country profile

Jamaica

Latin America & CaribbeanUpper middle income2.84M population

Last updated August 4, 2026

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Emerging readiness

Composite GEFRI Score

Infrastructure is a strength, but Innovation lags

Jamaica demonstrates early-stage readiness to meet the challenges and opportunities of education in a rapidly changing world (47th percentile worldwide). Investments are generating initial gains, yet substantial gaps persist in several dimensions.

59.66Composite score
Global percentile
47th
Global rank
#95
Regional rank
#14
Viewing data for
Advanced readiness
Infrastructure
76.46
48th percentileGlobal avg. 70.44
Progressing readiness
Human Capital
70.40
49th percentileGlobal avg. 66.18
Severely underprepared
Innovation
36.66
32nd percentileGlobal avg. 48.64
Emerging readiness
Governance
53.66
67th percentileGlobal avg. 47.07
Progressing readiness
Access & Parity
61.11
44th percentileGlobal avg. 60.85

Country profile

Jamaica remains in the emerging-readiness range, with progress visible but major gaps still limiting future readiness. Most dimension scores sit close to global norms, without a single dimension standing far above the rest.

Uneven scores across dimensions show where readiness conditions are less aligned. High internet adoption enables broad participation in digital learning and innovation.

Sparse R&D investment and a small research workforce slow experimentation and delay new ideas from reaching learners. Girls outperform boys in secondary pathways, adding pressure to address male dropout risks.

Some indicators are imputed, so the profile should be read with moderate caution.

Key insights

Places 95th worldwide.

Holds a regional position of 14th within Latin America & Caribbean.

Scores range from Infrastructure (76.5) to Innovation (36.7), reflecting variation across dimensions.

Regional peers: Latin America & Caribbean

Composite GEFRI Score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
341Chile80.13
382Uruguay76.69
433Argentina74.85
Cayman IslandsMicrostate70.01
St. Kitts and NevisMicrostate69.53
604Brazil69.26
695Colombia68.53
716Peru68.39
BarbadosMicrostate66.83
Antigua and BarbudaMicrostate66.10
797Trinidad and Tobago65.94
818Mexico65.54
ArubaMicrostate64.50
St. Vincent and the GrenadinesMicrostate64.29
DominicaMicrostate63.94
Turks and Caicos IslandsMicrostate63.69
GrenadaMicrostate63.56
839Puerto Rico63.46
8710Ecuador62.36
8811Cuba62.30
8912Costa Rica61.97
9213Dominican Republic60.49
St. LuciaMicrostate60.04
9514Jamaica59.66
Virgin Islands (U.S.)Microstate59.62
9615Panama59.61
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)Microstate59.40
9916Bolivia58.51
10217Belize57.80
10418Paraguay56.84
10519Bahamas, The56.82
St. Martin (French part)Microstate55.74
British Virgin IslandsMicrostate55.73
CuracaoMicrostate54.98
11120Venezuela, RB52.57
11421Guyana50.25
11722El Salvador47.95
12123Suriname45.13
13424Honduras41.17
13625Guatemala39.36
13726Nicaragua38.63
16627HaitiFCS27.97