Jamaica poverty rates drop

Jamaica is celebrating a record drop in its poverty rates, recording its lowest since these records began.

The figure of 8.2% for 2023 is the lowest ever recorded since Jamaica began measuring poverty rates in 1989. Although the latest recording is two years old, this percentage was nearly half of the recorded poverty rate of 16.7% in 2021. Latest figures are expected to be even better because of record numbers in the tourism industry, remittances from abroad and general political and societal stability. Crime figures, particularly murders, are significantly down.

Saint Thomas is considered the poorest parish in Jamaica, while rural areas across the country, such as in Hanover, tend to have higher poverty rates. Specific urban areas with high poverty include some parts of Kingston, Spanish Town, Savanna-la-Mar, and various neighbourhoods in Montego Bay.

Dr Wayne Henry is the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). He revealed the stats and confirmed that numbers for 2024 will be revealed by the end of the year. The data is detailed in the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, collected by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica.

Dr Henry noted that poverty levels increased in 2021 probably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this variability, Jamaica has progressed in reducing its poverty overall in the past decade, he said.

These decreasing numbers impacted both urban and rural areas. The poverty rate in the Greater Kingston Metropolitan area dropped from 10.4% in 2021 to 3% in 2023. Rural areas’ rates slashed from 22.1% to 11.5% between these years.

Jamaica also recorded a decline in food poverty, also known as extreme poverty. “In the Jamaican context, food poverty refers to the inability of a household to afford the minimum daily caloric intake required for good health,” said Dr Henry.

The progress also stems from economic stability and an increase in the minimum wage as social protection programs better serve nationals.

For many Jamaican families, the data translates into tangible improvements: more reliable income, better access to food and health care and a greater sense of optimism about the future.

Although Jamaica’s poverty reduction is historic, experts caution that the gains are fragile. While global inflation averaged 4.2% in 2025, down from 6.6% in 2023, it still erodes purchasing power for many families. Climate change also threatens agriculture and rural livelihoods as severe droughts and floods become more frequent.

If these challenges are not addressed, there is a risk that poverty rates could rise again.