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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.dm

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

723 (2012) country comparison to the world: 175

Internet users [time series]

28,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 183

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fully automatic network domestic: fixed-line connections continued to decline slowly with the two active operators providing about 20 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers continued to increase with teledensity reaching 150 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN) submarine cables providing connectivity to 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 (2010)

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

14,600 (2012) country comparison to the world: 197

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

109,300 (2012) country comparison to the world: 191

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

bananas, citrus, mangos, root crops, coconuts, cocoa note: forest and fishery potential not exploited

Budget [time series]

revenues: $148.1 million expenditures: $185.2 million (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-7.5% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.1% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 9.03% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$91.5 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 73 -$54.9 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$274.9 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $272.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Dominican economy has been dependent on agriculture - primarily bananas - in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Moreover, Dominica has successfully developed an offshore medical education sector. In order to diversify the island's economy, the government is also attempting to develop an offshore financial industry and plans to sign agreements with the private sector to develop geothermal energy resources. 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 an economic and financial crisis and to meet IMF requirements. In 2009, the economy contracted as a result of the global recession; growth remains anemic. Although public debt levels continue to exceed pre-recession levels, the debt burden declined from 78% of GDP in 2011 to approximately 70% in 2012, one of the lowest levels in the Eastern Caribbean.

Exchange rates [time series]

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2013 est.) 2.7 (2012 est.) 2.7 (2010 est.) 2.7 (2009)

Exports [time series]

$40.4 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 201 $40.6 million (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 38.8%, Jamaica 8.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.7%, Guyana 6.5%, Paraguay 5.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$495 million (2013 est.)

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

$1.015 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 204 $1.004 billion (2012 est.) $1.021 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 65.5% government consumption: 18.9% investment in fixed capital: 24.8% investment in inventories: 0% exports of goods and services: 46.4% imports of goods and services: -55.6% (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 15.7% industry: 15.6% services: 68.7% (2013 est.)

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

$14,300 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $14,200 (2012 est.) $14,400 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

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

1.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 -1.7% (2012 est.) 1% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

9.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 8.5% of GDP (2011 est.) 7.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$219.6 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 $182.7 million (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Japan 39.3%, US 15.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.5%, China 5.1% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 1.4% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

25,000 (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 207

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 40% industry: 32% services: 28% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

29% (2009 est.)

Public debt [time series]

70% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 78% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$90 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $94.56 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$455.2 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $421.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$333.3 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $304.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$94.41 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $84.39 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

29.9% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Unemployment rate [time series]

23% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

141,600 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity - consumption [time series]

93.47 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

19.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

6.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

74.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

97,000 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - production [time series]

100.5 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

918 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 206

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

916 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 751 sq km country comparison to the world: 189 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 Diablotins 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: 244.1 cu m/yr (2004)

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: 8% permanent crops: 24% other: 68% (2011)

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]

previous 1967 (preindependence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978; amended several times, last in 1984 (2011)

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 Hubert J. CHARLES (since 16 July 2010) 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 Charles A. SAVARIN (since 2 October 2013) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 30 September 2013 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Charles A. SAVARIN elected president by a vote of 19-0 on 30 September 2013

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, 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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

3 November 1978 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Dominica; the ECSC - based on St. Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the 9 member states; 2 High Court judges reside in Dominica; note - Dominica is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice judge selection and term of office: ECSC chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; 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

Legal system [time series]

common law based on the English model

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of Assembly (32 seats; 9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 1 speaker elected from among persons who are not members of the House, responsible for the management and general administration of the House, and one ex-officio Clerk of the House) elections: last held on 18 December 2009 (next to be held in 2015); 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 61.2%, UWP 34.9%, other 3.9%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Isle of Beauty"

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

National symbol(s) [time series]

Sisserou parrot

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

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Judith PESTAINA] Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT] Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Hector JOHN]

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: 19,075 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 16,035 females age 16-49: 15,499 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 675 female: 636 (2010 est.)

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

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.1% (male 8,300/female 7,939) 15-24 years: 16.7% (male 6,311/female 5,946) 25-54 years: 41.5% (male 15,470/female 15,004) 55-64 years: 9.2% (male 3,604/female 3,147) 65 years and over: 10.4% (male 3,386/female 4,342) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.53 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Death rate [time series]

7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 95.7% of population unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.5% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 125

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]

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.9% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 113

Hospital bed density [time series]

3.8 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 129 male: 15.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French patois

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 76.59 years country comparison to the world: 77 male: 73.63 years female: 79.7 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Major urban areas - population [time series]

ROSEAU (capital) 14,000 (2011)

Median age [time series]

total: 32.1 years male: 31.7 years female: 32.6 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-5.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

24.9% (2008) country comparison to the world: 61

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.59 physicians/1,000 population (2001)

Population [time series]

73,449 (July 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Population growth rate [time series]

0.22% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 20.6% (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)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 79.6% of population rural: 84.3% of population total: 81.1% of population unimproved: urban: 20.4% of population rural: 15.7% of population total: 18.9% of population (2007 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.05 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 26% country comparison to the world: 39 male: 26.2% female: 25.4% (2001)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 67.1% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 (2013) country comparison to the world: 199

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 43 country comparison to the world: 73 by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 22, chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 32 (Australia 1, Estonia 6, Germany 5, Greece 4, India 2, Latvia 2, Norway 1, Russia 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 4, Turkey 1, Ukraine 1) registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Portsmouth, Roseau

Roadways [time series]

total: 1,512 km country comparison to the world: 177 paved: 762 km unpaved: 750 km (2010)