Population of Jamaica
As of July 2026, the population of Jamaica is 2.8 million. The number of inhabitants has decreased by 3 thousand in the last year, representing a decline of 0.08%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 28.3 years in 2016 to 33.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 72.8 years and population density is 260.5 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Population Growth
The population growth rate of Jamaica peaked in 1950, reaching around 3.15% annually, but has since declined to approximately -0.1% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 44.29 thousand in 1950 to nearly -2.68 thousand in 2026.
Life Expectancy
In Jamaica, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 71.2 years in 2006 to 72.8 years in 2026, representing an increase of almost 2 years over the past 2 decades.
Most populous cities in Jamaica
The cities of Jamaica are mostly small, but 4 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Kingston, with approximately 937.7 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by New Kingston, Saint Andrew Parish with 584 thousand and Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish with 145 thousand.
These are the 20 most populous cities in Jamaica:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingston | 937,700 |
| 2 | New Kingston, Saint Andrew Parish | 583,958 |
| 3 | Spanish Town, Saint Catherine Parish | 145,018 |
| 4 | Portmore, Saint Catherine Parish | 102,861 |
| 5 | Montego Bay, Saint James Parish | 82,867 |
| 6 | Mandeville, Manchester | 47,115 |
| 7 | May Pen, Clarendon | 44,755 |
| 8 | Ocho Rios, Saint Ann Parish | 26,503 |
| 9 | Old Harbour, Saint Catherine Parish | 26,024 |
| 10 | Linstead, Saint Catherine Parish | 20,660 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Half Way Tree, Saint Andrew Parish | 18,552 |
| 12 | Barrett Town, Saint James Parish | 17,169 |
| 13 | Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland | 16,553 |
| 14 | Port Antonio, Portland Parish | 14,400 |
| 15 | Negril, Westmoreland | 13,779 |
| 16 | Saint Ann’s Bay, Saint Ann Parish | 13,671 |
| 17 | Bog Walk, Saint Catherine Parish | 12,873 |
| 18 | Constant Spring, Saint Andrew Parish | 12,830 |
| 19 | Ewarton, Saint Catherine Parish | 12,797 |
| 20 | Runaway Bay, Saint Ann Parish | 12,358 |