2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,084/female 8,885) 15-64 years: 66% (male 23,419/female 22,079) 65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,186/female 3,257) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Airports

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Area

land

754 sq km

total

754 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

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 made the island a colony in 1805. 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. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean. Geography Dominica

Birth rate

15.27 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$84.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2001)

revenues

$73.9 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

15 18 N, 61 24 W

name

Roseau

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Coastline

148 km

Constitution

3 November 1978

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Dominica

conventional short form

Dominica

Currency (code)

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code

XCD

Death rate

6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$213 million (2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016

chief of mission

Ambassador Swinburne A.S. LESTRADE

telephone

[1] (202) 364-6781

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 (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Economic aid - recipient

$29.2 million (2004 est.)

Economy - overview

The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Tourism has increased as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Development of the tourism industry remains difficult, however, because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an international airport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy in 2003 - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic crisis and to meet IMF targets. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is planning to construct an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island.

Electricity - consumption

78.01 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

83.88 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

47.1%

hydro

52.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

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

Ethnic groups

black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003)

election results

Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA%

elections

president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)

Exports

$74 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 26.8%, Jamaica 10%, South Korea 8.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.8%, Guyana 7.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, US 4%, Saint Lucia 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6791

consulate(s) general

New York

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June Communications 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 encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes) Economy Dominica

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

17.7%

industry

32.8%

services

49.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$279 million (2005)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$384 million (2003 est.)

Geographic coordinates

15 25 N, 61 20 W

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 Dominica

Government type

parliamentary democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak, making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$234 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 25.5%, China 20.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.4%, South Korea 7.1%, Japan 4.7%, UK 4.4% (2005)

Independence

3 November 1978 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

-10% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

9.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

18.09 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.1% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.dm

Internet hosts

263 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet users

20,500 (2005) Transportation Dominica

Irrigated land

NA

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)

Labor force

25,000 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

40%

industry

32%

services

28%

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

6.67%

other

72% (2005)

permanent crops

21.33%

Languages

English (official), French patois

Legal system

based on English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - DLP 52.07%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.15%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

elections

last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.93 years (2006 est.)

male

71.95 years

total population

74.87 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

94% (2003 est.) Government Dominica

male

94%

total population

94%

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49

18,227 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49

15,136 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49

602 (2005 est.)

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

30.4 years (2006 est.)

male

29.8 years

total

30.1 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 6, cargo 24, chemical tanker 4, container 2, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1

foreign-owned

45 (Estonia 11, Germany 1, Greece 5, Latvia 1, Norway 1, NZ 4, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 9, Syria 1, Turkey 3, UAE 2, Ukraine 2) (2006)

total

48 ships (1000 GRT or over) 634,668 GRT/1,100,558 DWT

Military branches

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes coast guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA Transnational Issues Dominica

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Nationality

adjective

Dominican

noun

Dominican(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, arable land

Net migration rate

-9.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

Population

68,910 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.08% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Portsmouth, Roseau Military Dominica

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios

46,000 (1997)

Religions

Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), other 6%, none 2%

Roadways

paved

393 km

total

780 km

unpaved

387 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic network

general assessment

NA

international

country code - 1-767; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Telephones - main lines in use

21,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

41,800 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2004)

Televisions

6,000 (1997)

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

23% (2000 est.)