Jamaica’s growth rate between 2002 and 2016 has gradually declined with a growth rate of 0.36% between 2002 and 2003 and 0.06% between 2015 and 2016. In fact, Jamaica experienced an overall negative population growth of -0.02% for 2016 to 2017 and -0.06% for 2017 to 2018. Important to note, the elderly age range, 60 and over along with age range 25-29, saw a positive growth between 2017 and 2018 (see table 1). Despite the overall negative growth in recent years, Jamaica’s population is projected to increase  from 2.7 million to 3.2 million in 2025 and 3.8 million in 2050 (STATIN, n.d.).

Table 1. Estimated growth rates, 2017-2018

Age Range	Rate
0-4	-2.15
5-9	-3.38
10-14	-1.60
15-19	-3.27
20-24	-2.21
25-59	1.18
60 and over	3.14

Data Source: Adapted from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, 2018

Changes in the population growth trends in the demographic structure of Jamaica are being influenced by continuing declines in fertility rates, and by an increase in mortality combined with high levels of external migration. Based on statistical trends, it is projected that by 2050, children will account for 20 per cent of the general population, representing a 57.4 per cent decline from 1970.

Total Fertility Rate:

After years of steady decline, Jamaica’s total fertility rate is now at two children per woman according to the State of the World Population 2018 report (The Gleaner, 2018).

Median age of the population

According to the CIA World Fact Book, the median age of Jamaicans is 28.6 years; for men it is 27.8 years and for women, 29.3 years (CIA World Factbook, 2019).

 References:

CIA World Factbook. (2019). Jamaica. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/jamaica/

Statistical Institute of Jamaica. (2018). https://statinja.gov.jm/

The Gleaner. (2018, November 9). Two is enough – Ja continues to see steady decline in fertility rate | Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20181109/two-enough-ja-continues-see-steady-decline-fertility-rate