2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

751 sq km

total

751 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Coastline

148 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Morne Diablotins 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

213 cu m/yr (1996)

total

0.02 cu km/yr

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

6.67%

other

72% (2005)

permanent crops

21.33%

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and 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 hazards

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

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, arable land

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Total renewable water resources

NA

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 8,910/female 8,518) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 24,532/female 23,301) 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,187/female 4,212) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

15.68 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.12 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

8.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

17.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.87 years (2010 est.)

male

72.82 years

total population

75.77 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

94% (2003 est.)

male

94%

total population

94%

Median age

female

30.8 years (2010 est.)

male

29.8 years

total

30.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Dominican

noun

Dominican(s)

Net migration rate

-5.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

72,813 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.213% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2008)

male

12 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

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: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.08 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

74% of total population (2008)

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

geographic coordinates

15 18 N, 61 24 W

name

Roseau

time difference

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

Constitution

3 November 1978

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Dominica

conventional short form

Dominica

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 Hubert J. CHARLES

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6791

telephone

[1] (202) 364-6781

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

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

election results

Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition

elections

president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

3 November 1978 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, 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, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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)

Legal system

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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

election results

percent of vote by party - DLP 61.2%, UWP 34.9%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3

elections

last held on 18 December 2009 (next to be held in 2015); 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

National anthem

lyrics/music

Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN note: adopted 1967

name

"Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendor"

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

bananas, citrus, mangos, root crops, coconuts, cocoa note: forest and fishery potential not exploited

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2009) 6.5% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.02% (31 December 2009 est.) 9.06% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$72 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$213 million (2004)

Economy - overview

The Dominican economy has been 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. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government also is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and has signed an agreement with the EU to develop geothermal energy resources. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address an economic and financial crisis and to meet IMF requirements. This restructuring paved the way for an economic recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and helped to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 85% of GDP. Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages equivalent to 20% of GDP. In 2009, growth slowed as a result of the global recession; it picked up only slightly in 2010.

Electricity - consumption

79.05 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

85 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports

$94 million (2006)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Japan 28.62%, UK 19.81%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.7%, Guyana 6.52%, Jamaica 5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

17.7%

industry

32.8%

services

49.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$10,500 (2010 est.) $10,400 (2009 est.) $10,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.4% (2010 est.) -0.3% (2009 est.) 3.2% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$375 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$765.4 million (2010 est.) $754.8 million (2009 est.) $757.1 million (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$296 million (2006)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

Japan 31.29%, US 19.73%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.8%, China 11.58% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.1% (2009 est.) 2.7% (2007 est.)

Labor force

25,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

40%

industry

32%

services

28% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

838 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

30% (2002 est.)

Public debt

78% of GDP (2009 est.) 85% of GDP (2006 est.) (2006 est.)

Stock of broad money

$398.5 million (31 December 2009) $362 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$213.6 million (31 December 2008 est.) $193.1 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$74.84 million (31 December 2009) $67.94 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

23% (2000 est.)

Broadcast media

no terrestrial television 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 (2007)

Internet country code

.dm

Internet hosts

718 (2010)

Internet users

28,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

Fixed-line teledensity is roughly 25 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity approached 150 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

fully automatic network

international

country code - 1-767; landing points for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN) submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Telephones - main lines in use

17,500 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

106,000 (2009)

Airports

2 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 11, cargo 20, chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

37 (Australia 1, Estonia 6, Germany 2, Greece 9, India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Syria 2, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2)

registered in other countries

1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)

total

40

Ports and terminals

Portsmouth, Roseau

Roadways

paved

393 km

total

780 km

unpaved

387 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 18,975 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 15,963 females age 16-49: 15,426 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

688 (2010 est.)

male

729

Military branches

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2010)

Military expenditures

NA

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 eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer (2008) page last updated on January 11, 2011 ======================================================================