World Factbook
Dominica
Introduction
Background
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which colonized the island in 1805. Slavery ended in 1833 and in 1835 the first three men of African descent were elected to the legislative assembly of Dominica. In 1871, Dominica became part first of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958. In 1967 Dominica became an associated state of the UK, and formally took responsibility for its internal affairs. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. On 18 September 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.
Geography
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total: 751 sq km
land: 751 sq km
water: NEGL
country comparison to the world: 189
Area - comparative
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
148 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
Climate
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain
rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m
Natural resources
timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 34.7% (2011 est.)
arable land: 8% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 24% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 2.7% (2011 est.)
forest: 59.2% (2011 est.)
other: 6.1% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
NA
Population distribution
population is mosly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated
Natural hazards
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months volcanism: Dominica was the last island to be formed in the Caribbean some 26 million years ago, it lies in the middle of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); the two best known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain and both are popular tourist destinations
Environment - current issues
water shortages a continuing concern; pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone by agricultural and industrial chemicals, and untreated sewage
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world
People and Society
Population
74,027 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Nationality
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups
African descent 86.6%, mixed 9.1%, indigenous 2.9%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2001 est.)
Languages
English (official), French patois
Religions
Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 28.6% (includes Evangelical 6.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.1%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, other 1.2%), Rastafarian 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 0.3%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.1% (2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 21.62%(male 8,187 /female 7,815)
15-24 years: 14.37%(male 5,473 /female 5,167)
25-54 years: 42.59%(male 15,985 /female 15,541)
55-64 years: 9.99%(male 3,927 /female 3,470)
65 years and over: 11.43%(male 3,814 /female 4,648) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Median age
total: 34 years (2018 est.)
male: 33.5 years
female: 34.5 years
country comparison to the world: 88
Population growth rate
0.17% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Birth rate
15 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Death rate
7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Net migration rate
-5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Population distribution
population is mosly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated
Urbanization
urban population: 70.8% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
15,000 ROSEAU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 132
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.4 years (2018 est.)
male: 74.4 years
female: 80.5 years
country comparison to the world: 73
Total fertility rate
2.03 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 95.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population
Current Health Expenditure
5.3% (2016)
Physicians density
1.08 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
3.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 79.6% of population (2007 est.)
rural: 84.3% of population (2007 est.)
total: 81.1% of population (2007 est.)
unimproved: urban: 20.4% of population (2007 est.)
rural: 15.7% of population (2007 est.)
total: 18.9% of population (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.6% (2018)
country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
<500 (2018)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<100 (2018)
Major infectious diseases
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 33
Education expenditures
3.4% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 125
People - note
3,000-3,500 Kalinago (Carib) still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the Caribbean; only 70-100 may be "pure" Kalinago because of years of integration into the broader population
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
etymology: the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday ("Domingo" in Latin), 3 November 1493
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is French for "reed"; the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area
Administrative divisions
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence
3 November 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution
history: previous 1967 (preindependence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978
amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as fundamental rights and freedoms, the government structure, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by three fourths of the Assembly membership in the final reading of the amendment bill, approval by simple majority in a referendum, and assent of the president; amended several times, last in 2015 (2018)
Legal system
common law based on the English model
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Charles A. SAVARIN (since 2 October 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president nominated by the prime minister and leader of the opposition party and elected by the House of Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 1 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2023); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed
Legislative branch
description: unicameral House of Assembly (32 seats; 21 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 senators appointed by the president - 5 on the advice of the prime minister, and 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, plus 2 ex-officio members - the house speaker and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 December 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but technically it is 5 years from the first seating of parliament plus a 90-day grace period
election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 57.0%, UWP 42.9%, other 0.1%; seats by party - DLP 15, UWP 6; composition - men 25, women 7, percent of women 21.9%
Judicial branch
highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Dominica; note - in 2015, Dominica acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London
judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
subordinate courts: Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders
Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Judith PESTAINA]
Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]
Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Lennox LINTON]
International organization participation
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, Commonwealth of Nations, ECCU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Ambassador Vince HENDERSON (since 18 January 2017)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica
Flag description
green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou parrot, unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the triple-colored cross represents the Christian Trinity; the yellow color denotes sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the native Carib Indians; black is for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens; white signifies rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc stands for social justice
National symbol(s)
Sisserou parrot, Carib Wood flower; national colors: green, yellow, black, white, red
National anthem
name: Isle of Beauty
lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN
note: adopted 1967
Economy
Economy - overview
The Dominican economy was dependent on agriculture - primarily bananas - in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism, as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. However, Hurricane Maria, which passed through the island in September 2017, destroyed much of the country’s agricultural sector and caused damage to all of the country’s transportation and physical infrastructure. Before Hurricane Maria, the government had attempted to foster an offshore financial industry and planned to sign agreements with the private sector to develop geothermal energy resources. At a time when government finances are fragile, the government’s focus has been to get the country back in shape to service cruise ships. The economy contracted in 2015 and recovered to positive growth in 2016 due to a recovery of agriculture and tourism. Dominica suffers from high debt levels, which increased from 67% of GDP in 2010 to 77% in 2016. Dominica is one of five countries in the East Caribbean that have citizenship by investment programs whereby foreigners can obtain passports for a fee and revenue from this contribute to government budgets.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$783 million (2017 est.)
$821.5 million (2016 est.)
$800.4 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 206
GDP (official exchange rate)
$557 million (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
-4.7% (2017 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
-3.7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$11,000 (2017 est.)
$11,600 (2016 est.)
$11,300 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 136
Gross national saving
10.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
20% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 60.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 26.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 54.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -62.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 22.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 12.6% (2017 est.)
services: 65.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
bananas, citrus, mangos, root crops, coconuts, cocoa
note: forest and fishery potential not exploited
Industries
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate
-13% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Labor force
25,000 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate
23% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Population below poverty line
29% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: 227.8 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 260.4 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
40.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-5.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Public debt
82.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
71.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.6% (2017 est.)
0% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Central bank discount rate
6.5% (31 December 2010)
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Commercial bank prime lending rate
8.08% (31 December 2017 est.)
8.28% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Stock of narrow money
$113.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Stock of broad money
$113.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Stock of domestic credit
$182.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$195.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Current account balance
-$70 million (2017 est.)
$5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Exports
$28 million (2017 est.)
$43.7 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Exports - partners
Saudi Arabia 42.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 9.3%, Jamaica 8.1%, St. Kitts and Nevis 7.1%, Guyana 6.7% (2017)
Exports - commodities
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Imports
$206.6 million (2017 est.)
$188.4 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Imports - commodities
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners
US 61.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 9.8% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$212.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$221.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Debt - external
$280.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$314.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$372.7 million (31 December 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$220,000 (31 December 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2017 est.)
2.7 (2016 est.)
2.7 (2015 est.)
2.7 (2014 est.)
2.7 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production
111.4 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - consumption
103.6 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Electricity - installed generating capacity
27,800 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Electricity - from fossil fuels
72% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Electricity - from other renewable sources
3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Refined petroleum products - consumption
1,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Refined petroleum products - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Refined petroleum products - imports
1,237 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
199,600 Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 13,328
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 78,444
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephone system
general assessment: fully automatic network; there are multiple operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas (2018)
domestic: fixed-line connections continued to decline slowly with the two active operators providing about 18 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 106 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019)
Broadcast media
no terrestrial TV service available; subscription cable TV provider offers some locally produced programming plus channels from the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean; state-operated radio broadcasts on 6 stations; privately owned radio broadcasts on about 15 stations (2019)
Internet country code
.dm
Internet users
total: 49,439
percent of population: 67% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 15,487
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard). (2019)
Military - note
Dominica participates in The Regional Security System (RSS) an international agreement for the defense and security of the eastern Caribbean region. (2019)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 0 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 0 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 0 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
J7 (2016)
Airports
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 199
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 (2019)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
Roadways
total: 1,512 km (2018)
paved: 762 km (2018)
unpaved: 750 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 170
Merchant marine
total: 100
by type: general cargo 26, oil tanker 25, other 49 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 86
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Portsmouth, Roseau
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer
