The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Dominica

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Dominica

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Map

Location: 13 30 N, 61 20 W -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

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Flag

Description: 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)

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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
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 750 sq km
land area: 750 sq km
comparative area: more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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: timber
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 41%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

People

Population: 82,926 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 11,986; female 11,521)
15-64 years: 64% (male 27,206; female 25,841)
65 years and over: 8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 18.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.55 years
female: 80.4 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
Type of government: 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 UK)
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:
chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly; election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - percent of vote NA
head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995); prime minister is appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
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
International organization participation: 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
Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica does not have an embassy in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
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

Economic 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $200 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,450 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1995)
Labor force: 25,000
by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $80 million
expenditures: $95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 7,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer
Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
partners: UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US
Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
partners: US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada
External debt: $92.8 million (1992)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation

Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 800 km
paved: 500 km
unpaved: 300 km
Ports: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fully automatic network
international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 cable
Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)

Defense

Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Dominica

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).