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Jamaica
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Jamaica in a nutshell
(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica)
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 234 kilometres (145 mi) in length and as much as 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width, amounting to 11,100 km2. It is the third largest island and the fourth largest country in the Caribbean.
Jamaica is about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 190 kilometres (120 mi) west of Haiti on the island of Hispaniola, on which the Dominican Republic is also located.
Its indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning the Land of Wood and Water, or the Land of Springs. Formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, it later became the British Crown colony of Jamaica.
Jamaica has a population of 2.8 million - it is the third most populous anglophone country in North America, after the United States and Canada.
Its capital is Kingston.
It remains in the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.
Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes. The parishes are grouped into three historic counties (Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey) - but these have no administrative relevance.
Jamaica's population mainly consists of people of African descent. Multiracial Jamaicans make up much of the population also. The Indian and Chinese population is together around 160,000. Some 20,000 Latin Americans and 7000 US Americans also reside in Jamaica.
The official language of Jamaica is English. In informal discourse, Jamaicans primarily speak an English-African Creole language known as Jamaican Patois, which has become known widely through the spread of Reggae music.
Christians make up somewhat over half of the population, approximately 59% percent - the remainder are spread among several religions.