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Dominica Country Guide

Explore Dominica in North America

Dominica with the capital city Roseau is located in North America (Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 754 square kilometres (slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC) with 72,000 citizens.

Interactive map of Dominica

The terrain features rugged mountains of volcanic origin. The average density of population is approximately 95 per km². The notable climate conditions in Dominica can be described as tropical with moderated by northeast trade winds and heavy rainfall. Potential natural disasters are flash floods are a constant threat or destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months.

To reach someone in Dominica dial +1-767 prior to a number. There are 17,500 installed telephones. And there are 106,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 850/900/1900 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".dm". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 230V - 50Hz.

About the flag and history of Dominica

Dominica Flag Icon

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.


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.



Geography Quick-Facts

SummaryContinent: North America
Neighbours:
Capital: Roseau
Size754 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 291 square miles (mi² or sqmi)
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Population72,000
CurrencyName Dollar, Currency Code:XCD
Country Top Level Domain (cTLD).dm
Telephone Country Prefix+1-767
Mobile Phone Connections106,000
Landline Phone Connections17,500

Country Position in World Rankings

Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).

Geography

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Area751 (sq km)189

People and Society

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Population73,286 201
Population growth rate0.22 (%)175
Birth rate15.61 (births/1,000 population)129
Death rate7.97 (deaths/1,000 population)100
Net migration rate-5.40 (migrant(s)/1,000 population)192
Infant mortality rate11.99 (deaths/1,000 live births)131
Life expectancy at birth76.39 (years)78
Total fertility rate2.06 (children born/woman)119
Health expenditures7.40 (% of GDP)74
Obesity - adult prevalence rate24.90 (%)61
Education expenditures3.50 (% of GDP)126
Unemployment, youth ages 15-2426.00 (%)37

Economy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
GDP (purchasing power parity)1,018,000,000 204
GDP - real growth rate0.40 (%)173
GDP - per capita (PPP)14,400 94
Labor force25,000 207
Unemployment rate23.00 (%)169
Taxes and other revenues29.80 (% of GDP)95
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)-7.50 (% of GDP)192
Public debt70.00 (% of GDP)38
Inflation rate (consumer prices)2.00 (%)32
Central bank discount rate6.50 (%)47
Commercial bank prime lending rate8.88 (%)104
Stock of narrow money70,740,000 184
Stock of broad money413,700,000 181
Stock of domestic credit296,300,000 181
Current account balance-117,400,000 69
Exports41,000,000 200
Imports218,600,000 204
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold85,000,000 164
Debt - external253,800,000 182

Energy

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Electricity - production85,500,000 (kWh)200
Electricity - consumption79,520,000 (kWh)200
Electricity - installed generating capacity22,200 (kW)194
Electricity - from fossil fuels72.10 (% of total installed capacity)102
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants27.00 (% of total installed capacity)81
Electricity - from other renewable sources0.90 (% of total installed capacity)71
Refined petroleum products - consumption918 (bbl/day)207
Refined petroleum products - imports912 (bbl/day)196
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy141,200 (Mt)205

Communications

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Telephones - main lines in use15,500 195
Telephones - mobile cellular111,000 190
Internet hosts723 175
Internet users28,000 183

Transportation

Value nameValueWorld Rank
Airports2 199
Roadways780 (km)188
Merchant marine43 73

Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases

List of current world heritage sites

NameSince
Morne Trois Pitons National Park
Luxuriant natural tropical forest blends with scenic volcanic features of great scientific interest in this national park centred on the 1,342-m-high volcano known as Morne Trois Pitons. With its precipitous slopes and deeply incised valleys, 50 fuma ...
1997