Share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica
Jamaica: Share of population living in the capital city was 21.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica is 21.1%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica peaked at 27.6% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 21.1%, in 2020.
Jamaica ranks 60th of 170 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23.4% | — |
| 1955 | 25.3% | +7.9% |
| 1960 | 27.6% | +9.1% |
| 1965 | 27.1% | -1.6% |
| 1970 | 26.9% | -0.7% |
| 1975 | 26.4% | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 25.7% | -2.7% |
| 1985 | 24.8% | -3.5% |
| 1990 | 24.4% | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 23.5% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 22.8% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 22.4% | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 22.1% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 21.5% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 21.1% | -2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.3% | 23.4% | 25.3% | 2 |
| 1960s | 27.3% | 27.1% | 27.6% | 2 |
| 1970s | 26.7% | 26.4% | 26.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 25.3% | 24.8% | 25.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 23.9% | 23.5% | 24.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 22.4% | 22.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.8% | 21.5% | 22.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 21.1% | 21.1% | 21.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
- 57 Martinique 21.6% compare
- 58 Philippines 21.4% compare
- 59 Belarus 21.1% compare
- 61 Senegal 21.0% compare
- 62 Puerto Rico 21.0% compare
- 63 Denmark 20.5% compare
More population data for Jamaica
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.7 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.8% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 35,987 people (2100)
- Population density 98.5 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.8% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1905 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Jamaica was 21.1% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 27.6% in 1960.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.1% in 2020.
- How does Jamaica rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Jamaica ranks 60th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.