Jamaican demographic

Tarjei G. Olsen

Table of content• Ethnic • Language• Emigration• Crime• Religion• National Symbols• Culture

Ethnic origins• Majority originates from Africa– Akan/ Coromantee and Igbo

• Second larges group is multiracial Jamaicans– A lot of Irish– self-report themselves as “Jamaican”

• Third largest group comes from India and China• Lot of minority groups• Immigration increasing • Chegro/Chigro ?

Language• English with African accent• Called Jamaican Patois• Reggae music• Jamaican Patois based of English, but

reformed grammar.

Emigration• The United Kingdom, The United States and Canada– About 20,000 granted permanent residence in the

US every year• Estimated that 2.5 million Jamaicans live somewhere

else than Jamaica.• 60% of highly educated emigrate

Crime• One of the highest murder rates in the world• Kingston– A lot of crime and violence

• Hostile towards the gay community– Mob attacks have been reported

• Some human-rights groups call Jamaica:– The most homophobic place on earth.

Religion• Largest: Christianity• Second largest: Church of God of Prophecy• Third Largest: Seventh-day Adventist Church

National Symbols• National Bird: Doctor Bird• National Flower: Lignum Vitae• National Motto: “Out of Many, One People”• National Tree: Blue Mahoe• National Fruit: Ackee

Culture• Music

– Reggae• Bob Marley

• Art– Jamaican everyday life

• Folk Lure– Stories and ballads passed down

• Dance and drama

• Food– Jerk Chicken Recipes – Jerk Pork – Red Stripe Beer

• Traditions– Christmas cake – Sorrel(Christmas drink)– Pudding at Christmas time– Fried fish– Nine Night after the death of a loved

Source Siting

• Author unknown, Jun 1, 2002http://www.jamaicans.com/childsguide/facts.shtml , [downloaded 03.02.2011]• Author unknown, http

://www.getjamaica.com/Jamaican%20Culture.asp , [downloaded 03.02.2011]

• Author unknown, last modified on 1 March 2011,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica#Demographics , [downloaded 03.02.2011]