Share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica
Jamaica: Share of population living in urban areas was 72.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica stood at 72.4%.
The figure is down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica peaked at 75.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 65.0%, in 1950.
That places Jamaica 133rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 65.0% | — |
| 1955 | 67.6% | +3.9% |
| 1960 | 68.8% | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 70.2% | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 71.3% | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 72.6% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 73.7% | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 73.5% | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 73.8% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 75.2% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 75.7% | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 75.5% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 75.0% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 74.5% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 72.4% | -2.9% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 72.4% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.7%, 97% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 72.4% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 76.4%, 95% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 66.3% | 65.0% | 67.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 69.5% | 68.8% | 70.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 71.9% | 71.3% | 72.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 73.6% | 73.5% | 73.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 74.5% | 73.8% | 75.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 75.6% | 75.5% | 75.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 74.8% | 74.5% | 75.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More reference data data for Jamaica
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.045 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1808 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0003 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2582 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1508 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0583 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.8486 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Jamaica was 72.4% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 75.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.0% in 1950.
- How does Jamaica rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Jamaica ranks 133rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.