Jamaica

Over half of Jamaica's land area (56.19%) is covered by forest, representing a significant natural asset and indicating robust environmental preservation efforts. This high percentage of forest cover is vital for biodiversity, watershed protection, and climate resilience, especially for a small island nation.

Despite having near-universal access to electricity (97.7%), a key indicator of development and infrastructure, Jamaica struggles with a relatively high infant mortality rate of 18.3 per 1,000 live births. This suggests that challenges in healthcare quality, prenatal care, or specific public health issues outweigh infrastructural advantages.

Jamaica's fertility rate stands at a very low 1.36 children per woman, significantly below the replacement level of 2.1. If this trend persists, the country faces potential long-term challenges related to population decline and an aging workforce, impacting economic productivity and social security systems.

The economy experienced solid GDP growth of 2.75% in 2023, indicating recovery or expansion. However, this growth is tempered by a high inflation rate of 6.47%, which erodes purchasing power and poses a significant challenge to maintaining the real value of wages and savings for the population.