Dominica

parliamentary democracyIndependence 3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominica as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalRoseau

Area750 km2

Populationas each edition published it

84,854 people July 1990 · 74,661 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.31% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 28.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.6 children per woman 1990 · 2.01 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

13 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 10.5 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $2,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.1% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Land useshare of 750 km2

arable land 9%permanent crops 13%meadows and pastures 3%forest and woodland 41%other 34%

Total area

750km2

land area: 750 km2Comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

148km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

tropical;
moderated by northeast trade winds;
heavy rainfall

Environment

flash floods a constant hazard; occasional hurricanes

Note

located 550 km southeast of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

People

14 fields

Population

84,854

(July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

26Death

Literacy

80%

(est.)

Nationality

noun--Dominican(s); adjective--Dominican

Language

English (official); French patois widely spoken

Labor force

25,000; 40% agriculture, 32% industry and commerce, 28% services (1984)

Government

Parliamentary democracy

18 fields

House of Assembly, 21 seats, elected 1 July 1985one dot, one seat

DFP 17LPD 4

Administrative divisions

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

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (includes 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Chief of State--President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORET (since 19 December 1983);
Head of Government--Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980)

Political parties and leaders

Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), (Mary) Eugenia Charles;
Labor Party of Dominica (LPD, a leftist-dominated coalition), Michael Douglas;
United Workers Party (UWP), Edison James

Suffrage

universal at age 18 President--last held 20 December 1988 (next to be held December 1993);
the president is elected by the House of Assembly;
House of Assembly--last held 1 July 1985 (next to be held July 1990);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(21 total) DFP 17, LPD 4

Other political or pressure groups

Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group

Member of

ACP, CARICOM, Commonwealth, FAO, GATT (de facto), G-77, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, OAS, OECS, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

there is no Chancery in the US; US--no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

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)

Economy

The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$137million

per capita $1,408; real growth rate 5.6% (1988 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

4.9%

(1987)

Unemployment rate

10%

(1989 est.)

External debt

$63.6million

(December 1987)

Budget

Revenues

$60 millionExpenditures

$52 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $18 million (FY88)

The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas, coconuts, citrus, and root crops. In 1988 the economy achieved a 5.6% growth in real GDP on the strength of a boost in construction, higher agricultural production, and growth of the small manufacturing sector based on soap and garment industries. The tourist industry remains undeveloped because of a rugged coastline and the lack of an international-class airport.

Exports

$46 million (f.o.b., 1987);
commodities--bananas, coconuts, grapefruit, soap, galvanized sheets;
partners--UK 72%, Jamaica 10%, OECS 6%, US 3%, other 9%

Imports

$66.0 million (c.i.f., 1987);
commodities--food, oils and fats, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment;
partners--US 23%, UK 18%, CARICOM 15%, OECS 15%, Japan 5%, Canada 3%, other 21%

accounts for 30% of GDP;
principal crops--bananas, citrus fruit, coconuts, root crops;
bananas provide the bulk of export earnings;
forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Communications

5 fields

Airports, 2 total, 2 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways over 2,439 m

nonerunways 1,220-2,439 m

4,600 telephones in fully automatic network;
VHF and UHF link to St. Lucia;
new SHF links to Martinique and Guadeloupe;
stations--3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

Defense Forces

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force

3 fields