Jamaica — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Jamaica: capital Kingston, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Jamaica is in North America. Its capital is Kingston.

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid; temperate in the interior highlands

Mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains; Blue Mountains in the east

Jamaica is the birthplace of reggae music and Bob Marley.

Jamaica was the first Caribbean country to gain independence.

The Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica is considered one of the finest and most expensive coffees in the world.

1494: Christopher Columbus arrives in Jamaica

1655: England captures Jamaica from Spain

1834: Slavery abolished in Jamaica under the Emancipation Act

1962: Jamaica gains independence from the United Kingdom

2008: Usain Bolt wins triple gold at the Beijing Olympics, becoming the fastest man alive