Population
Like many other Caribbean states, Jamaica has a high average population density, 264 residents per km2 (2019) and relatively high urbanization, 56 percent. As a result of large emigration, mainly to the United States and the United Kingdom, Jamaica’s population increase was only 0.6 percent.
The country’s dominant city is the capital Kingston (584,600 residents, 2009). Other major cities are Portmore (182,200) and Spanish Town (147,200).
Language
The official language is English, but the majority speak forms that lie between English and the English-based Creole language that originated among the slaves and were used by virtually the entire population during the 17th and 18th centuries. Where on this scale a particular individual is located is determined by a complex collaboration between, among other things. social, geographical and situational factors.
Religion
According to thesciencetutor, more than 80 percent of Jamaicans are Christians today. The island was “discovered” by Columbus in 1494, but the Spanish colonization only began in 1509 when the Catholic Church was also established in the country. Today, Catholics make up only a few percent of the population. Instead, a variety of Protestant communities dominate. Protestantism came with the English who conquered the island in 1655. Among the Protestants, the Pentecostal friends are the most followed by Seventh-day Adventists, Methodists and Baptists. Other religions with few professors in the country are Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and Baha’i. It is estimated that just over 20 percent of residents are members of more than one community and as many say they have no religion. One-tenth of the population is referred to as spiritists (see spiritism) and is subject to Jamaican people’s religionkumina. Kumina developed during the slave era and is a syncretism between West African religions and Christianity. Kumina has striking similarities to Haiti’s voodoo and Cuba’s santería. During the sessions, spirits and gods communicate with the congregation through their media, which also performs exorcism and cure for illness. In addition, there are an estimated 30,000 rest breaks in the country. Rastafari is a religious movement with ethnic signs.
The country has no state religion. The Constitution provides detailed guarantees of religious freedom. The religious organizations have the right to run private schools without any special restrictions. Most of these schools are run either by the Catholic Church or by some Protestant community. The country has at least one Jewish school and two run by Jamaica’s Islamic Council.
There are no requirements for religious organizations to be registered. However, registration entails official recognition, which results in tax exemption.
The following days are national religious holidays: Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
