Population: 69,029 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Roseau
Languages: English (official), French patois
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other
2%), other 6%, none 2%
Government: parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Geography: known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, 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
Ethnic groups: black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian
Economy: The
Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and
international economic developments. Production of bananas dropped precipitously in 2003, a major reason for the 1% decline in
GDP. Tourism increased in 2003 as the government sought to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Development of the
tourism industry remains difficult, however, because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an
international airport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy in 2003 - including elimination of
price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic crisis and to
meet IMF targets. In order to diversify the island's production base the government is attempting to develop an offshore
financial sector and is planning to construct an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity -
$5,500 (2003 est.)
GDP real growth: -1% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate: 23% (2000 est.)
Internet country code: .dm
Dial code: +767
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 made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence,
Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the
first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on
Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.