Jamaica: Population in largest city

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Jamaica's population in largest city rose 0.6% on 2024 (from 600,225 to 603,770).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.2% and a typical year strayed about 0.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.9 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 1.2% in 1968. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 1,702 a year. A straight line explains 91% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Jamaica had the 141st highest value of the 153 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Jamaica in the 2025 ranking

• North Macedonia — 138th of 153: 620,825
• Djibouti — 139th of 153: 616,332
• Latvia — 140th of 153: 615,764
• Trinidad and Tobago — 142nd of 153: 546,564
• Lithuania — 143rd of 153: 541,517
• Albania — 144th of 153: 535,702

What this measures

Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.

Limitations: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements.

All 66 values

Population in largest city in nearby economies

• Argentina — 15.75 million (2025)
• Bolivia — 2 million (2025)
• Brazil — 22.99 million (2025)
• Chile — 7 million (2025)
• Colombia — 11.8 million (2025)
• Costa Rica — 1.5 million (2025)
• Cuba — 2.16 million (2025)
• Dominican Republic — 3.65 million (2025)
• Ecuador — 3.24 million (2025)
• El Salvador — 1.13 million (2025)
• Guatemala — 3.23 million (2025)

More environment data for Jamaica

• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 35.81% (2025)
• Rural population — 1.15 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 40.57% (2025)
• Urban population — 1.69 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 59.43% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 675 (2024)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 12,770 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 13,445 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -1.29% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 0.76% (2025)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Jamaica's population in largest city?

603,770 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 43.55% from 420,603 in 1960 (0.56% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 603,770 in 2025 and the lowest 420,603 in 1960.

How does Jamaica rank?

141st highest of 153 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in population in largest city unusual for Jamaica?

In 2025, Jamaica's population in largest city rose 0.6% on 2024 (from 600,225 to 603,770). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.2% and a typical year strayed about 0.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.9 standard deviations above that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator EN.URB.LCTY, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), uri: https://population.un.org/wup/, publisher: UN Population Division, date published: 2018 Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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