Written by
David J. Buisseret
Director, Hermon Dunlap Smith Center for the History of Cartography, Newberry Library, Chicago. Professor of history, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, 1964–80. Author of Port Royal,...
David J. BuisseretAll
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

Ethnic groups and languages

Spanish colonists had virtually exterminated the aboriginal Taino people by the time the English invaded the island in 1655. The Spaniards themselves escaped the island or were expelled shortly afterward. The population of English settlers remained small, but they brought in vast numbers of African slaves to work the sugar estates. Today the population consists predominantly of the descendants of those slaves, with a small proportion of people of mixed African and European descent. Even fewer in number are people who trace their ancestry to the United Kingdom, India, China, the Middle East, Portugal, and Germany.

News •

PAHO/WHO appoints new representative for Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands • Nov. 11, 2026, 1:06 AM ET (The Gleaner)
Porter Airlines adds flights from Hamilton's airport to Tampa and Jamaica • Nov. 9, 2026, 2:22 PM ET (CBC)
More than a PM • Nov. 8, 2026, 1:06 AM ET (The Gleaner)
Ten Types Beauty Contest captivates Jamaica – Part 1 • Nov. 8, 2026, 1:06 AM ET (The Gleaner)
Weir: Failure to teach respect creates bullies • Nov. 7, 2026, 1:09 AM ET (The Gleaner)

English, the official language, is commonly used in towns and among the more-privileged social classes. Jamaican Creole is also widely spoken. Its vocabulary and grammar are based in English, but its various dialects derive vocabulary and phrasing from West African languages, Spanish, and, to a lesser degree, French. The grammatical structure, lyrical cadences, intonations, and pronunciations of Creole make it a distinct language.