Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

46,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

18,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Televisions [time series]

6,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$90 million (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$24.4 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 economy's recovery continued in 1998, 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 [time series]

37 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

40 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)

Exports [time series]

$60.8 million (1998)

Exports - commodities [time series]

bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $225 million (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$120.4 million (1998)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-10% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.1% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

25,000

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1999 est.)

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Coastline [time series]

148 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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 [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

timber, hydropower, arable land

Terrain [time series]

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Roseau

Constitution [time series]

3 November 1978

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

DO

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt DOUGLAS (since 2 February 2000) 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 7 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth

Independence [time series]

3 November 1978 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; 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 - LPD 10, UWP 9, DFP 2

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Labor Party of Dominica or LPD [Rosie DOUGLAS]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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 and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29% (male 10,556; female 10,254) 15-64 years: 63% (male 23,151; female 21,984) 65 years and over: 8% (male 2,294; female 3,301) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black, Carib Amerindian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.35 years male: 70.5 years female: 76.36 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-22.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

71,540 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-1.14% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.05 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Portsmouth, Roseau

Railways [time series]

0 km