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About Dominica
island facts and stats |
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Introduction of Dominica
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 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.
Location:
- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago.
Map references:
- Central America, Caribbean.
Total area:
Total coastline area:
Climate:
- Tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, heavy rainfall.
Terrain:
- Rugged mountains of volcanic origin.
Dominica natural resources:
- Timber, hydropower, arable land.
Land use:
- Arable land: 9%
Permanent crops: 13%
Permanent pastures: 3%
Forests and woodland: 67%
Other: 8%
International agreements:
- Biodiversity, climate change, desertification, endangered species, environmental modification, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, ozone layer protection, ship pollution, whaling.
Geography:
- Dominica is 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.
People & Population
Population:
Average age:
- 0-14 years: 28.72% (male 10,300; female 10,027).
15-64 years: 63.45% (male 23,056; female 21,855).
65 years and over: 7.83% (male 2,267; female 3,281).
Population growth rate:
Sex ratio:
- At birth: 1.05 male or female.
Under 15 years: 1.03 male or female.
15-64 years: 1.05 male or female.
65 years and over: 0.69 male or female.
Life expectancy at birth:
- Total population in Dominica: 74 years.
Male: 71 years.
Female: 77 years.
Ethnic groups:
- Mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%.
Religions:
- Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, none 2%.
Dominica Languages:
Government Dominica
Country name:
- Commonwealth of Dominica.
Government type:
Capital City:
Public holiday's:
- January 1st - New Years Day.
January 2nd - Merchant's Holiday.
February - Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
March - Good Friday and Easter Monday.
May (first Monday) - Labor Day.
May (second Monday) - Whit Monday.
August (first Monday) - Emancipation Day.
November 3rd - Independence Day.
November 4th - Community Day of Service.
December 25th - Christmas Day.
December 26th - Boxing Day.
Legal system:
Political parties:
- Dominica freedom party, Dominica labor party, united workers party.
Diplomatic representation from the USA:
- The USA does not have an embassy in Dominica; USA interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Flag description:
Green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow, black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow, black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five pointed stars edged in yellow.
Economy of Dominica
Economy - overview:
- The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 21% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.
GDP:
- Purchasing power parity - $73 billion
GDP Official exchange rate:
GDP Real growth rate:
GDP Per capita:
GDP composition by sector:
- Agriculture: 11.2%.
Industry: 30.6%.
Services: 58.2%.
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