Dominica

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 was a British colony from 1805 until gaining independence 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
total: 74,661 (2024 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
-0.01% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Roseau

Executive branch
chief of state: President Sylvanie BURTON (since 2 October 2023)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Steve FERROL (since 15 September 2023)

Economy

Economic overview
highly agrarian OECS island economy; ECCU-member state; large banana exporter; improved oversight of its citizenship-by-investment program; emerging ecotourism, information and communications, and education industries

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.241 billion (2024 est.)
$1.216 billion (2023 est.)
$1.173 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$18,700 (2024 est.)
$18,300 (2023 est.)
$17,600 (2022 est.)

Exports
$212.753 million (2024 est.)
$188.818 million (2023 est.)
$173.93 million (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
Bahamas, The 13%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Iceland 10%, Guyana 7%, Antigua & Barbuda 7% (2023)

Exports - commodities
iron blocks, medical instruments, excavation machinery, power equipment, soap (2023)

Imports
$387.532 million (2024 est.)
$417.164 million (2023 est.)
$354.27 million (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 24%, China 11%, Indonesia 8%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, Italy 7% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, semi-finished iron, cars (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.761, ranking it 98th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)