67 Facts About Jamaica

Jamaica is the world's 140th most populous country.

It covers an area of 10,991 square kilometres.

It is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea.

Kingston is the country's capital and largest city.

The official language is English, and the national language is Jamaican Patois.

The Jamaican dollar (JMD) is the country's currency.

Jamaicans are the island's natives or inhabitants.

It is the Greater Antilles' third-largest island.

The indigenous people of Jamaica grew corn and yams. Today, Jamaica is well-known for growing sugar cane, bananas, and mangoes, none of which are indigenous to the island.

Blue Mountain Coffee, a highly sought-after and expensive coffee popular around the world, is produced in Jamaica. It is one of the world's rarest coffees.

Jamaica was the first tropical country to send a bobsled team to the Winter Olympics in 1988.

Jamaica is home to over 200 exotic orchid species, 73 of which are indigenous.

With three Miss World winners and three runners-up, Jamaica truly has some of the most beautiful women in the world.

Jamaica was the first Caribbean country to launch a website, www.jamaicatravel.com, in 1994.

Kool Herc, a Jamaican, is credited with popularising rap and hip-hop music. On August 11, 2017, Google commemorated the 44th anniversary of the birth of hip hop with a Doodle on their home page.

The Manchester Golf Club, founded in Jamaica in 1865, is the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.

Despite being predominantly Christian, Jamaica's Jewish population is among the island's oldest.

The "healing waters of Jamaica" are a collection of natural mineral baths and hot springs with therapeutic properties.

Rastafarians make up less than 5% of Jamaica's total population.

AT&T replicated Jamaica's telephone network.

While widely spoken, Jamaican Creole, also known as Patois, is not a written language.

Kingston Harbor in Jamaica is the world's seventh-largest natural harbour.

Jamaica has one of the most rum bars per square mile, which is a pleasant surprise for many visiting rum connoisseurs.

In Jamaica, cranberry is a sought-after luxury item.

Jamaica has more multiple live births (when a mother gives birth to two or more children) than any other country on the planet.

Jamaica became the first British colonial territory to establish a postal service in 1688.

All public schools require students to recite The Lord's Prayer as part of their morning routine.

Jamaica was the Western world's first commercial banana producer.

Chicken is probably the most popular meat among Jamaicans.

Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man, is from Jamaica.

Christopher Columbus described Jamaica as "the fairest isle that eyes ever beheld" in the late 1400s.

Jamaica is one of the happiest places on the planet.

Milk River Bath is known as the world's most radioactive mineral spa.

In Jamaica, the most common greeting is a firm handshake accompanied by direct eye contact and a genuine warm smile. Women will hug and kiss on each cheek, beginning with the right, once they have become acquainted and formed a friendship.

In Jamaican culture, it is customary to use a new acquaintance's first name only when invited.

Table manners are "Continental" in Jamaica. This means holding the fork with the left hand and the knife with the right. Meals are typically served buffet-style, with guests helping themselves from a generous spread. It is considered polite to try everything served, and finishing everything on one's own plate is a sign of good manners.

Jamaica has one of the highest per capita church populations in the world.

The importance of family is paramount, and it consists of a close-knit web of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

Trust (or, more accurately, distrust of those in authority) is an important part of Jamaican culture. Jamaicans would rather trust their friends and family than anyone with "official" status.

Because its inhabitants come from all four corners of the globe, Jamaican cuisine is a veritable melting pot of culinary influences. The national dish of Jamaica is ackee and saltfish, with jerk chicken, curried goat or mutton, and oxtail with broad beans following close behind.

Despite the many difficulties that Jamaicans face, they are a laid-back people in general.The popular phrase "No Problem Mon," or some variation thereof, captures the Jamaican attitude fairly well.

Jamaica is the Caribbean's largest English-speaking island.

Miss Lou, the Hon. Louise Bennett Coverly, is widely regarded as Jamaica's cultural hero. She was instrumental in establishing Patois as a legitimate (and celebrated) mode of communication.

Jamaica became the first Caribbean country to gain independence from the United Kingdom in 1962.

Despite declaring independence, Jamaica chose to remain a Commonwealth member. As a result, Queen Elizabeth II remains their head of state.

Jamaica was the first Western country outside of Europe and North America to build railway lines in 1845, 20 years after the first railway was built in Great Britain.

The Taino were Jamaica's first inhabitants. Unfortunately, after being conquered by Spain, the Taino came perilously close to extinction as a result of slavery and disease.

Many Spanish and British countries helped populate Jamaica with freed African slaves during the nineteenth century. Many people today are direct descendants of the first settlers.

Jamaica made history in 1997 when it became the first English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for the World Cup.

Rum, Jamaica's national drink, has played an important role in the country's history since the 17th century.

In 1962, Jamaica's national motto, "Out of Many, One People," was made official.

Jamaica's national flag is one of only two in the world that has no colours in common with the American flag.

Jamaica was the first country to take a stand and formally impose economic sanctions on South Africa's former Apartheid regime.

Tourists must pay a $22 departure tax whenever they leave the country.

Tourism is Jamaica's most important industry, serving as the foundation of its economy.

Jamaicans are known for their hospitality, which is why two of the country's airports have VIP lounges to greet visitors with an authentic Jamaican welcome.

Tourists can visit 50 public beaches located throughout the island. Negril and Doctor's Cave Beach in Montego Bay are the most well-known.

Jamaica has consistently been ranked among the top five tourist destinations in the world in recent years.

"Legend" by Bob Marley is the best-selling reggae album of all time.

Shaggy is the richest living reggae artist, with a net worth of $22 million. Analysts estimate that if Bob Marley were still alive, he would be worth $130 million.

Reggae emerged almost by chance in Kingston after rocksteady, which emerged after ska.

Reggae has been used by musicians to express political and social views since its inception. For many years, it has been associated with the Rastafari movement.

Every year, more than 200 reggae festivals take place around the world.

There are only eight snake species native to Jamaica, and none of them are venomous.

Port Royal in Jamaica used to be called 'The wickedest city on Earth'.

While living in Jamaica, Ian Flemming wrote all 14 James Bond novels.

The Arawak were Jamaica's second most populous indigenous people. They called this island "Xaymaca" which means "Land of Wood and Water".