Official Name: Jamaica

Area: Caribbean

Size: 10,991 km²

Coastline: 1,022 km

Independence: from the UK August 6, 1962

Form of Govt.: Constitutional monarchy

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister

Capital: Kingston

Largest City: Kingston

Demographics (2005): 2,651,000.   252 /km²

Black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, White 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, Mulatto 7.3%, other 0.1%

GDP per Capita (2005): $4,300

Languages: English, Patois, Spanish

Geography: Jamaica is the third largest island located in the Caribbean Sea. In general, the island contains a coastal plain and is divided by the eastern New Mountain Range and the central and western limestone plateau as well as the hills of the interior. The principal rivers are the Plantain Garden Hope, Yallahs, Rio Pedro, Rio Minho, Milk, Cabaritta, Rio Grande, Wag Water, White, Martha Brae, Montego, Great and the Black. The island has over 100 small rivers that are narrow and fast flowing.

Climate: Jamaica has a tropical climate at sea-level and a temperate climate towards the highlands of the interior. There are four seasons, two rainy seasons from May to June and September to November as well as two dry seasons from July to August and December to April. The hurricane season is from May to August or September. Average annual precipitation is 1,950 mm and average temperature ranges in Kingston are from 19 degrees to 32 degrees all year.