Some areas of Jamaica, particularly population centers such as Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town, experience high levels of crime and violence.[1] Jamaica has had one of the highest intentional homicide rates in the world for many years, according to United Nations estimates.[2] Former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson described the situation as "a national challenge of unprecedented proportions".[3]
Murder rate
When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, the murder rate was 3.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the lowest in the world.[4] In 2022, Jamaica had 1,508 murders, for a murder rate of 53.34 per 100,000 people,[5] the highest murder rate in the world.[2][6]
Jamaica recorded 1,680 murders in 2009.[7] In 2010, there were 1,428, in 2011, 1,125. 2012 saw 1,097, 2013, 1,200. 2014 totaled 1,192, 2015, 1,450, 2016, 1,350, 2017, 1,616 and 2018, 1,287.[8][9] 1,508 murders were reported in 2022.[10]
Emergencies
On November 15, 2022, the Jamaican Prime MinisterAndrew Holness declared a state of emergency for certain regions of Jamaica because of rising crime rates.[13] Some areas affected by the measures include the capital Kingston, and the popular tourist destination of Montego Bay.[14][15] This followed a travel warning from the U.S. State Department suggesting travelers to not travel to certain areas of the country due to crime rates.[16]
^"North and Central America and Caribbean Jamaica". Travel advice by country. United Kingdom, Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 20 March 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
^ a b"Crime > Murders > Per capita: Countries Compared". Nationmaster. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
^"Washington Post Foreign Service". Nisat.org. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
^"Crime and crisis in Jamaica". www.focal.ca. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
^"Intentional homicide". dataUNODC. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
^"Intentional homicide". dataUNODC. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
^Wilkinson, Bert. "MURDERS OFF THE CHARTS". Caribbean Life. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
^"Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
^diGJamaica (24 January 2019). "Murder in Jamaica 2018 —". diG Jamaica. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
^[1]
^[2]
^[3]
^Chappell, Kate; Ellsworth, Brian (16 November 2022). "Jamaica declares regional states of emergency due to gang violence". Reuters. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
^Miller, Andrew (16 November 2022). "Jamaica issues state of emergency in response to surging crime that includes tourist haven Montego Bay". Fox News. Reuters. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via Fox News.
^Miller, Andrew Mark (16 November 2022). "Jamaica declares state of emergency over surging crime, including tourist hot spot Montego Bay". Fox News. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via NY Post.
^"Jamaica Travel Advisory". travel.state.gov. Retrieved 3 December 2022.