Dominica - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

The Dominican economy was dependent on agriculture - primarily bananas - in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism, as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. However, Hurricane Maria, which passed through the island in September 2017, destroyed much of the country’s agricultural sector and caused damage to all of the country’s transportation and physical infrastructure. Before Hurricane Maria, the government had attempited to foster an offshore financial industry and planned to sign agreements with the private sector...

Continue reading View Factbook for Dominica

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 1,640,090,000 1,499,220,000 XCD Annual
Private Consumption 2019 1,173,370,797 1,163,023,707 XCD Annual
Investment 2019 374,461,659 481,254,951 XCD Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2016 208,590,644 170,546,100 NCU Annual
Government Consumption 2014 268.94 266.28 Mil. XCD Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2010 90,762,962 2010 USD Annual
Real Investment 2010 90,762,962 2010 USD Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2010 100 99.67 Index 2005=100 Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Sep 2023 119.07 117.67 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Current Account Balance 2022 -162,036,145 -182,647,499 USD Annual
Imports of Goods 2022 234,220,888 202,557,878 USD Annual
Exports of Goods 2022 25,142,786 21,343,299 USD Annual
Balance of Goods 2022 -209,078,101 -181,214,578 USD Annual
Exports of Goods and Services 2019 598,482,849 425,941,203 XCD Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2019 1,116,599,691 1,133,240,838 XCD Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2010 175,645,592 2010 USD Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2010 264,518,703 2010 USD Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Treasury Bills (over 31 days) May 2018 1.85 1.85 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Money Market Rate Jan 2016 6.89 6.89 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Lending Rate Mar 2013 6.5 6.5 % - End of period Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Change in Inventories 1977 0 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2017 73,925 73,543 # Annual
Birth Rate 2014 12 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2014 8.2 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

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 colonized the island 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. On 18 September 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

Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:
15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 751 sq km
land: 751 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 189
Area - comparative:
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
148 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:
rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use:
agricultural land: 34.7%
arable land 8%; permanent crops 24%; permanent pasture 2.7%
forest: 59.2%
other: 6.1% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA
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
Natural hazards:
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
volcanism: Dominica was the last island to be formed in the Caribbean some 26 million years ago, it 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
Environment - current issues:
water shortages a continuing concern; pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone by agricultural and industrial chemicals, and untreated sewage
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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
Geography - note:
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 & Society

Population:
73,897 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:
black 86.6%, mixed 9.1%, indigenous 2.9%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2001 est.)
Languages:
English (official), French patois
Religions:
Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 28.6% (includes Evangelical 6.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.1%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, other 1.2%), Rastafarian 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 0.3%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.1% (2001 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.72% (male 8,210/female 7,843)
15-24 years: 15.14% (male 5,758/female 5,428)
25-54 years: 42.2% (male 15,809/female 15,372)
55-64 years: 9.81% (male 3,860/female 3,387)
65 years and over: 11.14% (male 3,679/female 4,551) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 33.5 years
male: 33 years
female: 34 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Population growth rate:
0.18% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Birth rate:
15.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Death rate:
7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Net migration rate:
-5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Population distribution:
population is mosly 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
Urbanization:
urban population: 70.1% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
ROSEAU (capital) 15,000 (2014)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.2 years
male: 74.2 years
female: 80.3 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Health expenditures:
5.5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 126
Hospital bed density:
3.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 95.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 79.6% of population
rural: 84.3% of population
total: 81.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 20.4% of population
rural: 15.7% of population
total: 18.9% of population (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
27.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 33
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 125
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

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
etymology: the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday ("Domingo" in Latin), 3 November 1493
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence:
3 November 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:
previous 1967 (preindependence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978; amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)
Legal system:
common law based on the English model
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Charles A. SAVARIN (since 2 October 2013)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 30 September 2013 (next to be held in October 2018); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) elected president; House of Assembly vote - 19-0
Legislative branch:
description: unicameral House of Assembly (32 seats; 21 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 9 senators appointed by the Assembly, and 2 ex-officio members - the House Speaker and the Clerk of the House; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 December 2014 (next to be held in 2019); note - tradition dictates that the election is held within 5 years of the last election, but technically it is 5 years from the first seating of parliament plus a 90-day grace period
election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 57.0%, UWP 42.9%, other 0.1%; seats by party - DLP 15, UWP 6
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - 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 is itinerant, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside at the member states with 2 in Dominica; note - Dominica is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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
subordinate courts: Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders:
Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Judith PESTAINA]
Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]
Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Lennox LINTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Dominica Trade Union [Harold SEALY]
Dominica Public Service Union [Mervin ANTHONY]
International organization participation:
ACP, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Vince HENDERSON (since 18 January 2017)
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica
Flag description:
green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou parrot, unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the triple-colored cross represents the Christian Trinity; the yellow color denotes sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the native Carib Indians; black is for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens; white signifies rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc stands for social justice
National symbol(s):
Sisserou parrot, Carib Wood flower; national colors: green, yellow, black, white, red
National anthem:
name: "Isle of Beauty"
lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN
note: adopted 1967

Economy

Economy - overview:
The Dominican economy was dependent on agriculture - primarily bananas - in years past, but increasingly has been driven by tourism, as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. However, Hurricane Maria, which passed through the island in September 2017, destroyed much of the country’s agricultural sector and caused damage to all of the country’s transportation and physical infrastructure. Before Hurricane Maria, the government had attempited to foster an offshore financial industry and planned to sign agreements with the private sector to develop geothermal energy resources. At a time when government finances are fragile, the government’s focus has been to get the country back in shape to service cruise ships. The economy contracted in 2015 and recovered to positive growth in 2016 due to a recovery of agriculture and tourism. Dominica suffers from high debt levels, which increased from 67% of GDP in 2010 to 77% in 2016. Dominica is one of five countries in the East Caribbean that have citizenship by investment programs whereby foreigners can obtain passports for a fee and revenue from this contribute to government budgets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$851 million (2017 est.)
$818.8 million (2016 est.)
$797.7 million (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 205
GDP (official exchange rate):
$608 million (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.9% (2017 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
-2.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,000 (2017 est.)
$11,500 (2016 est.)
$11,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 130
Gross national saving:
16.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
20.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
14.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 72.7%
government consumption: 23%
investment in fixed capital: 12.7%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 40.9%
imports of goods and services: -49.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 15.3%
industry: 13.6%
services: 71.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, citrus, mangos, root crops, coconuts, cocoa
note: forest and fishery potential not exploited
Industries:
soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate:
3% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Labor force:
25,000 (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:
23% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Population below poverty line:
29% (2009 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $148.1 million
expenditures: $148.1 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
24.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
0% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Public debt:
81% of GDP (2016 est.)
83% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.6% (2017 est.)
0% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.1% (31 December 2017 est.)
8.33% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Stock of narrow money:
$116.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$112 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Stock of broad money:
$535.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$509.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Stock of domestic credit:
$222.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$195.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Current account balance:
$-38 million (2017 est.)
$5 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Exports:
$47.4 million (2017 est.)
$43.7 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Exports - commodities:
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 15.4%, Jamaica 13.3%, Saudi Arabia 13%, St. Kitts and Nevis 11.8%, Guyana 9.3%, Barbados 5.1%, US 5.1%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.5%, Egypt 4.1% (2016)
Imports:
$198 million (2017 est.)
$186.4 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 23.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 18.1%, Italy 8.7%, UK 5.4% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$150 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$221.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Debt - external:
$288.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$314.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2017 est.)
2.7 (2016 est.)
2.7 (2015 est.)
2.7 (2014 est.)
2.7 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 5,900
electrification - total population: 93%
electrification - urban areas: 99%
electrification - rural areas: 80% (2012)
Electricity - production:
94 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Electricity - consumption:
87.42 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
33,200 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
60.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
18.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
21.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Refined petroleum products - imports:
978.2 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
100,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 13,328
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 78,444
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully automatic network
domestic: fixed-line connections continued to decline slowly with the two active operators providing about 18 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 106 per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and the Global Caribbean Network (GCN) submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2016)
Broadcast media:
no terrestrial TV service available; 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 (2007)
Internet country code:
.dm
Internet users:
total: 49,439
percent of population: 67.0% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Transportation

National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 0
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 0
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 0
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 0 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
J7 (2016)
Airports:
2 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 199
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)
Roadways:
total: 1,512 km
paved: 762 km
unpaved: 750 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 178
Merchant marine:
total: 76
by type: general cargo 24, oil tanker 15, other 37 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 101
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Portsmouth, Roseau

Military & Security

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2012)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer

Economic Indicators for Dominica including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Dominica economy.