Jamaica is a popular destination among tourists who are looking forward to spending their time in a country with some of the most beautiful sights one will ever see.
This Caribbean country has everything that a tropical country has to offer: warm weather, friendly people, and crystal clear waters. However, Jamaica also has lots of other things for people who are interested in getting to know more than just its beauty; this country has a rich history and a spectacular culture that will certainly catch your attention!
In this article, we’re going to show you 8 interesting facts about Jamaica!
Jamaica Facts
1. The James Bond series was created in Jamaica.
The most famous spy in the history of the universe is, certainly, James Bond. However, what most people don’t know is that the beloved British hero came to life when his creator, Ian Fleming, was serving in Jamaica as a member of the Naval Intelligence Division and decided he wanted to have his home in the tropical island.
It was there, at the Goldeneye Estate, that Fleming wrote his brilliant novels that would go on to become the most famous spy stories of all time. Three of the stories were actually set on the island, and the movie franchise’s 25th installment will have some scenes in Jamaica as well.
2. The country’s official language is English.
Although Jamaica has its own national language, the country’s official language is English, an interesting fact about Jamaica. An official language is the language that is used in government-related stuff. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is the most widely used language in the country, as in the case of Jamaica, where the Jamaican Patois is more commonly spoken than Standard English.
The government’s official language is English due to the fact that Jamaica was a British colony for many, many years. In fact, Jamaica only became fully independent from the United Kingdom in 1962, though it is still part of the Commonwealth of Nations — meaning that the Queen of England is still the head of the state.
3. Jamaica is home to some of the fastest men on Earth.
Who doesn’t know Usain Bolt? Even if you’re not a fan of sports, you must certainly have heard his name at some point. To put it simply, Usain Bolt is the fastest man on the planet. The athlete established this record in 2009 during the World Championships in Athletics and no one else has been able to break his record, not even Bolt himself.
An interesting fact about Jamaica is that Usain Bolt was born and raised in this country, just like his fellow sprinters Yohan Blake and Asafa Powell, who are the second and the fourth fastest men on Earth, respectively.
You may be wondering, ‘why are Jamaican athletes so fast?’ Well, a study has shown that there may be a gene associated with explosive running — which is exactly what these athletes do in their 100m dash — and that this gene is present in Jamaicans more than in athletes of any other nationality.
4. This is the country with the most churches per square mile.
Jamaica is a very religious country, with over 60% of its 2.8 million population declaring themselves as Christians. Among this percentage of Christians, most are Protestants and others are Catholics.
Within the Protestant worship, many Jamaicans are part of the Church of God, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Baptist Church, and many others. Because of that, there are lots of places of worship scattered around the island, with an estimate of 2.75 churches per square mile, according to the National Library of Jamaica.
5. Jamaica produces one of the most expensive coffee beans in the world.
The highest point of Jamaican geography is the Blue Mountain Peak, at 2,256 meters. From the top of this mountain, tourists can see both the south and the north coast of the island, a fun Jamaica fact. However, the Blue Mountain is famous not only for providing such an incredible view of the island, but also because it is there where one of the rarest and most expensive coffees in the world is grown: the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee.
This coffee was introduced to Jamaica in 1728 and has since become one of the most popular coffee beans in the world due to its flavor that lacks bitterness. The mountains have a cool and misty climate and a very rich soil, making up for the perfect combination to grow coffee.
Most of the Blue Mountain coffee is exported to Japan but it can also be found on online stores, starting at $90!
6. Their flag is the only flag in the world that doesn’t share any colors in common with the U.S. flag.
Interestingly enough, Jamaica’s black, green, and yellow flag is one of the two flags in the world that don’t have any colors in common with the famous red, blue, and white flag of the United States of America.
Mauritania’s flag was the only other flag that didn’t have red, blue, or white in its design. However, that changed when two red stripes were added to the flag in 2017, which put Jamaica in a unique position as the only country in the world whose flag doesn’t have red, blue, or white.
7. Jamaicans are some of the happiest people in the world.
According to the Happy Planet Index, out of 140 countries, Jamaica ranks 11th in the ranking of happy countries, which means that the people in there are pretty happy, a fun interesting Jamaica fact.
Although they may face some hardships in life — just like many other people living in different countries —, Jamaicans always keep a smile on their faces and treat each other nicely. This happiness is also reflected in the way that natives welcome tourists into their homeland; there are lots of positive testimonials out there about how Jamaicans are incredibly hospitable and receive foreigners with open arms and a huge smile!
8. This is the land where reggae was created.
Lastly, it’s impossible to talk about Jamaica and not mention its signature music style: reggae music. One of the most popular genres in the world, this kind of music was created in the late 60s and it is a mixture of Jamaican rhythms such as ska and rocksteady.
Reggae became known worldwide with artists such as Bob Marley — who is possibly the most famous name in reggae music to this day — and Peter Tosh.
CONCLUSION
Jamaica is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations for people from all over the world. Displaying magnificent sights, beautiful crystal waters, and amazing cuisine, this country definitely has a lot to offer for people of all ages and backgrounds.
This tropical island that was colonized first by Spain and second by Great Britain has a rich history filled with inspiring and jaw-dropping events. There are a lot of interesting things to learn about Jamaica and its unique culture, so keep your mind open and learn more about this beautiful country!
I hope that this article on Jamaica facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!
