Jamaica sits in the heart of the Caribbean, a hub for sea routes, climate, and culture that connects several nearby nations and territories. Understanding those neighbors helps with trip planning, shipping, or just getting a clearer picture of the island’s regional setting.
There are 6 countries that border jamaica, ranging from Cayman Islands to Mexico. For each, you’ll find below the Flag, Boundary type, and Distance (km) to make it easy to compare maritime boundaries and proximity — you’ll find below.
Does Jamaica share any land borders with other countries?
No—Jamaica is an island nation, so it has no land borders; its connections to other countries are maritime. Neighboring states are defined by sea boundaries and exclusive economic zones, which determine fishing rights, resource claims, and shipping lanes.
How is the distance to neighboring countries usually calculated?
Distances are typically the shortest sea or great-circle distances between the nearest coastlines or reference points, reported in kilometers; official figures come from nautical charts, geodesic calculations, or government boundary treaties and are summarized in the table below.
Countries that Border Jamaica
| Name | Flag | Boundary type | Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 🇨🇺 | EEZ and territorial sea adjacency | 300 km |
| Haiti | 🇭🇹 | EEZ adjacency / nearest point | 190 km |
| Dominican Republic | 🇩🇴 | Nearest EEZ neighbor (proximate EEZs) | 210 km |
| Cayman Islands | 🇰🇾 | EEZ/territorial sea adjacency (UK territory) | 488 km |
| Mexico | 🇲🇽 | Nearest EEZ neighbor (Yucatán Peninsula) | 380 km |
| Colombia | 🇨🇴 | Nearest EEZ neighbor (San Andrés & Providencia) | 650 km |
Descriptions
Cuba
Jamaica and Cuba lie across the Jamaica Channel with overlapping territorial sea and EEZ claims; a maritime delimitation exists, making Cuba one of Jamaica’s closest maritime neighbors to the northwest, separated by roughly 300 kilometers at nearest points.
Haiti
Haiti (western Hispaniola) is Jamaica’s nearest large neighbor to the east; their exclusive economic zones approach each other in the Windward Passage. The shortest distance between Jamaican and Haitian baselines is roughly 190 kilometers.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic occupies eastern Hispaniola and is another proximate neighbor by sea. Jamaica and the Dominican Republic have nearby EEZs in the central Caribbean; formal delimitation is limited, with shortest separation roughly 210 kilometers between nearest baselines.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory) sit west-southwest of Jamaica; maritime zones between Jamaica and the Caymans are adjacent, and their EEZs approach each other across the western Caribbean. Nearest separation is about 488 kilometers.
Mexico
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula lies northwest of Jamaica across the western Caribbean; while no direct land contact exists, Mexico and Jamaica have proximate maritime zones. The shortest distance between Jamaican baselines and Mexican waters is about 380 kilometers.
Colombia
Colombia’s Caribbean islands of San Andrés and Providencia lie southeast of Jamaica; although farther away, their EEZs are among Jamaica’s more distant neighbors in the central Caribbean. The shortest separation is approximately 650 kilometers between baselines.
