how old is jamaica

Jamaica as an island has human settlement history dating back over 2,500 years. The original inhabitants, the Arawaks or Taínos, settled around 600 to 800 AD. The island was first encountered by Europeans when Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494. Jamaica became a British colony in 1655 and gained full independence on August 6, 1962. So, Jamaica as a landmass with human habitation is about 2,500 years old, while its modern nationhood as an independent country is about 63 years old as of 2025.