Dominica :: Central America and Caribbean
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: 188
Area - comparative:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
148 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
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:
74,243
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
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:
21.41%
(male 8,135/female 7,760)
15-24 years:
13.15%
(male 5,017/female 4,746)
25-54 years:
42.79%
(male 16,133/female 15,637)
55-64 years:
10.53%
(male 4,089/female 3,731)
65 years and over:
12.12%
(male 4,128/female 4,867)
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
34.9 years
male:
34.4 years
female:
35.5 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Population growth rate:
0.13%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Birth rate:
14.5 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Death rate:
8 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Net migration rate:
-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
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:
71.1% of total population
(2020)
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:
1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.85 male(s)/female
total population:
1.02 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total:
9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.7 years
male:
74.7 years
female:
80.9 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Total fertility rate:
2.02 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
95.7% of population
unimproved:
urban:
4.3% of population
Current Health Expenditure:
5.9%
(2017)
Physicians density:
1.12 physicians/1,000 population
(2017)
Hospital bed density:
3.8 beds/1,000 population
(2010)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6%
(2018)
country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
<500
(2018)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<100
(2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
27.9%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 33
Education expenditures:
5.6% of GDP
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 31
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
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 6 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); 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 59.0%, UWP 41.0%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3
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:
chief of mission:
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
Economic 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 real growth rate:
-4.7%
(2017 est.)
2.6%
(2016 est.)
-3.7%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6%
(2017 est.)
0%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$783 million
(2017 est.)
$821.5 million
(2016 est.)
$800.4 million
(2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$557 million
(2017 est.)
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: 113
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 sector of origin:
agriculture:
22.3%
(2017 est.)
industry:
12.6%
(2017 est.)
services:
65.1%
(2017 est.)
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.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
60.5
(2020)
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: 207
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
40%
industry:
32%
services:
28%
(2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
23%
(2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
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
Current account balance:
-$70 million
(2017 est.)
$5 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Exports:
$28 million
(2017 est.)
$43.7 million
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
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
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%
(2020)
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: 200
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
72% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
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: 202
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: 198
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: 199
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
2,751
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
3.71
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
78,437
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
105.79
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
fully automatic network; there are multiple competing 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;
(2020)
domestic:
fixed-line connections continue to decline slowly with only two active operators providing about 4 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 106 per 100 persons
(2019)
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)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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:
51,538
percent of population:
69.62%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
11,514
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
16
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
J7
(2016)
Airports:
2
(2020)
country comparison to the world: 197
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: 174
Merchant marine:
total:
108
by type:
general cargo 29, oil tanker 29, other 50
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 85
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Portsmouth, Roseau
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)
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
