Jamaica Now Has One of the Lowest Fertility Rates Globally
Jamaica’s fertility rate has dropped to one of the lowest globally, with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2025 State of World Population report placing the country’s total fertility rate (TFR) at 1.3.
Falling below the replacement rate of 2.1, this figure is also under the global average of 2.2 and the Latin America and Caribbean regional average of 1.8.
The report groups Jamaica with countries facing population decline, such as China (0.7), Japan (1.2), South Korea (0.8), Greece (1.3), and Italy (1.2).
Economic challenges continue to be a major factor limiting people’s ability to reach their desired family size, according to the data.
Financial strain was identified by 39 per cent of respondents globally as influencing whether they had, or would have, the number of children they wanted.
Framing low birth rates as a result of women’s choices was flagged in the report as harmful and misleading.
Assigning women sole responsibility for fertility outcomes overlooks men’s role in reproduction and contributes to gender bias, the UNFPA warns.
Public commentary in Jamaica has included suggestions for financially stable women to consider motherhood, with officials raising concerns about national birth trends.
Instead of focusing on fertility rates themselves, the report urges a shift toward understanding whether individuals are free to make choices about reproduction.
Policy shortcomings and societal conditions, not personal decisions, are highlighted as key contributors to fertility trends.
In-depth qualitative data from 14 other countries showed that roughly 20 per cent of people had fewer children than they wanted, largely due to economic pressures.
While Jamaica was not among those studied qualitatively, its statistical trends suggest future challenges for workforce sustainability, healthcare, and aging populations.
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