The earthquake was located about 4km west-northwest of Hope Bay, according to the US Geological Survey.
It occurred at a shallow depth of 10km.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The earthquake prompted panic on the island.
Members attending the International Seabed Authority meeting that began on Monday could be seeing fleeing on camera before the broadcast cut off.
While small earthquakes are common in and around Jamaica - about 200 a year - large ones are rare.
The devastating Port Royal earthquake occurred in 1692, with a portion of the town sinking into the sea.
Then in 1907, a quake struck the capital Kingston, killing more than 1000 people.
Another big quake was reported in March 1957, affecting mostly western Jamaica, according to the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica.
The island sits atop the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone, which it shares with Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the US Geological Survey.
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