CapitalRoseau
Population74,661
Area751 km²
GDP per capita$18,700
LanguagesEnglish , French patois
CurrencyEast Caribbean dollars
Life Expectancy78.7 yr
Governmentparliamentary republic
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 Britain in 1763, and Dominica became a British colony in 1805. Slavery ended in 1833, and in 1835, the first three men of African descent were elected to the legislative assembly of Dominica. In 1871, Dominica became first part of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958. In 1967, Dominica became an associated state of the UK, formally taking responsibility for its internal affairs, and the country gained its independence in 1978. In 1980, Dominica's fortunes improved when Mary Eugenia CHARLES -- the first female prime minister in the Caribbean -- replaced a corrupt and tyrannical administration, and she served for the next 15 years. In 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island, causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.
Geography
Area
land
751 sq km
water
NEGL
total
751 sq km
Climate
tropical climate; influenced by northeast trade winds; substantial precipitation
Terrain
rugged, volcanic mountains
Land use
other
0% (2023 est.)
forest
76.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
33.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Location
Located in the Caribbean, this island is situated between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately midway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Coastline
148 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Morne Diablotins 1,447 m
Irrigated land
NA
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
flash floods pose a recurring risk; severe hurricanes are anticipated during the late summer season
volcanism: Dominica is positioned within the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which stretches from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that comprise this arc, five are found on Dominica, the highest number of any Caribbean island: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); two of Dominica's most recognized volcanic features, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, are situated on the slopes of Watt Mountain and are both popular attractions for tourists
Geography - note
often referred to as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" because of its rich and diverse plant and animal life, which is safeguarded by an extensive network of natural parks; it is the most mountainous island in the Lesser Antilles, with volcanic summits that are remnants of lava craters, including Boiling Lake, recognized as the second-largest thermally active lake globally
Natural resources
timber resources, hydropower, cultivable land
Area - comparative
slightly more than four times the area of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated along the coastline, with approximately one-third residing in the parish of St. George, in or near the capital city of Roseau; the volcanic interior remains sparsely inhabited
People & Society
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.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.04 male(s)/female
total population
1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.91 male(s)/female
Birth rate
13.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.15 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
36.5 years
total
37.5 years (2025 est.)
female
37.6 years
Population
male
37,753
total
74,661 (2024 est.)
female
36,908
Nationality
noun
Dominican(s)
adjective
Dominican
Urbanization
urban population
72% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
20.7% (male 7,891/female 7,530)
15-64 years
65.6% (male 25,000/female 24,009)
65 years and over
13.7% (2024 est.) (male 4,862/female 5,369)
Ethnic groups
Individuals of African descent constitute 84.5% of the population, those of mixed ancestry account for 9%, Indigenous peoples represent 3.8%, others make up 2.1%, and 0.6% remains unspecified (2011 estimate).
People - note
Approximately 3,000 to 3,500 Kalinago (Carib) individuals currently inhabit Dominica, representing the sole pre-Columbian group left in the Caribbean; an estimated 70 to 100 may be considered "pure" Kalinago due to extensive intermingling with the wider population over the years.
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
52.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
31.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
4.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
20.9 (2024 est.)
Physician density
1.16 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
6.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.01 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
5.8% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
14.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total
10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.04% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.98 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The majority of the population is concentrated along the coastline, with around one-third residing in the parish of St. George, particularly in or near the capital city of Roseau; the volcanic interior is characterized by low population density.
Life expectancy at birth
male
75.8 years
female
81.8 years
total population
78.7 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
6.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
15,000 ROSEAU (capital) (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
27.9% (2016)
Environment
Climate
tropical; influenced by northeast trade winds; significant precipitation
Land use
other
0% (2023 est.)
forest
76.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
33.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
72% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
13,200 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
12.6% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
contamination due to agricultural chemicals and untreated wastewater; forests threatened by agricultural expansion; soil degradation; coastal area pollution resulting from agricultural and industrial chemicals as well as untreated sewage
Total water withdrawal
municipal
19 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
168,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
168,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
7.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
200 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: green featuring a central cross comprised of three equal bands in yellow, black, and white; at the intersection of the cross lies a red disk containing a Sisserou parrot, encircled by 10 five-pointed green stars outlined in yellow
meaning: the stars signify the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green represents the island's abundant plant life; the tricolor cross symbolizes the Christian Trinity; yellow denotes sunshine, key agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the Carib people; black reflects the fertile soil and the African ancestry of the majority of the population; white symbolizes rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disk stands for social justice
Capital
name
Roseau
etymology
the name translates from French as "reed;" the initial settlement was named after the river reeds prevalent in the region
time difference
UTC-4 (one hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
15 18 N, 61 24 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous version was adopted in 1967 (prior to independence); the most recent was presented on 25 July 1978 and came into effect on 3 November 1978
amendment process
introduced by the House of Assembly; for amendments to constitutional elements such as fundamental rights and freedoms, government structure, and procedures for constitutional amendments to pass, there must be a three-fourths majority in the final reading of the amendment bill, a simple majority approval in a referendum, and the president's assent
Country name
etymology
the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS based on the day he discovered it, which was Sunday (Domingo in Spanish, dominica dies in Latin), on 3 November 1493
conventional long form
Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form
Dominica
Independence
3 November 1978 (from the UK)
Legal system
common law system modeled on English law
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) serves as the highest court for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; it is based in St. Lucia and includes the Court of Appeal -- led by the chief justice and four judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal visits member states periodically to hear appeals from the High Court and lower courts; the Caribbean Court of Justice acts as the ultimate court of appeal
subordinate courts
Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts
judge selection and term of office
the chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges are selected by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which is an independent body of judicial officials; justices of the Court of Appeal are appointed for life but must retire by age 65; High Court judges are appointed for life with a mandatory retirement age of 62
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
chief of state
President Sylvanie BURTON (since 2 October 2023)
election results
2023: parliament elects Sylvanie BURTON (DLP) with a tally of 20 votes in favor and five opposed
2018: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) was reelected as president without opposition
head of government
Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
most recent election date
27 September 2023
election/appointment process
the president is nominated by both the prime minister and the leader of the opposition party, and is elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term (with eligibility for a second term); the prime minister is appointed by the president
expected date of next election
October 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
National color(s)
green, yellow, black, white, red
Political parties
Dominica Freedom Party or DFP
Dominica Labor Party or DLP
Dominica United Workers Party or UWP
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
32 (21 directly elected; 9 appointed)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
House of Assembly
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
12/6/2022
expected date of next election
December 2027
percentage of women in chamber
40.6%
parties elected and seats per party
Dominica Labor Party (DLP) (19); Independents (2)
National anthem(s)
title
"Isle of Beauty"
history
adopted 1967
lyrics/music
Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN
National symbol(s)
sisserou parrot, Carib wood flower
National coat of arms
the coat of arms was officially adopted on July 21, 1961, showcasing two sisserou parrots supporting a shield divided into four sections by a cross, referencing the island’s discovery on a Sunday; the quadrants depict a palm tree, a banana tree, a native frog, and a canoe on the Caribbean Sea; the golden lion represents Dominica’s historical colonial connections with the UK; beneath the shield is the national motto, which translates to "After God is the Earth"
Administrative divisions
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 364-6791
chancery
3216 New Mexico Ave NW Washington, DC 20016
telephone
[1] (202) 364-6781
chief of mission
Ambassador Steve FERROL (since 15 September 2023)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
the United States does not maintain an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is authorized to represent the US in Dominica
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, Commonwealth of Nations, ECCU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$233.831 million (2017 est.)
expenditures
$164.673 million (2017 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$173.93 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$188.818 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$212.753 million (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$354.27 million (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$417.164 million (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$387.532 million (2024 est.)
Industries
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Public debt
Public debt 2016
71.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
6.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
5.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
2.7 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
2.7 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$301.191 million (2023 est.)
Economic overview
a predominantly agricultural economy in the OECS; a member of the ECCU; a significant exporter of bananas; enhanced regulation of its citizenship-by-investment initiative; developing sectors in ecotourism, information and communications, and education
Exports - partners
Bahamas, The 13%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Iceland 10%, Guyana 7%, Antigua & Barbuda 7% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 24%, China 11%, Indonesia 8%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, Italy 7% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$17,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$18,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$18,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
10.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
taro, grapefruits, yams, bananas, coconuts, plantains, milk, yautia, sugarcane, oranges (2023)
Exports - commodities
iron blocks, medical instruments, excavation machinery, power equipment, soap (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, semi-finished iron, cars (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$163.746 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$223.632 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$160.12 million (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$688.881 million (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
87.7% (2018 est.)
government consumption
27.4% (2018 est.)
investment in inventories
0% (2018 est.)
investment in fixed capital
32.7% (2018 est.)
exports of goods and services
29.2% (2018 est.)
imports of goods and services
-77.8% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.6% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
8.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$1.173 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$1.216 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$1.241 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$204.343 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$183.53 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$155.971 million (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
13.9% (2024 est.)
services
56.9% (2024 est.)
agriculture
12.2% (2024 est.)
Energy
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption
1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
consumption
145.827 million kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
41,000 kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
36.395 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
84.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
15% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
84% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
There is no terrestrial television service available; a subscription-based cable television provider delivers a selection of locally produced content, as well as channels from the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Additionally, state-run radio operates on six stations, while privately owned radio stations broadcast on approximately 15 stations (2019).
Internet country code
.dm
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
7,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
56,929 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
85 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
14,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Portsmouth, Roseau
very small
2
total ports
2 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
2 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
77 (2023)
by type
general cargo 26, oil tanker 10, other 41
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
J7
Military & Security
Military - note
Dominica has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)
Military and security forces
lacks a standing military; the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF), which operates under the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
5 (2024 est.)
