Urban and rural population in Jamaica
Jamaica: Urban and rural population was 1.69 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Urban and rural population in Jamaica, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban and rural population in Jamaica is 1.69 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Jamaica peaked at 1.69 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 309,003, in 1950.
That places Jamaica 141st out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 309,003 | — |
| 1951 | 327,490 | +6.0% |
| 1952 | 345,488 | +5.5% |
| 1953 | 363,075 | +5.1% |
| 1954 | 380,320 | +4.7% |
| 1955 | 397,412 | +4.5% |
| 1956 | 414,631 | +4.3% |
| 1957 | 432,294 | +4.3% |
| 1958 | 450,763 | +4.3% |
| 1959 | 470,175 | +4.3% |
| 1960 | 490,876 | +4.4% |
| 1961 | 514,415 | +4.8% |
| 1962 | 541,293 | +5.2% |
| 1963 | 570,772 | +5.4% |
| 1964 | 602,121 | +5.5% |
| 1965 | 634,213 | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 666,061 | +5.0% |
| 1967 | 696,976 | +4.6% |
| 1968 | 726,239 | +4.2% |
| 1969 | 753,338 | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 778,084 | +3.3% |
| 1971 | 802,438 | +3.1% |
| 1972 | 827,666 | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 853,478 | +3.1% |
| 1974 | 879,029 | +3.0% |
| 1975 | 903,530 | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 926,945 | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 949,166 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 970,390 | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 991,177 | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 1.01 million | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 1.03 million | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 1.05 million | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 1.07 million | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 1.09 million | +1.8% |
| 1985 | 1.11 million | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 1.13 million | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 1.14 million | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 1.15 million | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 1.16 million | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 1.18 million | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 1.19 million | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 1.21 million | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 1.23 million | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 1.25 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 1.26 million | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 1.28 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 1.30 million | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 1.32 million | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 1.33 million | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 1.35 million | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 1.36 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 1.38 million | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.39 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 1.40 million | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 1.42 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 1.43 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 1.44 million | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 1.45 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 1.47 million | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 1.48 million | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 1.49 million | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 1.50 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 1.52 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 1.53 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 1.55 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.56 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 1.57 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 1.59 million | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 1.60 million | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 1.62 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 1.63 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 1.65 million | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 1.66 million | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 1.67 million | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 1.69 million | +0.8% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 1.69 million is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.47 million, 38% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 1.69 million is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 2.35 million, 72% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 389,065 | 309,003 | 470,175 | 10 |
| 1960s | 619,630 | 490,876 | 753,338 | 10 |
| 1970s | 888,190 | 778,084 | 991,177 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million | 1.01 million | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.25 million | 1.18 million | 1.33 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.41 million | 1.35 million | 1.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.54 million | 1.48 million | 1.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.65 million | 1.62 million | 1.69 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More population data for Jamaica
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -3.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 2,494 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1905 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -1.66 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -1.76 (2100)
- Population density 98.5 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 35,987 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Jamaica?
- Urban and rural population in Jamaica was 1.69 million in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 1.69 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 309,003 in 1950.
- How does Jamaica rank for urban and rural population?
- Jamaica ranks 141st out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 76 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).