1996 Edition

Description

green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Location

13 30 N, 61 20 W -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Flag ----

Area

comparative area

more than four times the size of Washington, DC

land area

750 sq km

total area

750 sq km

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Coastline

148 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Geographic coordinates

13 30 N, 61 20 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

9%

forest and woodland

41%

meadows and pastures

3%

other

34%

permanent crops

13%

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

timber

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

highest point

Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 28% (male 11,986; female 11,521) 15-64 years: 64% (male 27,206; female 25,841) 65 years and over: 8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

18.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

black, Carib Indians

Infant mortality rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.4 years (1996 est.)

male

74.55 years

total population

77.4 years

Literacy

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)

female

94%

male

94%

total population

94%

Nationality

adjective

Dominican

noun

Dominican(s)

Net migration rate

-9.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

82,926 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.38% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Sex ratio

all ages

1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Capital

Roseau

Constitution

3 November 1978

Data code

DO

Diplomatic representation in US

Dominica does not have an embassy in the US

consulate(s) general

New York

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state

President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly; election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - percent of vote NA

head of government

Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995); prime minister is appointed by the president

Flag

green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

House of Assembly

elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11, DLP 5, DFP 5

Independence

3 November 1978 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Dominica

conventional short form

Dominica

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Other political or pressure groups

Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group

Political parties and leaders

Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

parliamentary democracy

US diplomatic representation

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

Agriculture

bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Budget

expenditures

$95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)

revenues

$80 million

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The newly elected government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.

Electricity

capacity

7,000 kW

consumption per capita

347 kWh (1993)

production

30 million kWh

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

partners

UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US

External debt

$92.8 million (1992)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $200 million (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

26%

industry

NA%

services

NA% (1995)

GDP per capita

$2,450 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

-1% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer

Imports

$98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

partners

US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada

Industrial production growth rate

-10% (1994 est.)

Industries

soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (1995)

Labor force

25,000

by occupation

agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)

Unemployment rate

15% (1992 est.)

Branches

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

NA

males fit for military service

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0

Radios

45,000 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic network

international

microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Telephones

14,613 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 cable

Televisions

5,200 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

2

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

500 km

total

800 km

unpaved

300 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Portsmouth, Roseau

Railways

0 km