Population by labor force status in Jamaica
Jamaica: Population by labor force status was 518,758 people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
518,758 people
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
143rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
881,555 people
in 1997
All-time low
518,758 people
in 2025
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Population by labor force status in Jamaica, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, population by labor force status in Jamaica stood at 518,758 people. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Jamaica peaked at 881,555 people in 1997 and was at its lowest, 518,758 people, in 2025.
Jamaica ranks 143rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Population by labor force status in Jamaica, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 852,134 people | — |
| 1992 | 857,498 people | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 865,456 people | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 872,329 people | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 877,611 people | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 880,885 people | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 881,555 people | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 879,216 people | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 874,097 people | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 866,853 people | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 858,566 people | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 850,204 people | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 841,642 people | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 832,545 people | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 822,065 people | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 809,204 people | -1.6% |
| 2007 | 793,794 people | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 776,676 people | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 758,824 people | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 740,698 people | -2.4% |
| 2011 | 722,516 people | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 704,541 people | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 687,221 people | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 670,891 people | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 655,917 people | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 641,654 people | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 627,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 611,785 people | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 596,496 people | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 582,202 people | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 568,899 people | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 555,898 people | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 543,367 people | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 530,993 people | -2.3% |
| 2025 | 518,758 people | -2.3% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 518,758 people is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.99 million people, 26% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 518,758 people is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 1.64 million people, 32% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 871,198 people | 852,134 people | 881,555 people | 9 |
| 2000s | 821,037 people | 758,824 people | 866,853 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 665,872 people | 596,496 people | 740,698 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 550,020 people | 518,758 people | 582,202 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More work & labour data for Jamaica
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -1.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -1.69 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.0152 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 1,904 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 799.47 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 544.43 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 522.35 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 1,067 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Jamaica?
- Population by labor force status in Jamaica was 518,758 people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 881,555 people in 1997.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 518,758 people in 2025.
- How does Jamaica rank for population by labor force status?
- Jamaica ranks 143rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Jamaica data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).