Population Census 2001 Facts

The number of persons usually resident in Jamaica at September 10, 2001 adjusted for under coverage is 2,607,632.

Private Dwellings 2,587,831
Institutions - 19,399

Found on the streets between 5 and 7 am on September 26 - 402

The overall increase in the ten years since 1991 was 226,965 or 9.5 per cent.

The average annual growth rate of 0.91% was only slightly lower than the 0.93% growth seen for the previous intercensal period and significantly lower than the 1.42 % for the 1970-1982 intercensal period.

Between 1991 and 2001, the parish of St. Catherine grew 26.3% nearly three times the rate observed for the country as a whole.

Kingston declined by 3.7, while St. Andrew grew by only 3.0%.

Just over half (52%) of the population lives in areas classified as urban in 2001. This represents an increase of 2% over the1991 share.

Growing at an annual rate of 1.42% between 1991 and 2001, the urban population moved from 1,192,000 to 1,354,900. Notwithstanding the impressive increases however, it was only in four parishes; Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and ST. James that the urban population was in excess of 50% of the total population of the parish.

The population for the KMA alone in 2001 stood at 579,137, representing 88.8% of the population of Kingston and St. Andrew combined and 22.2% of the country's population.

Outside the KMA the largest capital town in 2001 was Spanish Town in St. Catherine with 131,515 and the smallest, Black River in St. Elizabeth, with 4,095.

The 2001 Census results show that of the total population, 1,324,085 were females and 1,283,547 were males. The excess of females over males dropped to 40,537 in 2001 compared to 45,673 in 1991. This resulted in a small increase in the sex ratio, from 96.2 in 1991 to 96.9 in 2001.

In 2001 there were 599,800 housing units, 723,000private dwellings and 748,000 households. A total of 137,900 units were added to the housing stock in 10 years. This represents an increase of almost 30% St. Catherine was the parish experiencing the largest increase, 47%. The number of occupied dwellings at Census 2001 was 723,343.

The average number of persons per dwelling in 2001 was 3.6 down from 4.2 in 1991.

Summary of Population Movements: 1960 - 2001

Click here to see the Census Population Pyramid Graphs

Director of Censuses, Demographics and Social Statistics Valerie Nam, at the launching of the2001 Preliminary Population and Housing Census Report.

From left to right: Mrs Valerie Nam, Sonia Jackson Director General of Statin, Wesley Hughes Director General of PIOJ and Carol Archer, Board Member at the launching of the 2001 Preliminary Population and Housing Census Report.

Sample Questionnaires

Household *
Individual -Short *
Individual - Long *

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