Dominica

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 Britain in 1763, and Dominica became a British colony in 1805. Slavery ended in 1833, and in 1835, the first three men of African descent were elected to the legislative assembly of Dominica. In 1871, Dominica became first part of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958. In 1967, Dominica became an associated state of the UK, formally taking responsibility for its internal affairs, and the country gained its independence in 1978. In 1980, Dominica's fortunes improved when Mary Eugenia CHARLES -- the first female prime minister in the Caribbean -- replaced a corrupt and tyrannical administration, and she served for the next 15 years. In 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island, causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.

15 25 N, 61 20 W

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

148 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.)

Arable land: 8% (2018 est.)

Permanent crops: 24% (2018 est.)

Permanent pasture: 2.7% (2018 est.)

Forest: 59.2% (2018 est.)

Other: 6.1% (2018 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

timber, hydropower, arable land

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

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

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

Central America and the Caribbean

NA

200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

population is mosly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated

Highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Total : 751 sq km

Land: 751 sq km

Water: NEGL

0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,891/female 7,530)

15-64 years: 65.6% (male 25,000/female 24,009)

65 years and over: 13.7% (2024 est.) (male 4,862/female 5,369)

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Dominican(s)

Adjective: Dominican

Urban population: 72% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved: Urban: 95.7% of population

Unimproved: Urban: 4.3% of population

15,000 ROSEAU (capital) (2018)

3.8 beds/1,000 population

African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)

Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 29.7% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 6.1%, Baptist 5.2%, Christian Union Church 3.9%, Methodist 2.6%, Gospel Mission 2.1%, other Protestant 3.1%), Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 4.3%, none 9.4%, unspecified 1.4% (2011 est.)

English (official), French patois

Total population: NA

Male: NA

Female: NA

1.1 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

NA

5.7% of GDP (2020)

Total dependency ratio: 41.2

Youth dependency ratio: 28

Elderly dependency ratio: 13.2

Potential support ratio: 7.6 (2021)

0.98 (2024 est.)

40.3% (2023 est.)

-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 37 years (2024 est.)

Male: 36.5 years

Female: 37.6 years

2.01 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 74,661

Male: 37,753

Female: 36,908 (2024 est.)

Total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 14.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

27.9% (2016)

8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

13.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

Total: 6.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 78.7 years (2024 est.)

Male: 75.8 years

Female: 81.8 years

-0.01% (2024 est.)

water shortages a continuing concern; pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone by agricultural and industrial chemicals, and untreated sewage

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, 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

Municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 13,176 tons (2013 est.)

175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

35.086 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Embassy: The US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Name: Roseau

Geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W

Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: The name is French for "reed"; the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area

History: Previous 1967 (preindependence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978

Amendments: Proposed by the House of Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as fundamental rights and freedoms, the government structure, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by three fourths of the Assembly membership in the final reading of the amendment bill, approval by simple majority in a referendum, and assent of the president; amended several times, last in 2015

Chief of state: President Sylvanie BURTON (since 2 October 2023)

Head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Elections/appointments: President nominated by the prime minister and leader of the opposition party and elected by the House of Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 27 September 2023 (next to be held in October 2028); prime minister appointed by the president

Election results:
2023: parliament elects Sylvanie BURTON (DLP) with 20 votes for and five against

2018: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed 

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

3 November 1978 (from the UK)

Highest court(s): The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Dominica; note - in 2015, Dominica acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London

Judge selection and term of office: Chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

Subordinate courts: Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts

common law based on the English model

Legislature name: House of Assembly

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 32 (21 directly elected; 9 appointed)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 12/6/2022

Parties elected and seats per party: Dominica Labor Party (DLP) (19); Independents (2)

Percentage of women in chamber: 40.6%

Expected date of next election: December 2027

ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, Commonwealth of Nations, ECCU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP
Dominica Labor Party or DLP
Dominica United Workers Party or UWP

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

Conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica

Conventional short form: Dominica

Etymology: The island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday ("Domingo" in Latin), 3 November 1493

Chief of mission: Ambassador Steve FERROL (since 15 September 2023)

Chancery: 3216 New Mexico Ave NW Washington, DC 20016

Telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781

FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791

Email address and website:
Embdomdc@gmail.com

Consulate(s) general: New York

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Sisserou parrot, Carib Wood flower; national colors: green, yellow, black, white, red

Citizenship by birth: Yes

Citizenship by descent only: Yes

Dual citizenship recognized: Yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area

power equipment, soap, raw iron bars, natural gas, tropical fruits (2022)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Bahamas, The 12%, Guyana 8%, Antigua and Barbuda 7%, Dominican Republic 7%, Barbados 6% (2022)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

taro, grapefruits, yams, bananas, plantains, coconuts, milk, yautia, oranges, sugarcane (2022)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $233.831 million (2017 est.)

Expenditures: $164.673 million (2017 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, plastic products, cars (2022)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)
2.7 (2019 est.)

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

highly agrarian OECS island economy; ECCU-member state; large banana exporter; improved oversight of its citizenship-by-investment program; emerging ecotourism, information and communications, and education industries

$653.993 million (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 87.7% (2018 est.)

Government consumption: 27.4% (2018 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 32.7% (2018 est.)

Investment in inventories: 0% (2018 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 29.2% (2018 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -77.8% (2018 est.)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

US 51%, China 9%, Indonesia 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4%, Italy 3% (2022)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

5.25% of GDP (2023 est.)
6.22% of GDP (2022 est.)
7.24% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$328.026 million (2023 est.)

Note: Present value of external debt in current US dollars

$183.53 million (2023 est.)
$204.343 million (2022 est.)
$190.843 million (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

82.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

40.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$1.159 billion (2023 est.)
$1.106 billion (2022 est.)
$1.048 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

4.23% (2023 est.)
7.78% (2022 est.)
1.48% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$221.939 million (2023 est.)
-$162.036 million (2022 est.)
-$182.647 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$17,400 (2023 est.)
$16,600 (2022 est.)
$15,600 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$414.13 million (2023 est.)
$350.982 million (2022 est.)
$313.729 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$185.062 million (2023 est.)
$174.041 million (2022 est.)
$117.709 million (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

4.71% (2023 est.)
5.58% (2022 est.)
6.89% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

5.01% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 14.8% (2023 est.)

Industry: 12.2% (2023 est.)

Services: 58.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels: 75.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Wind: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 23.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 42,000 kW (2022 est.)

Consumption: 162.827 million kWh (2022 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 8 million kWh (2022 est.)

General assessment: The telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage (2021)

Domestic: 10 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscriptions are about 86 per 100 persons (2021)

International: Country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019)

Percent of population: 83% (2022 est.)

.dm

no terrestrial TV service available; subscription cable TV provider offers some locally produced programming plus channels from the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean; state-operated radio broadcasts on 6 stations; privately owned radio broadcasts on about 15 stations (2019)

Total subscriptions: 57,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86 (2021 est.)

Total: 14,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2021 est.)

J7

Total: 1,512 km

Paved: 762 km

Unpaved: 750 km (2018)

2 (2024)

Total: 77 (2023)

By type: General cargo 26, oil tanker 10, other 41

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) under the Ministry of Justice, Immigration, and National Security (2024)

Dominica has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2024)

3,000-3,500 Kalinago (Carib) still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the Caribbean; only 70-100 may be "pure" Kalinago because of years of integration into the broader population

Name: "Isle of Beauty"

Lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN

Note: Adopted 1967

Particulate matter emissions: 8.22 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.18 megatons (2016 est.)

Methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.)

Total ports: 2 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 0

Very small: 2

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Portsmouth, Roseau

0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

5.5% of GDP (2021 est.)