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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.
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
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
Summary | Continent: North America Neighbours: Capital: Roseau |
Size | 754 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 291 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC |
Population | 72,000 |
Currency | Name Dollar, Currency Code:XCD |
Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .dm |
Telephone Country Prefix | +1-767 |
Mobile Phone Connections | 106,000 |
Landline Phone Connections | 17,500 |
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 name | Value | World Rank |
---|---|---|
Area | 751 (sq km) | 189 |
People and Society
Value name | Value | World Rank |
---|---|---|
Population | 73,286 | 201 |
Population growth rate | 0.22 (%) | 175 |
Birth rate | 15.61 (births/1,000 population) | 129 |
Death rate | 7.97 (deaths/1,000 population) | 100 |
Net migration rate | -5.40 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 192 |
Infant mortality rate | 11.99 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 131 |
Life expectancy at birth | 76.39 (years) | 78 |
Total fertility rate | 2.06 (children born/woman) | 119 |
Health expenditures | 7.40 (% of GDP) | 74 |
Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 24.90 (%) | 61 |
Education expenditures | 3.50 (% of GDP) | 126 |
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 26.00 (%) | 37 |
Economy
Value name | Value | World Rank |
---|---|---|
GDP (purchasing power parity) | 1,018,000,000 | 204 |
GDP - real growth rate | 0.40 (%) | 173 |
GDP - per capita (PPP) | 14,400 | 94 |
Labor force | 25,000 | 207 |
Unemployment rate | 23.00 (%) | 169 |
Taxes and other revenues | 29.80 (% of GDP) | 95 |
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -7.50 (% of GDP) | 192 |
Public debt | 70.00 (% of GDP) | 38 |
Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.00 (%) | 32 |
Central bank discount rate | 6.50 (%) | 47 |
Commercial bank prime lending rate | 8.88 (%) | 104 |
Stock of narrow money | 70,740,000 | 184 |
Stock of broad money | 413,700,000 | 181 |
Stock of domestic credit | 296,300,000 | 181 |
Current account balance | -117,400,000 | 69 |
Exports | 41,000,000 | 200 |
Imports | 218,600,000 | 204 |
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 85,000,000 | 164 |
Debt - external | 253,800,000 | 182 |
Energy
Value name | Value | World Rank |
---|---|---|
Electricity - production | 85,500,000 (kWh) | 200 |
Electricity - consumption | 79,520,000 (kWh) | 200 |
Electricity - installed generating capacity | 22,200 (kW) | 194 |
Electricity - from fossil fuels | 72.10 (% of total installed capacity) | 102 |
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 27.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 81 |
Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0.90 (% of total installed capacity) | 71 |
Refined petroleum products - consumption | 918 (bbl/day) | 207 |
Refined petroleum products - imports | 912 (bbl/day) | 196 |
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 141,200 (Mt) | 205 |
Communications
Value name | Value | World Rank |
---|---|---|
Telephones - main lines in use | 15,500 | 195 |
Telephones - mobile cellular | 111,000 | 190 |
Internet hosts | 723 | 175 |
Internet users | 28,000 | 183 |
Transportation
Value name | Value | World Rank |
---|---|---|
Airports | 2 | 199 |
Roadways | 780 (km) | 188 |
Merchant marine | 43 | 73 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
Name | Since |
---|---|
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 |