KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica now has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 2025 State of World Population report.

The report says Jamaican women are now having an average of 1.3 children in their lifetime. That’s much lower than the 2.1 children needed to keep the population stable.

Only five countries have lower fertility rates than Jamaica: South Korea, Singapore, San Marino, China, and Malta. Jamaica shares the same rate as Japan, Italy, Spain, Cyprus, and Bosnia.

Between 1995 and 2000, Jamaica’s fertility rate was 2.50, which means that figure has been nearly cut in half in just over two decades.

In 2024, Health Minister Christopher Tufton urged women to have children if they can afford to while acknowledging the socio-economic issues.

The UNFPA, however, advised governments to not force people to have more children with quick fixes or pressure. Instead, it said they should focus on things that really help families like better healthcare, job security, affordable housing, and support for parents.