Dominica
Commonwealth of Dominica
parliamentary democracyIndependence 3 November 1978 (from UK)
Dominica as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 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.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
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
17 fieldsLand useshare of 750 sq km
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
Natural hazards
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment--international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1999 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 27% (male 8,680; female 8,530)
- 15-64 years:
- 64% (male 21,090; female 20,294)
- 65 years and over:
- 9% (male 2,570; female 3,717) (1999 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.69 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998); Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995)
19 fieldsHouse of Assembly, 21 seats, elected 12 June 1995one dot, one seat
Administrative divisions
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
- elections:
- president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term;
- election last held 7 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003);
- prime minister appointed by the president
- election results:
- Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent of legislative vote--NA
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); byelections held 13 August 1996
- election results:
- percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--UWP 12, DLP 5, DFP 4
Judicial branch
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (resident in Dominica)
- chancery:
- 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
- consulate(s) general:
- New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently 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 encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow;
- the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy
The economy depends on agriculture and is | highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. | Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 20% of GDP and employs | 40% of the labor force.
31 fieldsGDP--composition by sector(1996 est.)
Electricity
Economy--overview
The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 20% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport.
Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The economy began to recover in mid-1998, fueled by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.
Agriculture--products
bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- domestic:
- fully automatic network
- international:
- microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
Transportation
6 fieldsNetworkskm
Military
Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force | (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
3 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsIllicit drugs
- transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe;
- minor cannabis producer;
- banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Dominica.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/dominica/1999.