Dominica

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

16 (2000)

Internet country code

.dm

Internet users

2,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

46,000 (1997)

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

Telephones - main lines in use

19,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

461 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997)

Televisions

6,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Budget

revenues: $72 million expenditures: $79.9 million, including capital expenditures of $11.5 million (FY97/98)

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code

XCD

Debt - external

$108.9 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$24.4 million (1995)

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.

Electricity - consumption

57.7 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

62 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 48.39% hydro: 51.61% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports

$60.7 million (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Caricom countries 47%, UK 36%, US 7% (1996 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $290 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$126 million (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

US 41%, Caricom countries 25%, UK 13%, Netherlands, Canada (1996 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-10% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2000 est.)

Labor force

25,000

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

20% (1999 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Coastline

148 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

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

Geographic coordinates

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, arable land

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Roseau

Constitution

3 November 1978

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados

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

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%

FAX

[1] (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York

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)

Government type

parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth

Independence

3 November 1978 (from UK)

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

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)

Legal system

based on English common law

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

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.)

Birth rate

17.81 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

black, Carib Amerindian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

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

Languages

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth

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

Literacy

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

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate

-20.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

70,786 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.98% (2001 est.)

Religions

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

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.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2001 est.)

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

Airports

2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 750 km paved: 375 km unpaved: 375 km (2001)

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Ports and harbors

Portsmouth, Roseau

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none