Jamaica is an island rimmed by a narrow coastal plain, pitted with bays everywhere but in the south, where broad flatlands cover extensive areas and there are long ruler-straight stretches. The mainstays of the economy are primary agricultural exports, including sugar and bananas; bauxite mining; and tourism. In addition, remittances from North America and the United Kingdom have played an increasingly significant role in the economy.

Area: 4,411 sq km

Population: 2.65 million

Capital: Kingston

People: 76% African descent, 15% Afro-European descent, 4% European, 3% East Indian & Middle Eastern, 1% Afro-Chinese & Chinese

Language: English

Religion: 80% Christian, including revivalist cults such as Pocomania and Rastafarianism

Government: Independent state within the British Commonwealth

GDP: US$10 billion

Major Industries: Tourism, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams and chemicals

Major Trading Partners: USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, and Norway