Dominica

parliamentary democracyIndependence 3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominica as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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
LocationCaribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Puerto
1994

Every edition of Dominica

Populationas each edition published it
87,696 people July 1994 est. · 84,854 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.32% 1994 est. · 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
1.99 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
10.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 13 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,100 1992 est. · $2,100 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
2.6% 1992 est. · 2.1% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Puerto | Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

23 fields
Coastline
148km
land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

750 sq km

land area

750 sq km

comparative area

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Climate

  • tropical;
  • moderated by northeast trade winds;
  • heavy rainfall

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

arable land

9%

permanent crops

13%

meadows and pastures

3%

forest and woodland

41%

other

34%

current issues

NA

natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat; occasional hurricanes

international agreements

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

People

21 fields
Population
87,696
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 1.32% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
20.46Death
4.98Net migration
-2.23

Religions

Roman Catholic 77%Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%)none 2%unknown 1%other 5%
Literacy
15
age · and over having ever attended school (1970)

Infant mortality rate

10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

76.96 years

male

74.12 years

female

79.95 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Dominican(s)

adjective

Dominican

Ethnic divisions

black, Carib Indians

Languages

English (official), French patois

total population

94%

male

94%

female

94%

by occupation

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

Government

Parliamentary democracy

24 fields

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Dominica

conventional short form

Dominica

Type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Roseau

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 UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution

3 November 1978

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

chief of state

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

head of government

Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990)

cabinet

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

House of Assembly

  • elections last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995);
  • results - percent of vote by party NA;
  • seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

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

Other political or pressure groups

Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group

Member of

ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

Dominica has no chancery in the US

consulate(s) general

New York

US diplomatic representation

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.

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,100
(1992 est.)
Real growth rate
2.6%
(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 4.2% (1992); accounts for 7% of GDP
Unemployment rate
15%
(1992 est.)

Overview

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, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $185 million (1992 est.)

revenues

$70 million

expenditures

$84 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (FY91 est.)

Exports

$54.6 million (1992)

commodities

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

partners

UK 50%, CARICOM countries, Italy, US

Imports

$97.5 million (1992)

commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

partners

US 25%, CARICOM, UK, Canada

External debt

$92.8 million (1992)

capacity

7,000 kW

production

16 million kWh

consumption per capita

185 kWh (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

recipient

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

11 fields

total

750 km

paved

370 km

unpaved

gravel or earth 380 km

Ports

Roseau, Portsmouth

total

2

usable

2

with permanent-surface runways

2

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

0

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

1

Telecommunications

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

Defense Forces

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force

2 fields

Branches

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Dominica.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/dominica/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →