Dominica

Dominica 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

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

Area

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

148 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

None

Climate

Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Terrain

Rugged mountains of volcanic origin
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

NA

Environment

PEOPLE

Population

82,926 (July 1996 est.)
82,608 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

28% (male 11,986; female 11,521) (July 1996 est.)
29% (male 12,130; female 11,665) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

64% (male 27,206; female 25,841) (July 1996 est.)
64% (male 26,890; female 25,606) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 est.)
7% (male 2,593; female 3,724) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.38% (1996 est.)
0.4% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

18.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
18.63 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

5.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
5.33 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-9.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-9.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

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: 0.69 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
9.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)
1.95 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

English (official), French patois

Literacy

Age 15 and over that has ever attended school (1970)

Labor Force

25,000

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

DO

Type

Parliamentary democracy

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 U.K.)

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

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

House of Assembly

Elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11, DLP 5, DFP 5

Judicial Branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa 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 (DFP), Brian ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group

Member of

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

Green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - 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

Overview

The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline 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 newly elected government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $200 million (1995 est.); $200 million (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

-1% (1995 est.)
1.6% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$2,450 (1995 est.)
$2,260 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

0.4% (1995)
1.6% (1993 est.)

Unemployment Rate

15% (1992 est.)

Budget

Exports

$48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$92.8 million (1992)

Industrial Production

Growth rate -10% (1994 est.); accounts for 7% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

Illicit Drugs

Transshipment point for narcotics bound for the U.S. and Europe; minor cannabis producer

Economic Aid

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Ports

Portsmouth, Roseau

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

14,613 telephones (1993 est.); fully automatic network

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

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

Defense Expenditures

NA

History
World Atlas