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| Conventional Long Form: | none |
| Conventional Short Form: | Jamaica |
| Location: | Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba |
| Capital City: | Kingston |
| Government Type: | Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy |
| Population: | 2,665,636 (July 2001 est.) |
| Area [sq.km]: | 10,990 (slightly smaller than Connecticut) |
| Currency: | Jamaican dollar (JMD) |
| Languages: | English, Creole |
| National Holiday: | Independence Day, first Monday in August (1962) |
| Background: | Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office. Subsequent governments have been open market oriented. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s. |
