Dominica

Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica

parliamentary democracyIndependence 3 November 1978 (from UK)

Dominica as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 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 land: 754 sq km water: 0 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

70,786 people July 2001 est. · 84,854 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-0.98% 2001 est. · 1.31% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 28.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.6 years 2001 est. · 76.72 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.03 children per woman 2001 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

16.54 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 13 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,000 2000 est. · $2,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.5% 2000 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

Coastline

148km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial 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

Geographic coordinates

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 754 sq km land: 754 sq km water: 0 sq km

Climate

tropical;
moderated by northeast trade winds;
heavy rainfall

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, arable land

Land use

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

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, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

18 fields

Population

70,786

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: -0.98% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

17.81Death

7.19Net migration

-20.37

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: 28.72% (male 10,300; female 10,027) 15-64 years: 63.45% (male 23,056; female 21,855) 65 years and over: 7.83% (male 2,267; female 3,281) (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.6 years male: 70.74 years female: 76.61 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups

black, Carib Amerindian

Languages

English (official), French patois

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94% (1970 est.)

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Vernon Lordon SHAW (since 6 October 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES (since 1 October 2000)

19 fields

House of Assembly, 21 seatsone dot, one seat

DLP 11UWP 8DFP 2

Country name

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

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 Lordon SHAW (since 6 October 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES (since 1 October 2000);
note - assumed post after death of Roosevelt DOUGLAS 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 6 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003);
prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vernon Lordon SHAW elected president;
percent of legislative vote - NA%

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote; 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 -DLP 11, UWP 8, DFP 2

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High 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];
Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Pierre CHARLES];
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.

32 fields

Real growth rate

0.5%

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: -10% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.5%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

20%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

25,000

Electricity

Electricity production

62 million (1999)Electricity consumption

57.7 million (1999)

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 subsequent recovery has been 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

10 fields

Mobile cellular

461

(1996)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

19,000

(1996) · country code .dm

Telephone system

general assessment:: NA 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

7 fields

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Dominica.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/dominica/2001.

How to cite ← 2000 edition 2002 edition →