πŸ‡―πŸ‡²Jamaica Political Stability: 45.3/100

Jamaica scores 45.3 out of 100 on the Political Stability Index, rated "Moderate" based on World Bank 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators across six governance dimensions.

Moderate
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Composite score is the unweighted average of six governance dimensions, each measured on a 0-100 percentile scale.

Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean, located between latitudes 17Β° and 19Β°N and longitudes 76Β° and 79Β°W. The island features a mountainous interior with notable peaks like Blue Mountain Peak, which stands at 2,256 meters. The capital city, Kingston, is situated on the south coast, while Montego Bay is a popular tourist destination on the north coast. Jamaica's climate is tropical, with hot and humid weather, and it is prone to hurricanes, having experienced significant storms in its history.

Jamaica has a population of approximately 2.9 million people. The official language is English, and Jamaican Patois is widely spoken. The country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by various ethnic groups, primarily of African descent.

Governance Indicators

Voice & Accountability59/100
Government Effectiveness49/100
Political Stability46/100
Regulatory Quality42/100
Control of Corruption40/100
Rule of Law36/100

Governance Profile: Jamaica

World Bank governance: rule of law 36th percentile, corruption control 40th percentile, political stability 46th percentile.

Jamaica's strongest governance dimension is Voice & Accountability at 59/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This indicates relatively strong citizen participation in selecting government, along with freedom of expression, association, and a free media.

The weakest dimension is Rule of Law at 36/100. Weaknesses in rule of law can affect contract enforcement, property rights, and the reliability of police and judicial systems.

A moderate spread of 23 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Jamaica's moderate governance scores suggest travelers should prepare for some institutional inconsistency. Public services may be unreliable in certain areas, and regulatory enforcement can be uneven. Travel insurance and advance planning are recommended.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Jamaica as Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.

NA Governance Comparison

Top governance performers in NA based on the corruption composite ranking (weighted: 60% corruption control, 25% rule of law, 15% government effectiveness).

CountryScore
πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦Canada87.2
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡ΈUnited States79.6
πŸ‡§πŸ‡§Barbados68.9
πŸ‡¬πŸ‡±Greenland68.1
πŸ‡§πŸ‡ΈBahamas65.8
πŸ‡―πŸ‡²Jamaica40

Common Questions About Jamaica's Political Stability

What is Jamaica's political stability score?+
Jamaica has a composite political stability score of 45.3 out of 100, placing it in the "Moderate" category. This score is the average of six World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators for 2023: Voice & Accountability, Political Stability, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption.
What do the World Bank governance indicators measure?+
The six indicators come from the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) project. Each measures a different dimension of governance on a 0-100 percentile scale. Voice & Accountability captures perceptions of citizen participation and media freedom. Political Stability measures the likelihood of political instability or violence. Government Effectiveness assesses the quality of public services and policy implementation. Regulatory Quality evaluates the government's ability to formulate sound policies. Rule of Law captures confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, and courts. Control of Corruption measures the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain.
How does Jamaica's stability affect travel safety?+
Governance indicators provide context beyond traditional travel advisories. Jamaica's strongest area is Voice & Accountability (59/100) and its weakest is Rule of Law (36/100). Moderate governance means travelers should expect some inconsistency in public services and regulatory enforcement.
How does Jamaica compare to other countries in NA?+
Within NA, Jamaica ranks among 6 peer countries with available governance data. Its composite score of 45.3/100 places it in the lower half of the regional ranking.
When was this data last updated?+
The governance data on this page is from the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators 2023 dataset. The WGI project publishes annual updates covering over 200 countries. This page is refreshed every six hours to incorporate any new data from our sources.

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