Dominica

Commonwealth of Dominica

parliamentary democracyIndependence 3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominica as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 77 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 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North

Populationas each edition published it

82,608 people July 1995 est. · 84,854 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.4% 1995 est. · 1.31% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 28.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.2 years 1995 est. · 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.95 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 13 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,260 1994 est. · $2,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.6% 1994 est. · 2.1% in 1993

Geography

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North | Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad | and Tobago

13 fields

Land useshare of 750 sq km

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

Area

750sq km

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

Coastline

148km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

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

Climate

tropical;
moderated by northeast trade winds;
heavy rainfall

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

People

15 fields

Population

82,608

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

18.63Death

5.33Net migration

-9.36

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years77.2

74.35 · 80.2

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy94%

94% · 94%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970)

Religions

Roman Catholic 77%Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%)none 2%unknown 1%other 5%

Labor force

25,000

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 29% (female 11,665; male 12,130)
15-64 years:: 64% (female 25,606; male 26,890)
65 years and over:: 7% (female 3,724; male 2,593) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Dominican(s)
adjective:: Dominican

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990)

20 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form:: Dominica

Digraph

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

Legal system

based on English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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

Legislative branch

unicameral

House of Assembly

elections last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held by October 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

Dominica has no embassy 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.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,260

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

1.6%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -10% (1994 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

1.6%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

15%

(1992 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$70 millionExpenditures

$84 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $26 million (FY90/91 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 7,000 kW

Electricity production

30 millionElectricity consumption per capita

347 (1993)

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. In 1994 a tropical storm devastated the banana industry.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $200 million (1994 est.)

Exports

$48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
partners:: UK 55%, CARICOM countries, Italy, US

Imports

$98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)

commodities:: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
partners:: US 25%, CARICOM, UK, Japan, Canada

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

Transportation

5 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

750Railroads

Highways: paved: 370 km · unpaved: gravel or earth 380 km

Highways

total:: 750 km
paved:: 370 km
unpaved:: gravel or earth 380 km

Ports

Portsmouth, Roseau

Merchant marine

none

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

4,600 telephones; fully automatic network

local:: NA
intercity:: NA
international:: SHF radio and microwave radio relay links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radio links to Saint Lucia