Dominica

Commonwealth of Dominica

parliamentary democracyIndependence 3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominica as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 102 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

Position15 25 N, 61 20 W

Area754 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

71,540 people July 2000 est. · 84,854 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-1.14% 2000 est. · 1.31% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 28.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.35 years 2000 est. · 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.05 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17.13 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 13 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,400 1998 est. · $2,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2% 1998 est. · 2.1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 made the island a colony in 1805. 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.

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 fields

Land useshare of 754 sq km

arable land 9%permanent crops 13%permanent pastures 3%forests and woodland 67%other 8% (1993 est.)

Area

754sq km

land: 754 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly 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

Highest point

1,447m

Morne Diablatinslowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

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

Geographic coordinates

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Climate

tropical;
moderated by northeast trade winds;
heavy rainfall

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, arable land

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Environment - current issues

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

71,540

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: -1.14% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

18.27Death

7.3Net migration

-22.39

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)73.35

70.5 · 76.36

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1970 est.)94%

94% · 94%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

Religions

Roman Catholic 77%Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%)none 2%other 6%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 29% (male 10,556; female 10,254)
15-64 years:: 63% (male 23,151; female 21,984)
65 years and over:: 8% (male 2,294; female 3,301) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Dominican(s)
adjective:: Dominican

Ethnic groups

black, Carib Amerindian

Languages

English (official), French patois

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998); Prime Minister Roosevelt DOUGLAS (since 2 February 2000)

19 fields

House of Assembly, 21 seats, elected 31 January 2000one dot, one seat

LPD 10UWP 9DFP 2

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth

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 Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998)
head of government:: Prime Minister Roosevelt DOUGLAS (since 2 February 2000)
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 31 January 2000 (next to be held by NA 2005)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPD 10, UWP 9, DFP 2

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

Political parties and leaders

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN];
Labor Party of Dominica or LPD [Rosie DOUGLAS];
United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

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, WIPO, 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
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; US interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados

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.

31 fields

Real growth rate

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: -10% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.1%

(1998)

Unemployment rate

20%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

25,000

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 21%industry 16%services 63% (1999 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$72 millionExpenditures

$79.9 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $11.5 million (FY97/98)

Electricity

fossil fuel 50%hydro 50%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

40 million (1998)Electricity consumption

37 million (1998)

Economy - overview

The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 21% 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's recovery continued in 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.

Communications

8 fields

Fixed lines

18,000

(1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Telephone 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 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

914 to 1,523 m

Networkskm

Highways

780Railways

Highways: paved: 393 km · unpaved: 387 km (1996 est.)

Highways

total:: 780 km
paved:: 393 km
unpaved:: 387 km (1996 est.)

Military

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)

3 fields

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe;
minor cannabis producer;
banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Dominica.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/dominica/2000.

How to cite ← 1999 edition 2001 edition →