
Photo: Konstantin Papushin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Jamaica: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Jamaica is placed 123rd of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 562.4 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 12.6 (2024).
Share
Energy
123rd
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Jamaica on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
562.4
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Jamaica: 562.4. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Caribbean
- 539.53 Haiti
12.6
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Jamaica: 12.6. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Caribbean
- 18.85 Dominican Republic
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
57.3
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 70th of 99 by World Energy Council
Jamaica: 57.3. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Caribbean
- 58.1 Dominican Republic
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.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica fell from 634.71 in 2000 to 562.4 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2024 562.4 433.7 2023 564.8 452.7 2022 561.9 476.3 2021 557.2 469.0 2020 554.4 482.0 2019 571.3 488.2 2018 562.9 500.4 2017 580.6 506.3 2016 588.2 521.9 2015 600.0 524.8 2014 601.9 522.3 2013 605.6 508.8 2012 600.9 525.4 2011 608.5 521.4 2010 615.0 515.5 2009 615.9 533.6 2008 621.0 517.2 2007 629.4 535.3 2006 636.0 537.5 2005 636.8 521.4 2004 639.7 523.1 2003 643.7 543.1 2002 646.0 551.3 2001 641.4 559.3 2000 634.7 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
JamaicaWorld median
Jamaica rose from 4.579 in 2000 to 12.6 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Jamaica World median 2024 12.60 32.062 2023 12.16 28.000 2022 12.92 28.881 2021 13.33 28.286 2020 13.79 27.125 2019 12.72 26.296 2018 14.65 25.505 2017 11.64 24.023 2016 12.25 22.218 2015 10.28 21.915 2014 9.86 21.151 2013 9.32 21.593 2012 10.21 19.869 2011 8.72 18.584 2010 7.64 18.572 2009 7.50 17.886 2008 6.15 15.923 2007 4.95 15.586 2006 3.73 15.392 2005 3.61 16.438 2004 3.17 16.445 2003 2.51 16.339 2002 2.16 13.826 2001 3.39 14.023 2000 4.58 15.612
03In context
Jamaica beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, 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 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| =108th | 539.53 | 18.61 | — | |
| 113th | 549 | 17 | — | |
| 115th | 567.33 | 18.85 | 58.1 | |
| 123rd | 562.4 | 12.6 | 57.3 | |
| 124th | 573.33 | 13.33 | — | |
| 130th | 600.9 | 9.009 | — | |
| 131st | 604.35 | 8.696 | — | |
| 135th | 608.11 | 8.108 | — | |
| 142nd | 632.39 | 4.225 | — | |
| =144th | 656.55 | 6 | — | |
| 146th | 637.04 | 3.704 | — | |
| 148th | 642.92 | 4.014 | — | |
| =150th | 681.26 | 0.105 | 57.7 | |
| 152nd | 642.5 | 2.5 | — | |
| 156th | 652.44 | 0.889 | — | |
| 160th | 658.33 | 0 | — | |
| 163rd | 700 | 0 | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — | |
| not placed | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Haiti=108th
Aruba113th
Dominican Republic115th
Jamaica123rd
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines124th
Barbados130th
Saint Kitts and Nevis131st
Antigua and Barbuda135th
Cayman Islands142nd
Puerto Rico=144th
Turks and Caicos Islands146th
Cuba148th
Trinidad and Tobago=150th
Saint Lucia152nd
Bahamas156th
Grenada160th
Montserrat163rd
Anguillanot placed
British Virgin Islandsnot placed
Curaçaonot placed
Dominicanot placed
Saint Martinnot placed
Sint Maartennot placed
United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Jamaica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Jamaica is ahead of the world, and behind
25 more statistics filed under energy, 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 median4
Statistics on which Jamaica does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7716.3625.77No earlier reading
Jamaica: 16.36 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 128th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2798.9435.279▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 8.943 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.212.9593.21No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 2.959 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 111th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2349.2348.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 49.23 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Jamaica does worse than the middle country measured.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2632.9433.26▼ Worsened since 2013
Jamaica: 32.94 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
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.
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.
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10097.76100No real change since 2016
Jamaica: 97.76 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7383.8382.738No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 3.838 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3212.637.32▼ Worsened since 2014
Jamaica: 12.6 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 122nd of 162 · derived.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8563.2124.85No earlier reading
Jamaica: 63.21 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
No better end13
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58556.912.585Moved since 2014
Jamaica: 56.91 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.3864.273No earlier reading
Jamaica: 4.386 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0493.0493.049Moved since 2014
Jamaica: 3.049 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.542.6749.5No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 42.67 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 10099.3100No earlier reading
Jamaica: 99.3 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.1170.144No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 0.117 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.852.43912.85Moved since 2014
Jamaica: 2.439 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Jamaica: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.0020.077No real change since 2014
Jamaica: 0.002 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 5250525No earlier reading
Jamaica: 0 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.
No current reading for Jamaica
RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. 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
Energy among Jamaica’s 16 topics
Energy is Jamaica’s 15th 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 energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Jamaica can most readily be measured against.
1Bhutan
Southern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2Norway
Northern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3Uganda
Eastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Venezuela=8th2/3 keys
Highest in Caribbean
Haiti=108th2/3 keys
This page
Jamaica123rd3/3 keys
Positions out of 165 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.
07Questions
Jamaica on energy: 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 energy?
Jamaica is placed 123rd of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Jamaica?
562.4 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Jamaica?
12.6 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How have Jamaica’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 634.71 in 2000 to 562.4 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 4.579 in 2000 to 12.6 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Jamaica?
No current reading is published for Jamaica on RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy 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 energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 25 statistics on this page come from 8 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
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Jamaica: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/jamaica/energy