Moving to Jamaica from Zimbabwe

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Zimbabwe to Jamaica — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Zimbabwe to Jamaica. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kingston averages 89°F vs 78°F in Harare, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zimbabwe to Jamaica.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
6.7
JM
53.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZW
29.9
JM
17.8

Zimbabwe generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZW
$63
JM
$869
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZW
1.7
JM
5.5

Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZW
56.0
JM
22.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZW
0.8t
JM
2.8t

Zimbabwe generally does better on environment, though Jamaica leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZW
1.3
JM
15.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZW
46.1%
JM
12.4%

Jamaica performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZW
8.8%
JM
4.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZW
$3,500
JM
$10,300

Jamaica performs significantly better than Zimbabwe across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZW
63.3 yrs
JM
75.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZW
28.5
JM
11.2

Jamaica generally does better on family life, though Zimbabwe leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Harare Rain: 33.1 in/yr (841 mm)
78° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Harare Kingston
Jan–Mar 79°/59°F (26°/15°C) 87°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/49°F (24°/10°C) 89°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 76°/48°F (25°/9°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) 88°/73°F (31°/23°C)
View all months
Month Harare Kingston
Jan 79°/60°F (26.2°/15.8°C) 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C)
Feb 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.7°C) 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C)
Mar 79°/58°F (26.2°/14.5°C) 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C)
Apr 78°/54°F (25.6°/12.5°C) 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C)
May 75°/49°F (23.8°/9.3°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C)
Jun 71°/44°F (21.8°/6.8°C) 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C)
Jul 71°/44°F (21.6°/6.5°C) 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C)
Aug 75°/47°F (24.1°/8.5°C) 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C)
Sep 83°/53°F (28.4°/11.7°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C)
Oct 84°/58°F (28.8°/14.5°C) 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C)
Nov 82°/60°F (27.6°/15.5°C) 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C)
Dec 79°/60°F (26.3°/15.8°C) 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C)

Data: Meteorological Services Department Meteorological Services Department, Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zimbabwe and Jamaica. To live, work, or study long-term in Jamaica, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Jamaica's immigration authority.

Zimbabwe passport

Zimbabwe passport holder visiting Jamaica

Visa Required
Zimbabwe passport holders need a visa to enter Jamaica.
Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Zimbabwe

Visa Free
Jamaica passport holders can enter Zimbabwe without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Jamaica?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Jamaica has 15.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Jamaica safe for expats?

Zimbabwe generally does better on safety, though Jamaica leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.7 in Zimbabwe.

How is healthcare in Jamaica compared to Zimbabwe?

Jamaica generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zimbabwe leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Jamaica, compared to 1.7 in Zimbabwe. Jamaica scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zimbabwe: 55).

What's the weather like in Jamaica compared to Zimbabwe?

The average high temperature in Kingston is 89°F, compared to 78°F in Harare. Kingston receives around 32.0 in of rainfall per year, while Harare gets 33.1 in.

What language do they speak in Jamaica?

The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In Zimbabwe, the official languages are Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zimbabwean Sign Language.

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At a Glance

ZW JM
Population 15,121,004 2,818,596
Currency Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
Languages Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Khoisan, Ndau, Northern Ndebele, Shona, Sotho, Tonga, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zimbabwean Sign Language English, Jamaican Patois
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +263 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 999 119