Photo: Konstantin Papushin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Jamaica: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Jamaica is placed 132nd of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 32.6 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 130.14 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
132nd
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Jamaica on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
130.14
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Jamaica: 130.14. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Caribbean
- 11.03 Puerto Rico
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.72
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 117th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Jamaica: 0.72. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Caribbean
- 0.851 Antigua and Barbuda
02Over time
Which way Jamaica is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica rose from 81.86 in 2000 to 130.14 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2023 130.1 46.7 2022 137.6 53.0 2021 186.3 76.6 2020 126.2 56.0 2019 120.1 48.4 2018 112.2 49.3 2017 105.6 47.2 2016 102.1 50.6 2015 100.3 51.9 2014 99.8 52.8 2013 93.9 53.3 2012 88.9 54.6 2011 89.4 55.0 2010 94.2 56.1 2009 92.7 56.3 2008 91.0 55.8 2007 88.6 56.8 2006 88.9 58.1 2005 80.6 60.1 2004 77.1 63.0 2003 78.9 66.8 2002 80.8 66.0 2001 82.3 68.1 2000 81.9 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica rose from 0.659 in 2000 to 0.72 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2023 0.720 0.7620 2022 0.718 0.7610 2021 0.703 0.7450 2020 0.711 0.7425 2019 0.716 0.7515 2018 0.715 0.7520 2017 0.715 0.7480 2016 0.714 0.7500 2015 0.713 0.7430 2014 0.712 0.7410 2013 0.711 0.7390 2012 0.711 0.7350 2011 0.711 0.7250 2010 0.708 0.7250 2009 0.711 0.7220 2008 0.711 0.7180 2007 0.704 0.7100 2006 0.696 0.7045 2005 0.687 0.6960 2004 0.684 0.6960 2003 0.668 0.6910 2002 0.672 0.6845 2001 0.668 0.6770 2000 0.659 0.6720
03In context
Jamaica beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Jamaica and Caribbean
Jamaica has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Puerto Rico | 63rd | 58.9 | 11.03 | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | 66th | 65.4 | 34.57 | 0.851 |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 67th | 90.2 | 73.52 | 0.84 |
 Barbados | 79th | 56.7 | 34.88 | 0.811 |
 Cuba | 83rd | 63.9 | 34.79 | 0.762 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | =85th | 57.2 | 54.08 | 0.807 |
 Grenada | 92nd | 54.3 | 48.25 | 0.791 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 95th | 52 | 55.84 | 0.798 |
 Dominica | 96th | 53.2 | 35.55 | 0.761 |
 Bahamas | 99th | 49.1 | 75.95 | 0.82 |
 Dominican Republic | =106th | 61 | 124.47 | 0.776 |
 Saint Lucia | =110th | 40.1 | 43.96 | 0.748 |
| Jamaica | 132nd | 32.6 | 130.14 | 0.72 |
 Haiti | 177th | 6.6 | 327.56 | 0.554 |
 Anguilla | not placed | 68.9 | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | 94.3 | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | 78.3 | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | 94.2 | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | 47.9 | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | 81.2 | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | 52.1 | — | — |
 United States Virgin Islands | not placed | 66.7 | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
- Puerto Rico63rd
- Antigua and Barbuda66th
- Saint Kitts and Nevis67th
- Barbados79th
- Cuba83rd
- Trinidad and Tobago=85th
- Grenada92nd
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines95th
- Dominica96th
- Bahamas99th
- Dominican Republic=106th
- Saint Lucia=110th
- Jamaica132nd
- Haiti177th
- Anguillanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
- United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Jamaica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Jamaica is ahead of the world, and behind
44 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median18
Statistics on which Jamaica does better than the middle country measured.
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 13.84.64113.8No earlier reading
Jamaica: 4.641 · world median 13.8 · Children under 5 who are stunted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.518 to 52.8; lower is better.
Position 137th of 162 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.9711.0130.971▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 1.013 · world median 0.971 · Gender Development Index (1.000 = parity). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.407 to 1.038; higher is better.
Position 48th of 184 · derived.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0110.039No real change since 2018
Jamaica: 0.011 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 79th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2521.5914.252No earlier reading
Jamaica: 1.591 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 108th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919591▲ Improved since 2015
Jamaica: 95 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6527.6918.65No earlier reading
Jamaica: 27.69 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909390▲ Improved since 2015
Jamaica: 93 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.7535.123.75No earlier reading
Jamaica: 35.1 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5463.1743.546No earlier reading
Jamaica: 3.174 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 95th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Completeness of Birth RegistrationUNICEF · 2025 · world median 98.499.198.4No earlier reading
Jamaica: 99.1 · world median 98.4 · Children under 5 whose birth is registered (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.7 to 100; higher is better.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.11.182.1▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 1.18 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.887.880.8No earlier reading
Jamaica: 87.8 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.373.4769.3▲ Improved since 2016
Jamaica: 73.47 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 85th of 188 · derived.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,48653,17446,486No real change since 2010
Jamaica: 53,174 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 68th of 150 · derived.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23031,95025,230No real change since 2010
Jamaica: 31,950 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 70th of 151 · derived.
Planetary pressures-adjusted HDIUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6780.6860.678▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 0.686 · world median 0.678 · PHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.276 to 0.827; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 156 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.9339.969.933No real change since 2013
Jamaica: 9.96 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 96th of 193 · derived.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6746.6946.67▲ Improved since 2012
Jamaica: 46.69 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 97th of 195 · derived.
Behind the world median21
Statistics on which Jamaica does worse than the middle country measured.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.3580.351▲ Improved since 2013
Jamaica: 0.358 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 88th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.87675.8No earlier reading
Jamaica: 76 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 44th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.935.543.9No earlier reading
Jamaica: 35.5 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.5350.564▼ Worsened since 2017
Jamaica: 0.535 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 96th of 172 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8583.2232.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 3.223 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 89th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.939.645.9No earlier reading
Jamaica: 39.6 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.590.609▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 0.59 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 97th of 169 · derived.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5417.7914.54▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 17.79 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2616.3912.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 16.39 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 79th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,26511,35817,265No real change since 2015
Jamaica: 11,358 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 117th of 185 · derived.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6371.4874.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 71.48 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 145th of 222 · derived.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,8907,48212,890No real change since 2012
Jamaica: 7,482 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 109th of 166 · derived.
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10097.7100▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 97.7 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7432.9940.74No earlier reading
Jamaica: 32.99 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 91st of 136 · derived.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10095.7100▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 95.7 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3412.3813.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 12.38 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 131st of 195 · derived.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13413.658.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 13.65 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 64th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child MarriageUNICEF · 2025 · world median 17.126.917.1No earlier reading
Jamaica: 26.9 · world median 17.1 · Women 20–24 married before 18 (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.3; lower is better.
Position 44th of 143 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2113.6810.21▲ Improved since 2010
Jamaica: 13.68 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 44th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16313.718.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 13.71 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0721,1403,072▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 1,140 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 154th of 179 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0517.0517.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 17.05 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 85th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 11.267.69311.26Moved since 2015
Jamaica: 7.693 · world median 11.26 · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.481 to 43.97.
Position 97th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.5790.4092.579Moved since 2013
Jamaica: 0.409 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 104th of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 136.913No earlier reading
Jamaica: 6.9 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
No current reading for Jamaica
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution (last 2021), Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Foundational ID Ownership (last 2021), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day (last 2021), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day (last 2021), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day (last 2021), Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day (last 2021), Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day (last 2021) and Prosperity Gap (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Jamaica’s 16 topics
Development & Human Capital is Jamaica’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour25th of 1824/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 34th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security36th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge43rd of 1984/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties51st of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions56th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation93rd of 1763/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience103rd of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality86th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing120th of 2004/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture112th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade110th of 1773/4 keys
- Digital & Technology125th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital132nd of 1963/3 keys
- Energy123rd of 1653/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 143rd of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Jamaica can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada=27th3/3 keysHighest in Caribbean
Puerto Rico63rd2/3 keysThis page
Jamaica132nd3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Jamaica and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Jamaica on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Jamaica rank on development & human capital?
Jamaica is placed 132nd of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Jamaica?
32.6 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Jamaica?
130.14 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Jamaica’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio rose from 81.86 in 2000 to 130.14 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.659 in 2000 to 0.72 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Jamaica?
No current reading is published for Jamaica on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Country Policy and Institutional Assessment, Foundational ID Ownership, GNI per Capita (PPP), Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day and Prosperity Gap. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 44 statistics on this page come from 14 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Jamaica’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Jamaica (banner) — Konstantin Papushin, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Jamaica: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/jamaica/development