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2011 Census of Population & Housing - Jamaica
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Approximately 39 per cent of the population lived in parish capitals. The total
population of the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA) and all parish capitals was
1,041,084. This compares with 993,581 in 2001 and reflects a 5 per cent increase. The
population of the KMA alone was 584,627 representing 88 per cent of the parishes of
Kingston and St Andrew. Outside the KMA, the largest capital town was Spanish
Town in St Catherine with 147,152 followed by Montego Bay (110,115), May Pen
(61,548) and Mandeville (49,695). Other parish capitals with populations in excess of
10,000 but less than 40,000 were Savanna La Mar (22,633), Port Antonio (14,816), Morant
Bay (11,052) and St Ann’s Bay (11,173). All remaining parish capitals had populations of
between 5,000 and 10,000 (Falmouth (8,686), Port Maria (7,463), Lucea (7,131) and Black
River (5,352).
In terms of growth the largest percentage increases are seen for the smaller capitals of
Black River (23 per cent) and Lucea (12 per cent). The population of Black River moved
from 4,095 to 5,352 and Lucea from 6,062 to 7,131. Of the larger capitals Spanish Town
increased by 11 per cent from 131,515 to 147,152 and Montego Bay rose by 12 per cent
from 96,477 to 110,207. Of note also is the 12 per cent increase in the population of
Savanna La Mar from 19,893 to 22,633. Large capitals with comparatively small increase
in population between 2001 and 2011 are May Pen by 7 per cent from 57,334 to 61,548
and Mandeville by 4 per cent from 47,467 to 49,695
Outside of the KMA where 88 per cent of the population of the parishes of Kingston
and St Andrew was found and Montego Bay where 60 per cent of the population of St
James was found, the capital towns of Spanish Town, Mandeville and May Pen
accounted for more than a quarter of the population of the parishes of St Catherine,
Manchester and Clarendon respectively. Spanish Town accounted for 29 per cent of the
parish of St Catherine, Mandeville accounted for 26 per cent of the parish of Manchester
while May Pen’s share of the parish of Clarendon was 25 per cent.
The 2001 Census report (STATIN, 2003) stated that “One of the most significant aspects
of urbanization in Jamaica evident since 1970 has been the development and growth of
centres outside the parish capitals. Some of these centres have actually surpassed the
capitals in population size. Perhaps the most outstanding growth witnessed over the
past three decades has been the development of the Portmore community in the
southern part of St. Catherine.” Other towns noted were Old Harbour, Linstead, Bog
Walk and Ewarton in St Catherine, Ocho Rios in St Ann, Negril in Westmoreland and
Santa Cruz in St Elizabeth. When population changes for the period 2001 and 2011 are
examined for these towns the general picture is one of a slowed rate of change and even
declines for some of these towns reflecting the low rate at the national level.