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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.dm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

485 (2009) country comparison to the world: 173

Internet users [time series]

27,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 182

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2003)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA domestic: fully automatic network international: country code - 1-767; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; 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]

17,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 197

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

100,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 183

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2004)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $73.9 million expenditures: $84.4 million (2001)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 68 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.06% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 91 9.17% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$72 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Debt - external [time series]

$213 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 179

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Tourism has increased as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination and has developed a new tourism development plan with assistance from the EU. Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages equivalent to 20% of GDP. 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 Dominica's economic and financial crisis of 2001-02 and to meet IMF targets. This restructuring paved the way for the current economic recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and will help to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 100% of GDP. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and has signed an agreement with the EU to develop geothermal energy resources.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

79.05 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

85 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$94 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 194

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 33.5%, China 17.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.7%, Guyana 5.7%, Jamaica 4.7%, UK 4.7% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$364 million (2008 est.)

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

$726.3 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 $703.8 million (2007 est.) $691.4 million (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 17.7% industry: 32.8% services: 49.5% (2004 est.)

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

$10,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 $9,700 (2007 est.) $9,600 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

3.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 1.8% (2007 est.) 3.8% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$296 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 195

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Japan 43.2%, US 17%, China 12.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Labor force [time series]

25,000 (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Oil - consumption [time series]

1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - imports [time series]

838.2 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Population below poverty line [time series]

30% (2002 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$213.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 122 $193.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$72.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 115 $73.71 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$289.9 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $269.1 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

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

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 751 sq km country comparison to the world: 188 land: 751 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]

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

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

Government

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]

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

Constitution [time series]

3 November 1978

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Judith Ann ROLLE 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 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 elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition

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

Independence [time series]

3 November 1978 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

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 [time series]

based on English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); 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 52.1%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.2%, other 1.1%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

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

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

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

Introduction

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

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 18,584 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 15,821 females age 16-49: 15,291 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 776 female: 731 (2009 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

NA (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24% (male 8,910/female 8,518) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 24,532/female 23,301) 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,187/female 4,212) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.73 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Death rate [time series]

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 70

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 133 male: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.55 years country comparison to the world: 76 male: 72.61 years female: 78.64 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 29.8 years male: 29.4 years female: 30.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Population [time series]

72,660 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Population growth rate [time series]

0.208% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 61.4%, 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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2005)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.09 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 74% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 198

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 53 country comparison to the world: 69 by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 27, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1 foreign-owned: 47 (Australia 2, Estonia 7, Greece 10, India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 7, Syria 2, Turkey 5, Ukraine 4, UAE 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Portsmouth, Roseau

Roadways [time series]

total: 780 km country comparison to the world: 187 paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (2000)