What is the official currency of Jamaica?

The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar.

The Jamaican dollar is abbreviated JMD and is divided into 100 cents. Its symbol is commonly written as $, though J$ may be used to distinguish it from other dollar currencies. Banknotes and coins are issued by the Bank of Jamaica, the country’s central bank.

Jamaica introduced its own dollar in 1969, replacing the Jamaican pound. The change formed part of the country’s post-independence effort to align its monetary system with decimal currency. Modern Jamaican banknotes feature national figures and cultural symbols, while coins carry denominations expressed in dollars and cents.

The Jamaican dollar is not the same as the United States dollar, even though both use the word “dollar” and a similar symbol. U.S. dollars are commonly accepted in some tourist areas, hotels, and businesses, but the Jamaican dollar remains the official national currency. The Bahamian dollar and Eastern Caribbean dollar are separate currencies used elsewhere in the Caribbean.