Aid, poverty & equality · Latin America & Caribbean · Upper-middle income
Jamaica: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 1.4% (2021), 82nd of 151 in the world and 14th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $4.20/day is 5.1% (2021), 76th of 151 in the world and 9th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $8.30/day is 22.9% (2021), 76th of 151 in the world and 7th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean.
National poverty rate
Jamaica
Undernourishment
JamaicaLatin America & CaribbeanUpper-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Jamaica in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 1.4%2021 | 82/151 | 14/22 | 5.7%1999 | · | 1.4%2021 | −3.1 ppsince 2004 | 4.3% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 5.1%2021 | 76/151 | 9/22 | 13.2%1999 | · | 5.1%2021 | −6.9 ppsince 2004 | 8.0% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 22.9%2021 | 76/151 | 7/22 | 45.1%1999 | · | 22.9%2021 | −21.4 ppsince 2004 | 24.7% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 7.8%2024 | 132/145 | 22/23 | · | 19.9%2012 | 16.7%2021 | −12.2 ppsince 2014 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 39.92021 | 39/151 | 18/22 | 44.11999 | · | 39.92021 | −12%since 2004 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 29.6%2021 | 51/151 | 20/22 | 35.0%1999 | · | 29.6%2021 | −6.1 ppsince 2004 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 5.7%2021 | 116/151 | 6/22 | 5.5%1999 | · | 5.7%2021 | +0.4 ppsince 2004 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 8.0%2024 | 64/167 | 9/28 | 7.2%2001 | 8.4% | 7.2% | +0.3 ppsince 2014 | 5.1% | 4.0% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 55.8%2024 | 28/155 | 2/28 | · | · | 50.3% | — | 25.2% | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 73.3%2021 | 70/145 | 7/21 | · | 71.0%2011 | 73.3%2021 | +2.3 ppsince 2011 | 73.5% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 30.2%2025 | 75/190 | 19/32 | 13.3% | 13.3% | 28.6% | +17.5 ppsince 2015 | 36.6% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $86.4m2023 | 120/145 | 20/32 | $14.1m | $142m | $67.8m | +21%since 2013 | $10.8bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 0.4%2023 | 110/139 | 20/30 | 0.2% | 1.1% | 0.5% | −0.1 ppsince 2013 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $30.42023 | 107/145 | 20/32 | $5.4 | $51.8 | $24.0 | +18%since 2013 | $16.4 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−3.1 pp1.4% in 2021
- Poverty, $4.20/day−6.9 pp5.1% in 2021
- Poverty, $8.30/day−21.4 pp22.9% in 2021
- National poverty rate−12.2 pp7.8% in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Undernourishment+0.3 pp8.0% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Jamaica and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Jamaica. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Jamaica | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 1.4%2021 | 0.4%2021 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 5.1%2021 | 0.5%2021 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 22.9%2021 | 0.9%2021 |
| National poverty rate | 7.8%2024 | 18.6%2017 |
| Gini index | 39.92021 | 32.42021 |
| Top 10% income share | 29.6%2021 | 25.0%2021 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 5.7%2021 | 7.6%2021 |
| Undernourishment | 8.0%2024 | 2.5%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 55.8%2024 | 7.4%2024 |