Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaica’s poverty rate has declined to its lowest level in recorded history, falling to 8.2 percent in 2023—an extraordinary 50.8 percent reduction from the 16.7 percent rate recorded in 2021. This remarkable achievement was announced by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) during its quarterly press briefing on Wednesday.
The figure, which marks the lowest poverty rate since the metric was first recorded in 1989, was derived from the latest Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).
- Advertisement -
PIOJ Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry, attributed the decline primarily to Jamaica’s strong post-COVID-19 economic recovery. He highlighted several key factors that contributed to the downward trend, including a sharp rise in employment, a substantial 86 percent increase in the national minimum wage, reinforced social protection programs, and consistent remittance inflows.
“In addition to this decline in poverty, there was also a reduction in food poverty—also referred to as extreme poverty. In 2023, the food poverty rate fell to 2.8 percent, down from 5.8 percent in 2021 and 4 percent in 2019, also marking the lowest level on record,” Dr. Henry reported.
Notably, no data was collected in 2022 due to pandemic-related disruptions which stalled critical fieldwork. Despite this gap, the current data underscores a positive and significant shift in the socioeconomic landscape.
The PIOJ also released preliminary economic estimates for the March 2025 quarter, indicating that Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.8 percent. According to Dr. Henry, this growth was “largely driven by the return of growth to most industries, increased domestic demand, and higher employment.”
He further noted that, “Preliminary data indicates that the economy continues to recover from the effects of the hydrological shocks during the latter half of 2024.”
Looking ahead, the PIOJ projects that the Jamaican economy will grow between 0.5 to 1.5 percent during the April to June 2025 quarter. For the fiscal year 2025/26, growth is forecasted in the range of 1 to 2 percent.
Dr. Henry also acknowledged ongoing uncertainties in the global economic environment, particularly those stemming from geopolitical tensions and evolving trade policies. “These uncertainties have the ability to constrain economic activities, but the PIOJ will continue to carefully monitor and assess developments as more information becomes available,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Henry emphasized the broader significance of the poverty reduction: “In relation to the poverty outturn, it shows potential for sustained reduction with the implementation of key policies and programs.”
The recent figures offer an optimistic outlook for Jamaica’s ongoing social and economic development, reinforcing the importance of data-driven policy interventions and the resilience of the nation’s recovery efforts.
