Geography
Area: 754 sq. km. (290 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Roseau.
Terrain: Mountainous volcanic island with rainforest cover.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Dominican (Dom-i-nee-can).
Population (2002 est.) 70,158.
Annual growth rate: 0.9%.
Ethnic groups: Mainly African descent, some Carib Indians.
Christian singles note-Religions: Roman Catholic (80%), Anglican, other
Protestant denominations.
Languages: English (official); a French patois is widely spoken.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 14. Literacy--94%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--15.94/1,000. Life expectancy--76
yrs.
Work force (1997): (49,860): Agriculture--37%; services--30%;
commerce--20%.
Unemployment--exceeds 26% (ECCB estimate).
Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy; republic within commonwealth.
Independence: November 3, 1978.
Constitution: November 1978.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister
(head of government), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral House of
Assembly. Judicial--magistrate and jury courts, Eastern
Caribbean Supreme Court (High Court and Court of Appeals), Privy
Council.
Subdivisions: 10 parishes.
Political parties: Dominica Labor Party, Dominica Freedom Party
(ruling coalition partners), and United Workers Party (opposition).
Suffrage: Universal adult.
Economy (2002)
GDP: $250 million.
GDP growth rate: -4.75 (2002 IMF estimate)
Per capita GDP: $3,424.
Natural resources: timber, water (hydropower), copper.
Agriculture (17% of GDP): Products--bananas, citrus, coconuts,
cocoa, herbal oils and extracts.
Manufacturing (8.5% of GDP): Types--agricultural processing,
soap and other coconut-based products, apparel.
Trade: Exports--$47.4 million (2001): bananas, citrus fruits,
soap, and cocoa. Major markets--European Union (EU), CARICOM,
U.S. (16%). Imports--$100 million (2001): machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured articles, cement. Major
suppliers--OECS, CARICOM, U.S., Canada, EU, Japan.
PEOPLE
Almost all Dominicans are descendants of African slaves brought in by
colonial planters in the 18th century. Dominica is the only island in
the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Columbian
population--the Carib Indians--about 3,000 of whom live on the
island's east coast. The population growth rate is very low, due
primarily to emigration to more prosperous Caribbean Islands, the
United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
Christian singles note-English is the official language; however,
because of historic French domination, the most widely spoken dialect
is a French patois. About 80% of the population is Catholic. In recent
years, a number of Protestant churches have been established.
