Country Summary
Introduction
Background
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 colonized the island in 1805. Independence came in 1978.
Geography
Area
total: 751 sq km
land: 751 sq km
Climate
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Natural resources
timber, hydropower, arable land
People and Society
Population
74,629 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups
African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Languages
English (official), French patois
Religions
Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 29.7% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 6.1%, Baptist 5.2%, Christian Union Church 3.9%, Methodist 2.6%, Gospel Mission 2.1%, other Protestant 3.1%), Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 4.3%, none 9.4%, unspecified 1.4% (2011 est.)
Population growth rate
0.05% (2022 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Roseau
Executive branch
chief of state: President Charles A. SAVARIN (since 2 October 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral House of Assembly (32 seats; 21 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 senators appointed by the president - 5 on the advice of the prime minister, and 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, plus 2 ex-officio members - the house speaker and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
highly agrarian OECS island economy; ECCU-member state; large banana exporter; COVID-19- and Hurricane Maria-related public debt increases; improving government oversight of its very cheap citizenship-by-investment program
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$710 million (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$9,900 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
bananas, yams, grapefruit, taro, milk, coconuts, oranges, yautia, plantains, sugar cane
Industries
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Exports
$160 million (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
Saudi Arabia 47%, Qatar 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
medical instruments, pharmaceuticals, low-voltage protection equipment, tropical fruits, bandages (2019)
Imports
$430 million (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 57%, Nigeria 11%, China 6%, Italy 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, recreational boats, cars (2019)
Exchange rates
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Page last updated: Monday, May 16, 2022
