A single storm erased a quarter’s worth of growth, exposing how quickly Jamaica’s economic momentum can be undone.
The economy contracted 7.1% in the final quarter of 2025, reversing earlier gains and revealing the scale of disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Agriculture, mining, construction, and tourism all declined, pointing to a broad, system-wide shock rather than an isolated downturn.
The damage was not theoretical, it was physical, affecting land, homes, infrastructure, and the ability to build and rebuild.
Despite the contraction, full-year growth remained marginally positive, suggesting resilience, but not necessarily strength.
The deeper question now is not whether Jamaica can recover, but how often it can afford to.
Jamaica’s economy contracted by 7.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, a sharp reversal driven largely by the effects of Hurricane Melissa, underscoring how quickly national growth can be undone and raising deeper questions about the c…
