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Jamaica economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

Jamaica ranked 124/197 by economy size with a GDP of $22B and 95/197 by GDP per capita at $7,754. Jamaica has $14B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 63.4%.

In 2024, Jamaica made up 0.02% of the world's economy, compared to 0.05% in 1960.

Jamaica GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $22,014,397,090 -0.54%
2023 $21,418,804,320 2.75%
2022 $18,813,516,805 6.44%
2021 $15,963,885,376 5.7%
2020 $15,000,214,216 -8.3%
2019 $17,026,269,263 1.81%
2018 $16,855,447,986 2.52%
2017 $15,783,583,237 2.29%
2016 $14,898,999,754 2.76%
2015 $14,963,589,916 0.92%
2014 $13,899,217,680 0.69%
2013 $14,264,205,153 0.52%
2012 $14,807,086,556 -0.61%
2011 $14,444,661,522 1.73%
2010 $13,220,549,908 -1.46%
2009 $12,120,458,115 -4.35%
2008 $13,709,401,520 -0.81%
2007 $12,799,600,047 1.43%
2006 $11,930,179,090 2.9%
2005 $11,243,865,778 0.89%
2004 $10,174,664,854 1.32%
2003 $9,430,234,811 3.67%
2002 $9,719,009,495 2%
2001 $9,194,727,831 1.34%
2000 $9,005,064,475 0.88%
1999 $8,887,057,997 1.05%
1998 $8,787,195,622 -2.33%
1997 $8,400,041,724 -1.14%
1996 $7,393,891,921 -0.11%
1995 $6,577,520,643 2.35%
1994 $5,452,558,947 1.38%
1993 $5,440,075,676 9.42%
1992 $3,535,460,090 1.96%
1991 $4,106,207,649 4.84%
1990 $4,592,208,087 4.2%
1989 $4,404,937,853 7.17%
1988 $3,828,342,820 3.97%
1987 $3,287,007,322 7.85%
1986 $2,754,549,582 1.88%
1985 $2,100,239,019 -2.94%
1984 $2,373,564,549 -1.54%
1983 $3,619,262,277 1.91%
1982 $3,293,496,312 2.07%
1981 $2,979,027,966 2.64%
1980 $2,679,379,372 -5.71%
1979 $2,425,064,229 -1.06%
1978 $2,644,527,822 -0.05%
1977 $3,249,733,140 -2.6%
1976 $2,966,042,856 -6.69%
1975 $2,860,442,750 -0.26%
1974 $2,375,122,375 -4.23%
1973 $1,905,917,553 -5.49%
1972 $1,875,146,587 18%
1971 $1,539,861,816 2.46%
1970 $1,404,720,442 12.1%
1969 $1,191,239,047 5.57%
1968 $1,083,839,133 5.74%
1967 $1,148,014,311 1.81%
1966 $1,096,759,561 -
1965 $972,159,611 -
1964 $897,949,001 -
1963 $826,706,669 -
1962 $777,727,689 -
1961 $748,043,501 -
1960 $699,064,380 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

Jamaica GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $7,754 $12,890
2023 $7,542 $12,651
2022 $6,626 $11,888
2021 $5,626 $10,431
2020 $5,299 $9,764
2019 $6,031 $10,845
2018 $5,977 $10,753
2017 $5,605 $10,466
2016 $5,302 $9,948
2015 $5,339 $9,476
2014 $4,975 $9,210
2013 $5,124 $9,101
2012 $5,341 $8,831
2011 $5,233 $8,809
2010 $4,810 $8,521
2009 $4,428 $8,580
2008 $5,030 $8,952
2007 $4,716 $8,893
2006 $4,417 $8,577
2005 $4,184 $8,127
2004 $3,808 $7,854
2003 $3,550 $7,593
2002 $3,681 $7,226
2001 $3,504 $7,019
2000 $3,453 $6,816
1999 $3,432 $6,653
1998 $3,419 $6,543
1997 $3,297 $6,682
1996 $2,929 $6,706
1995 $2,631 $6,657
1994 $2,203 $6,435
1993 $2,221 $6,279
1992 $1,458 $5,664
1991 $1,710 $5,485
1990 $1,930 $5,106
1989 $1,865 -
1988 $1,632 -
1987 $1,411 -
1986 $1,191 -
1985 $917 -
1984 $1,048 -
1983 $1,619 -
1982 $1,494 -
1981 $1,370 -
1980 $1,249 -
1979 $1,144 -
1978 $1,262 -
1977 $1,569 -
1976 $1,450 -
1975 $1,417 -
1974 $1,193 -
1973 $972 -
1972 $971 -
1971 $809 -
1970 $748 -
1969 $642 -
1968 $591 -
1967 $633 -
1966 $612 -
1965 $549 -
1964 $514 -
1963 $480 -
1962 $458 -
1961 $447 -
1960 $424 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

Jamaica has a GDP per capita of $7,754, ranking 95/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $12,890, ranking 121/197, and a median annual after tax income of $6,905, ranking 93/197.

Jamaica GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 123 89 112
2023 118 93 117
2022 125 97 117
2021 127 101 117
2020 124 102 115
2019 120 101 114
2018 122 103 113
2017 122 103 113
2016 121 102 115
2015 120 101 116
2014 130 110 117
2013 128 108 115
2012 124 107 115
2011 126 104 114
2010 121 100 110
2009 121 97 107
2008 115 94 103
2007 110 92 102
2006 107 89 99
2005 102 82 95
2004 100 81 93
2003 99 76 89
2002 91 73 89
2001 91 75 87
2000 94 75 88
1999 91 74 84
1998 91 72 81
1997 93 76 78
1996 97 78 73
1995 99 79 72
1994 98 82 69
1993 100 77 69
1992 110 90 75
1991 107 85 75
1990 105 80 82
1989 91 75 -
1988 97 80 -
1987 96 84 -
1986 97 82 -
1985 102 90 -
1984 96 89 -
1983 86 73 -
1982 91 75 -
1981 91 77 -
1980 93 79 -
1979 90 75 -
1978 84 69 -
1977 74 50 -
1976 74 51 -
1975 71 49 -
1974 74 54 -
1973 74 52 -
1972 70 46 -
1971 71 48 -
1970 72 48 -
1969 72 40 -
1968 70 39 -
1967 66 37 -
1966 64 36 -
1965 66 36 -
1964 67 35 -
1963 66 36 -
1962 65 35 -
1961 63 34 -
1960 63 34 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 Jamaica is ranked 123rd out of 182 by GDP (down from 94th), 89th by GDP per capita (down from 75th), and 112th by GDP per capita PPP (down from 88th).

Economic indicators

Jamaica Rank
Gross domestic product
$22B
2024
124/197
GDP growth
-0.54%
2023-2024
177/194
GDP per capita
$7,754
2024
95/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$12,890
2024
121/197
Government debt
$14B
2024
113/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
63.4%
2024
73/185
Government debt per person
$4,917
2024
79/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$6,905
2026
93/197
Listed domestic companies
101
2024
50/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$12.4B
2024
64/100
Income share by richest 10%
29.6%
2021
65/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2021
121/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
30.5%
2024
92/195
Consumer prices inflation
5.41%
2023-2024
48/195
Central bank interest rate
5.75%
2025
54/106
Unemployment rate
3.02%
2023
153/196
Population
2834980
139/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 30.5% 63.4% 0.22%
2023 28% 67.3% 0.04%
2022 28.4% 73.5% 0.27%
2021 29% 90.9% 0.89%
2020 29.8% 100.1% -2.83%
2019 27.8% 88.6% 0.85%
2018 27.8% 89.2% 1.12%
2017 27.3% 96.7% 0.43%
2016 27% 109.1% -0.19%
2015 26.3% 117.6% -0.28%
2014 26.5% 136.7% -0.49%
2013 26.9% 138.1% 0.12%
2012 29.6% 143% -4.05%
2011 31.7% 138.1% -6.34%
2010 32.9% 140.1% -6.27%
2009 38.6% 141.5% -11.1%
2008 34.4% 125.6% -7.43%
2007 31.6% 115.3% -3.82%
2006 31.2% 118% -4.9%
2005 29.3% 124.5% -3.3%
2004 31.5% 120.1% -4.68%
2003 32.5% 125.5% -5.67%
2002 31.1% 119.1% -6.77%
2001 28.5% 107.9% -4.89%
2000 26.2% 91.3% -0.8%
1999 28.9% 83.5% -3.53%
1998 28.3% 75.6% -5.82%
1997 28.3% 74.4% -6.54%
1996 27.7% 70.2% -5.32%
1995 23.1% 85.2% 1.6%
1994 21.5% 90.4% 2.59%
1993 21.5% 106.2% 2.6%
1992 20% 100.4% 3.11%
1991 24.5% 175.1% 3.87%
1990 25.7% 128.8% 2.34%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

This chart shows Jamaica's government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 35 years, Jamaica recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 2.14% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $6.72B (30.5% of GDP), with a surplus of 0.22%.

The national debt reached $14B, ranking 113th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 63.4%, ranking 73rd.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 5.41%
2023 6.47%
2022 10.3%
2021 5.86%
2020 5.23%
2019 3.91%
2018 3.74%
2017 4.38%
2016 2.35%
2015 3.69%
2014 8.27%
2013 9.34%
2012 6.87%
2011 7.56%
2010 12.6%
2009 9.59%
2008 22%
2007 9.24%
2006 8.56%
2005 15.1%
2004 13.6%
2003 10.1%
2002 7.08%
2001 6.8%
2000 8.17%
1999 5.95%
1998 8.63%
1997 9.66%
1996 26.4%
1995 19.9%
1994 35.1%
1993 22.1%
1992 77.3%
1991 51.1%
1990 22%
1989 14.3%
1988 8.27%
1987 6.65%
1986 15.1%
1985 25.7%
1984 27.8%
1983 11.6%
1982 6.55%
1981 12.7%
1980 27.3%
1979 29.1%
1978 34.9%
1977 11.2%
1976 9.79%
1975 17.4%
1974 27.2%
1973 17.7%
1972 5.43%
1971 5.34%
1970 14.7%
1969 6.3%
1968 5.93%
1967 3.02%
1966 1.9%
1965 2.63%
1964 2.01%
1963 1.76%
1962 1.41%
1961 6.7%
1960 3.27%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Jamaica has had an average annual inflation rate of 8.03%. In 2024, inflation was 5.41%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Jamaica Rank
Current account balance
$679M
2024
56/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.08%
2024
46/190
Goods imports
$6.07B
2024
128/189
Goods exports
$1.87B
2024
140/189
Service imports
$3.46B
2024
103/189
Service exports
$5.26B
2024
92/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
52.1%
2019
73/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
38%
2019
85/193

Jamaica top 10 trading partners

Jamaica's biggest trading partner accounting for 42.2% of all exports and imports is the United States, with a trade balance between the two of -$2.39B: Jamaica exports $718M worth of goods and services to the United States and imports $3.1B.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of Jamaica.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 United States $3.82B 42.2% $718M $3.1B Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
2 China $615M 6.8% $7.56M $608M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
3 Brazil $365M 4.03% $55K $365M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Raw materials & minerals
4 Japan $307M 3.39% $16.3M $291M Raw agricultural goods Machinery & equipment
5 Colombia $283M 3.13% $76K $283M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
6 Trinidad $256M 2.82% $28.4M $227M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Processed food, beverages & tobacco
7 Russia $239M 2.64% $138M $101M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
8 Canada $170M 1.88% $44.2M $126M Raw materials & minerals Processed food, beverages & tobacco
9 Mexico $165M 1.82% $641K $164M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Chemicals & pharma
10 United Kingdom $162M 1.79% $60.3M $102M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Jamaica Rank
Transport & tourism services $4.03B 77/188
Raw materials & minerals $1.01B 106/193
Business & finance services $327M 96/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $326M 109/192
IT & IP services $132M 101/183
Raw agricultural goods $103M 119/193
Animal & marine products $35.4M 131/192
Government & miscellaneous services $31.4M 116/180
Chemicals & pharma $19.9M 135/193
Metals $15.4M 151/192

Top 10 imports

Jamaica Rank
Raw materials & minerals $2.27B 112/193
Transport & tourism services $1.87B 103/188
Machinery & equipment $1.71B 128/193
Business & finance services $1.12B 85/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.05B 96/193
Chemicals & pharma $735M 122/193
Textiles & consumer goods $475M 123/193
Metals $403M 130/193
Raw agricultural goods $302M 130/193
Wood & paper products $289M 103/193

Economic freedom indices

Jamaica Rank
Economic freedom 68.2 48/197
Property rights 66.8 54/182
Government integrity 49.4 67/182
Judicial effectiveness 75.6 41/182
Tax burden 76.3 110/182
Government spending 76 80/180
Fiscal health 92.2 44/181
Business freedom 68.5 75/182
Labor freedom 59.2 60/182
Monetary freedom 74.2 87/180
Trade freedom 70.4 93/181
Investment freedom 60 73/181
Financial freedom 50 83/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 68.2 75.6 76.3 76 92.2
2025 68.7 79.9 76.5 72.8 89
2024 68.1 69.7 77 71.5 87.5
2023 68.1 48.6 79.8 72.2 82.6
2022 67.4 70.6 76.6 71.6 79.4
2021 69 55.1 79.7 74.4 83.1
2020 68.5 50.5 80 74.8 80.2
2019 68.6 49.2 80.2 76 80
2018 69.1 56.6 80 77.2 79.5
2017 69.5 61.5 81 77.5 79.9
2016 67.5 - 81.7 78 -
2015 67.7 - 81.5 73.2 -
2014 66.7 - 77.2 69.4 -
2013 66.8 - 77.5 67.7 -
2012 65.1 - 75.5 58.7 -
2011 65.7 - 75.9 64.7 -
2010 65.5 - 74.8 61.8 -
2009 65.2 - 75.3 62.2 -
2008 65.7 - 74.9 59.6 -
2007 65.5 - 75.1 61.8 -
2006 66.4 - 77.9 54.4 -
2005 67 - 76.4 62.4 -
2004 66.7 - 76.7 61.3 -
2003 67 - 75.6 65.3 -
2002 61.7 - 76.1 56.7 -
2001 63.7 - 76.7 84.1 -
2000 65.5 - 77.4 73 -
1999 64.7 - 77.3 62.2 -
1998 67.1 - 75.6 73.5 -
1997 67.7 - 76.3 76.6 -
1996 66.7 - 76.2 76.5 -
1995 64.4 - 77.5 76.5 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

Jamaica is ranked 42/174 for economic freedom with a score of 68.2, compared to 40/162 and a score of 66.4 in 2006.

Other economic metrics

Jamaica Rank
Services, % of GDP
60%
2024
74/191
Industry, % of GDP
16.5%
2024
154/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
7.97%
2024
84/193
GNI, Atlas method
$20.5B
2024
122/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,690
2024
116/191
Total reserves including gold
$5.63B
2024
93/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$304M
2024
91/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$305M
2024
125/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.07M
2024
132/193
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
11.3%
2024
14/121
Poverty at national poverty lines
8.2%
2023
159/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
22.6%
2019
93/178

Compare Jamaica vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/jamaica | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. TradeMap (2022–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1990–1998, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.