Jamaica Population
Latin America & Caribbean · 141st most populous · Upper middle income
Population right now (estimate)
2,831,890
The population of Jamaica is about 2,831,890 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 2.8 million for 2026 as a whole — 0.03% of the world's people.
Jamaica is ranked 141st of 217 by population. The population is shrinking, by about 0.13% a year. It peaked around 2023 at 2.8 million and is projected to fall to 2.5 million by 2050. Since 1960 (1.7 million) it has grown by 72%. Population density is 262 people per square kilometre. 59% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
2.8 million
Yearly change
−0.13%
World rank
141st
Share of world
0.03%
Density
262/km²
Land area
10,830 km²
Life expectancy
71.6 yrs
Births per woman
1.35
GDP per capita
$8,003
GDP
$22.7B
Population of Jamaica, 1960–2050
Jamaica population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,650,005 | — | 152 |
| 1970 | 1,878,196 | +1.24% | 173 |
| 1980 | 2,145,658 | +1.23% | 198 |
| 1990 | 2,379,877 | +0.76% | 220 |
| 2000 | 2,607,826 | +0.70% | 241 |
| 2010 | 2,748,568 | +0.42% | 254 |
| 2020 | 2,830,739 | +0.26% | 261 |
| 2024 | 2,839,175 | −0.02% | 262 |
| 2026proj. | 2,833,403 | −0.13% | 262 |
| 2030proj. | 2,808,954 | −0.26% | 259 |
| 2040proj. | 2,676,100 | −0.66% | 247 |
| 2050proj. | 2,454,940 | −1.00% | 227 |
Jamaica vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 62.8 times as many people as Jamaica. Bangladesh is 5.2 times more densely populated.
Jamaica population: questions and answers
What is the population of Jamaica in 2026?
About 2,833,403 (2.8 million), based on World Bank projections.
Is Jamaica's population growing?
No — it is falling by about 0.13% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Jamaica?
About 262 people per km², with a land area of 10,830 km².
What will the population of Jamaica be in 2050?
About 2.5 million on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Jamaica?
Kingston.
What is the life expectancy in Jamaica?
71.6 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.