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Dominica

Parliamentary RepublicPop66KGDP (PPP)$1.2BCI68BetaCP0.0Beta
Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Overview

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; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain
rugged mountains of volcanic origin

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
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway 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 are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

volcanism: Dominica lies in the middle of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: 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); the two best-known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain, and both are popular tourist destinations
Geography note
known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its lush and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest thermally active lake in the world
Natural resources
timber, hydropower, arable land
Area comparative
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Population distribution
population is mostly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated

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
African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
People note
3,000-3,500 Kalinago (Carib) still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the Caribbean; only 70-100 may be "pure" Kalinago because of years of integration into the broader population

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
population is mostly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated

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)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

Head of StateSylvanie BurtonExecutive of DominicacabinetHouse of AssemblyLower chamber · 32 seatsHead of GovernmentRoosevelt Skerrit
ExecutiveLegislative
Flag
description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands in yellow, black, and white; in the center of the cross is a red disk with a Sisserou parrot surrounded by 10 five-pointed green stars edged in yellow

meaning: the stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the tricolor cross represents the Christian Trinity; yellow stands for sunshine, the primary agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the Carib people; black for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens; white for rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc for social justice

Capital

Name
Roseau
Etymology
the name is French for "reed;" the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area
Time difference
UTC-4 (1 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 1967 (pre-independence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978
Amendment process
proposed by the House of Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as fundamental rights and freedoms, the government structure, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by three fourths of the Assembly membership in the final reading of the amendment bill, approval by simple majority in a referendum, and assent of the president

Country Name

Etymology
the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday (Domingo in Spanish, dominica dies in Latin), 3 November 1493
Conventional long form
Commonwealth of Dominica
Conventional short form
Dominica
Independence
3 November 1978 (from the UK)
Legal system
common law based on the English model
Government type
parliamentary republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s)
the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; the Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal
Subordinate courts
Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts
Judge selection and term of office
chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 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 20 votes for and five against

2018: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed
Head of government
Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
Most recent election date
27 September 2023
Election/appointment process
president nominated by the prime minister and leader of the opposition party and elected by the House of Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister 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 adopted on July 21, 1961, and features two sisserou parrots supporting a shield that is divided into four sections by a cross, a reference to the island’s discovery on a Sunday; the quadrants feature a palm tree, a banana tree, a frog that is native to the island, and a canoe on the Caribbean Sea; the golden lion symbolizes Dominica’s past colonial ties with the UK; below the shield is the national motto, which means "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

embdomdc@gmail.com

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica
International organisations
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

Legislature

DOMINICA · LEGISLATURE

House of Assembly

32 seats · hover a seat for the party
ROSTRUMMAJORITY 17
Total seats
32
Majority line
17
Largest party
United Workers' Party
Parties
2
All political parties2 parties · 32 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

  • Sylvanie Burton

    • Head of StateSince 2023
  • Roosevelt Skerrit

    • Head of GovernmentSince 2004

Economy

Budget

Note
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues
$233.831 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures
$164.673 million (2017 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$173.93 million (2022 est.)
Note
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022
$173.93 million (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$188.818 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$212.753 million (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$354.27 million (2022 est.)
Note
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
71.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Public debt 2016
71.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
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

Note
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023
$301.191 million (2023 est.)
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
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$21,301
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
2.1%
Note
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
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

Civica canonical (reconciled)
-$260.4M
Note
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
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)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
2.6%
Note
note: annual % change based on 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)

Civica canonical (reconciled)
$1.241 billion (2024 est.)
Note
note: data in 2021 dollars
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

Note
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
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

Note
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
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
no terrestrial TV service; subscription cable TV provider offers some locally produced programming, plus channels from the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean; state-operated radio broadcasts on 6 stations; privately owned radio broadcasts on about 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.)

Transport

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

Environment

Climate
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

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
pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone from agricultural/industrial chemicals and 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

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
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) under the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees
5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index68.0 / 100as of 2024-Q451 / 1902024-Q4
Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q42024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 20242024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Dominica — vintage 2026-Q1: Dominica factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/dominica
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata