Dominica

Dominica

Introduction

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. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.

Geography

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 751 sq km
country comparison to the world: 189 land:751 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

148 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

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 Diablotins 1,447 m

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, arable land

Land use

arable land: 6.67%
permanent crops:21.33%
other:72% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Total renewable water resources

NA

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.02cu km/yr
per capita:213cu m/yr (1996)

Natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat

destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Environment – current issues

NA

Environment – international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

Geography – note

known as “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system

the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s)
adjective:Dominican

Ethnic groups

black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)

Languages

English (official), French patois

Religions

Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 20.6% (Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%), Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

Population

72,969 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.9% (male 8,551/female 8,188)
15-64 years:66.8% (male 25,007/female 23,730)
65 years and over:10.3% (male 3,246/female 4,247) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 30.8 years
male:30.4 years
female:31.3 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.214% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Birth rate

15.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Death rate

8.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Net migration rate

-5.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Urbanization

urban population: 67% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

ROSEAU (capital) 14,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.76 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 129 male:17.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.98 years
country comparison to the world: 77 male:73.03 years
female:79.08 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.07 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Health expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 110

Physicians density

0.5 physicians/1,000 population (1997)
country comparison to the world: 123

Hospital bed density

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 54

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 92% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 5% of population (2000)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 80% of population
rural: 84% of population
total: 81% of population
unimproved:
urban: 20% of population
rural: 16% of population
total: 19% of population (2000)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 72

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:94%
male:94%
female:94% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years
male:13 years
female:13 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 26%
country comparison to the world: 24 male:26.2%
female:25.4% (2001)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

name: Roseau
geographic coordinates:15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 the UK)

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution

3 November 1978

Legal system

common law based on the English model

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003)
head of government:Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term

election last held on 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013)

prime minister appointed by the president
election results:in the absence of an opposition candidate, Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition and no formal election was held in 2008

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats

9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 18 December 2009 (next to be held in 2015)

note – tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period
election results:percent of vote by party – DLP 61.2%, UWP 34.9%

seats by party – DLP 18, UWP 3

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 [Roosevelt SKERRIT]

Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Hubert J. CHARLES
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

the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited 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, unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow

the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

green symbolizes the island’s lush vegetation

the triple-colored cross represents the Christian Trinity

the yellow color denotes sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the native Carib Indians

black is for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens

white signifies rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations

the red disc stands for social justice

National symbol(s)

Sisserou parrot

National anthem

name: “Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendor”
lyrics/music:Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN
note:adopted 1967

Economy

Economy – overview

The Dominican economy has been dependent on agriculture – primarily bananas – in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an “ecotourism” destination. In order to diversify the island’s production base, the government also is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and has signed an agreement with the EU to develop geothermal energy resources. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy – including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases – to address an economic and financial crisis and to meet IMF requirements. This restructuring paved the way for an economic recovery – real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high – and helped to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 85% of GDP. Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages equivalent to 20% of GDP. In 2009, growth slowed as a result of the global recession

it picked up only slightly in 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$758 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207 $751.1 million (2009 est.)
$752.9 million (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$376 million (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170 -0.3% (2009 est.)
3.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$10,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105 $10,300 (2009 est.)
$10,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 20.7%
industry:23.2%
services:56.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

25,000 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 40%
industry:32%
services:28% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

23% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Population below poverty line

30% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

24% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Budget

revenues: $148.1 million
expenditures:$111.1 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

39.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

9.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Public debt

78% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22 85% of GDP (2006 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 0% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.475% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 10.025% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$80.96 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185 $76.44 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$433 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178 $391.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$296.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176 $259.3 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture – products

bananas, citrus, mangos, root crops, coconuts, cocoa
note:forest and fishery potential not exploited

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

87 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Electricity – consumption

80.91 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Oil – consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Oil – imports

859 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Current account balance

-$134 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78 -$123.2 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$42.8 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197 $37.79 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Japan 35.5%, Egypt 12.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 8%, Jamaica 7%, Guyana 6.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.3% (2010)

Imports

$225.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200 $205.5 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports – partners

Japan 44.8%, US 13.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.7%, China 7.5% (2010)

Debt – external

$213 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 178

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2010)
2.7 (2009)
2.7 (2005)
2.7 (2004)
2.7 (2003)

Transportation

Airports

2 (2010)
country comparison to the world:199

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 780 km
country comparison to the world: 187 paved:393 km
unpaved:387 km (2001)

Merchant marine

total: 40
country comparison to the world: 78 by type:bulk carrier 11, cargo 20, chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:37 (Australia 1, Estonia 6, Germany 2, Greece 9, India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Syria 2, Turkey 1, Ukraine 2)
registered in other countries:1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Portsmouth, Roseau

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 19,075 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 16,035
females age 16-49:15,499 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 675
female:636 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

NA

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela’s sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe

minor cannabis producer (2008)