**Jamaica**
Originating from the TaÃno word “Xaymaca,” meaning #1excludeGlossary Jamaica is not just a picturesque island in the Caribbean but also a pivotal name in the cannabis lexicon. Known for its rich cultural heritage and the Rastafarian movement, which holds cannabis in high spiritual regard, Jamaica has become a symbol of cannabis culture worldwide. The island’s cannabis strains, often referred to simply as #2excludeGlossary are celebrated for their potency and unique characteristics. With the global shift towards cannabis legalization, Jamaica is leveraging its historical and cultural ties to the plant, positioning itself as a leader in cannabis tourism and innovation. The island’s commitment to sustainable and organic cultivation practices further enhances its reputation in the cannabis community. [Source: Jamaica Observer, National Library of Jamaica]
Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean, covering 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi). It is an upper-middle-income country with an economy heavily dependent on tourism; it has an average of 4.3 million tourists a year. The country has a global influence that belies its small size; it was the birthplace of the Rastafari religion and reggae music (and such associated genres as dub, ska, and dancehall); and it is internationally prominent in sports, including cricket, sprinting, and athletics. Jamaica has sometimes been considered the world's least populous cultural superpower.
Jamaica Jumieka (Jamaican Patois) | |
|---|---|
| Motto: "Out of Many, One People" | |
| Anthem: "Jamaica, Land We Love" | |
.svg) | |
| Capital and largest city | Kingston 17°58′17″N 76°47′35″W / 17.97139°N 76.79306°W |
| Official languages | English |
| Vernacular language | Jamaican Patois |
| Ethnic groups | |
| Religion |
|
| Demonym | Jamaican |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
| Patrick Allen | |
| Andrew Holness | |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Senate | |
| House of Representatives | |
| Independence from the United Kingdom | |
• Granted | 6 August 1962 |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,991 km2 (4,244 sq mi) (160th) |
• Water (%) | 1.5 |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 2,824,913 |
• 2011 census | 2,697,983 |
• Density | 266/km2 (688.9/sq mi) (52nd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2024 estimate |
• Total |  $33.775 billion (143rd) |
• Per capita | $12,283 (134th) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2024 estimate |
• Total | $20.586 billion (119th) |
• Per capita | $7,487 (95th) |
| Gini (2021) |  40.2medium inequality |
| HDI (2023) | 0.720 high (117th) |
| Currency | Jamaican dollar (JMD) |
| Time zone | UTC-5:00 (EST) |
| Calling code | +1 |
| ISO 3166 code | JM |
| Internet TLD | .jm |
Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with power vested in the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives. Andrew Holness has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since March 2016. Jamaica is a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as its king; the appointed representative of the Crown is the Governor-General of Jamaica, the office having been held by Patrick Allen since 2009. Because of a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, there is a large Jamaican diaspora, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Most Jamaicans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, with significant European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities.
It is the third-largest island in the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean, after Cuba and the island of Hispaniola. Jamaica lies about 145 km (78 nmi) south of Cuba, 191 km (103 nmi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 215 km (116 nmi) southeast of the Cayman Islands (a British Overseas Territory). With 2.8 million people, Jamaica is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas and the fourth most populous country in the Caribbean. Kingston is the country's capital and largest city.
English
Etymology
From Spanish jamaica.
Pronunciation
- enPR: jə-mā'kə, IPA(key): /d͡ʒəˈmeɪ.kə/
Noun
jamaica (uncountable)
- roselle
Spanish
Etymology
After the island Jamaica.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /xaˈmaika/ [xaˈmai̯.ka]
- Rhymes: -aika
- Syllabification: ja‧mai‧ca
Noun
jamaica f (uncountable)
- roselle
