Dominica vs. Dominican Republic
Introduction
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. 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 part first of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958. In 1967 Dominica became an associated state of the UK, and formally took responsibility for its internal affairs. 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. | The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (first term 1996-2000) won election to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was later reelected to a second consecutive term. Following the two-term presidency of Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (2012-2020), Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona was elected president in July 2020. |
Geography
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago | Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti |
| Geographic coordinates | 15 25 N, 61 20 W | 19 00 N, 70 40 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | total: 751 sq km land: 751 sq km water: NEGL | total: 48,670 sq km land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC | slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey |
| Land boundaries | total: 0 km | total: 376 km border countries (1): Haiti 376 km |
| Coastline | 148 km | 1,288 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines |
| Climate | tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall | tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall |
| Terrain | rugged mountains of volcanic origin | rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m | highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m mean elevation: 424 m |
| Natural resources | timber, hydropower, arable land | nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land |
| Land use | agricultural land: 34.7% (2018 est.) arable land: 8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 24% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 2.7% (2018 est.) forest: 59.2% (2018 est.) other: 6.1% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 51.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 10.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 24.8% (2018 est.) forest: 40.8% (2018 est.) other: 7.7% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | NA | 3,070 sq km (2012) |
| 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 | lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts |
| 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 | water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation |
| Environment - international 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 | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, 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 | shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti); the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba); geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo |
| Total renewable water resources | 200 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | 23.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| 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 | coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central) |
Demographics
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 74,584 (July 2021 est.) | 10,597,348 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 21.41% (male 8,135/female 7,760) 15-24 years: 13.15% (male 5,017/female 4,746) 25-54 years: 42.79% (male 16,133/female 15,637) 55-64 years: 10.53% (male 4,089/female 3,731) 65 years and over: 12.12% (male 4,128/female 4,867) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 26.85% (male 1,433,166/female 1,385,987) 15-24 years: 18.15% (male 968,391/female 937,227) 25-54 years: 40.54% (male 2,168,122/female 2,088,926) 55-64 years: 8.17% (male 429,042/female 428,508) 65 years and over: 6.29% (male 310,262/female 350,076) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 34.9 years male: 34.4 years female: 35.5 years (2020 est.) | total: 27.9 years male: 27.8 years female: 28.1 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.07% (2021 est.) | 0.92% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 14.16 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 18.24 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | -5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -2.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 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: 1.1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 11.56 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.67 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 21.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 77.96 years male: 74.99 years female: 81.09 years (2021 est.) | total population: 72.28 years male: 70.57 years female: 74.06 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 2.02 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.23 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.6% (2018) | 0.9% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican | noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican |
| Ethnic groups | African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.) | mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.) note: respondents self-identified their race; the term "indio" in the Dominican Republic is not associated with people of indigenous ancestry but people of mixed ancestry or skin color between light and dark |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | <500 (2018) | 72,000 (2020 est.) |
| 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.) | Roman Catholic 44.3%, Evangelical 13%, Protestant 7.9%, Adventist 1.4%, other 1.8%, atheist 0.2%, none 29.4%, unspecified 2% (2018 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <100 (2018) | 1,900 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | English (official), French patois | Spanish (official) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| Education expenditures | 5.6% of GDP (2019) | NA |
| Urbanization | urban population: 71.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 83.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 95.7% of population unimproved: urban: 4.3% of population | improved: urban: 98.3% of population rural: 92% of population total: 96.7% of population unimproved: urban: 1.7% of population rural: 8% of population total: 3.3% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 15,000 ROSEAU (capital) (2018) | 3.389 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2021) |
| Health expenditures | 6.6% (2018) | 5.7% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 1.12 physicians/1,000 population (2017) | 1.53 physicians/1,000 population (2011) |
| Hospital bed density | 3.8 beds/1,000 population (2010) | 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 27.9% (2016) | 27.6% (2016) |
Government
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) |
| Government type | parliamentary republic | presidential 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) etymology: the name is French for "reed"; the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area | name: Santo Domingo geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Saint Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order |
| Administrative divisions | 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter | 10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma |
| Independence | 3 November 1978 (from the UK) | 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 3 November (1978) | Independence Day, 27 February (1844) |
| Constitution | history: previous 1967 (preindependence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978 amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2015 | history: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015 amendments: proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one half of those present in both houses of the Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform, also requires approval in a referendum |
| Legal system | common law based on the English model | civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age can vote; note - members of the armed forces and national police by law cannot vote |
| 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 1 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2023); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed | chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020); Vice President Raquel PENA de Antuna (since 16 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a maximum of two consecutive terms); election last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: 2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNANDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9% other 1.1% 2016: Danilo MEDINA Sanchez reelected president; percent of vote - Danilo MEDINA Sanchez (PLD) 61.7%, Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 35%, other 3.3%; Margarita CEDENO DE FERNANDEZ (PLD) reelected vice president |
| 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 president - 5 on the advice of the prime minister, and 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, plus 2 ex-officio members - the house speaker and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 6 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); 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 59.0%, UWP 41.0%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3 | description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (32 seats; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 6 members indirectly elected based upon province-wide party plurality votes for its candidates to the Chamber of Deputies; all members serve 4-year terms; note - in 2019, the Central Election Commission changed the electoral system for seats in26 constituencies to direct simple majority but retained indirect election for the remaining 6 constituencies; previously all 32 members were indirectly elected; the change had been challenged by the ruling and opposition parties) House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (190 seats; 178 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method, 5 members in a nationwide constituency and 7 diaspora members directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held 2024) House of Representatives - last held on 5 July 2020 (next to be held in 2024); note - the 2020 election was rescheduled from 17 May to 5 July 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 17, PLD 6, PRSC 6, BIS 1, DXC 1, FP 1 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRM 86, PLD 75, PRSC 6, PRD 4, Broad Front 3, FP 3, AP 2, APD 2, BIS 2, DXC 2, other 5 |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: 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, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 2 in Dominica; note - in 2015, Dominica acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, in London 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 | highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia (consists of a minimum of 16 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges); note - the Constitutional Court was established in 2010 by constitutional amendment judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and a non-governing party congressional representative; Supreme Court judges appointed for 7-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace; special courts for juvenile, labor, and land cases; Contentious Administrative Court for cases filed against the government |
| 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] | Alliance for Democracy or APD Broad Front (Frente Amplio) [Fidel SANTANA] Country Alliance or AP [Guillermo Antonio MORENO Garcia] Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Danilo MEDINA Sánchez] Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Miguel VARGAS Maldonado] Dominicans For Change or DXC [Manuel OVIEDO Estrada] Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD) Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM [Jose Ignacio PALIZA] National Progressive Front or FNP [Vinicio CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO] People's Force or FP [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna] Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Federico ANTUN] |
| 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 | ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), 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 email address and website: embdomdc@aol.com consulate(s) general: New York | chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia GUZMAN (since 18 January 2021) chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 email address and website: embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/ consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Glendale (CA), Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert W. THOMAS (since 20 January 2021) embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo mailing address: 3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470 telephone: (809) 567-7775 email address and website: SDOAmericans@state.gov https://do.usembassy.gov/ |
| 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 | a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are ultramarine blue (hoist side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (hoist side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes |
| National anthem | name: Isle of Beauty lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN note: adopted 1967 | name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the indigenous name of the island |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | Sisserou parrot, Carib Wood flower; national colors: green, yellow, black, white, red | palmchat (bird); national colors: red, white, blue |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years |
Economy
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 attempted 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. | The Dominican Republic was for most of its history primarily an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but over the last three decades the economy has become more diversified as the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in construction, tourism, and free trade zones. The mining sector has also played a greater role in the export market since late 2012 with the commencement of the extraction phase of the Pueblo Viejo Gold and Silver mine, one of the largest gold mines in the world. For the last 20 years, the Dominican Republic has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. The economy rebounded from the global recession in 2010-16, and the fiscal situation is improving. A tax reform package passed in November 2012, a reduction in government spending, and lower energy costs helped to narrow the central government budget deficit from 6.6% of GDP in 2012 to 2.6% in 2016, and public debt is declining. Marked income inequality, high unemployment, and underemployment remain important long-term challenges; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for approximately half of exports and the source of 40% of imports. Remittances from the US amount to about 7% of GDP, equivalent to about a third of exports and two-thirds of tourism receipts. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and manufacturing exports. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $855 million (2019 est.) $826 million (2018 est.) $807 million (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $197.735 billion (2019 est.) $188.225 billion (2018 est.) $175.94 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | -4.7% (2017 est.) 2.6% (2016 est.) -3.7% (2015 est.) | 4.6% (2017 est.) 6.6% (2016 est.) 7% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $11,917 (2019 est.) $11,537 (2018 est.) $11,304 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $18,413 (2019 est.) $17,712 (2018 est.) $16,735 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 22.3% (2017 est.) industry: 12.6% (2017 est.) services: 65.1% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 5.6% (2017 est.) industry: 33% (2017 est.) services: 61.4% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 29% (2009 est.) | 21% (2019 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA | lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 37.4% (2013 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 0.6% (2017 est.) 0% (2016 est.) | 1.8% (2019 est.) 3.5% (2018 est.) 3.2% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 25,000 (2000 est.) | 4.732 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 40% industry: 32% services: 28% (2002 est.) | agriculture: 14.4% industry: 20.8% (2014) services: 64.7% (2014 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 23% (2000 est.) | 5.1% (2017 est.) 5.5% (2016 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 227.8 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 260.4 million (2017 est.) | revenues: 11.33 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 13.62 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes | tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices |
| Industrial production growth rate | -13% (2017 est.) | 3.1% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | bananas, yams, grapefruit, taro, milk, coconuts, oranges, yautia, plantains, sugar cane note: forest and fishery potential not exploited | sugar cane, bananas, papayas, rice, plantains, milk, avocados, fruit, pineapples, coconuts |
| Exports | $28 million (2017 est.) $43.7 million (2016 est.) | $10.12 billion (2017 est.) $9.86 billion (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | medical instruments, pharmaceuticals, low-voltage protection equipment, tropical fruits, bandages (2019) | gold, medical instruments, cigars, low-voltage protection equipment, bananas (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Saudi Arabia 47%, Qatar 5% (2019) | United States 54%, Switzerland 8%, Canada 5%, India 5%, China 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $206.6 million (2017 est.) $188.4 million (2016 est.) | $17.7 billion (2017 est.) $17.4 billion (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, recreational boats, cars (2019) | refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2019) |
| Imports - partners | United States 57%, Nigeria 11%, China 6%, Italy 5% (2019) | United States 50%, China 13% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $280.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $314.2 million (31 December 2015 est.) | $23.094 billion (2019 est.) $21.198 billion (2018 est.) |
| 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.) | Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 47.42 (2017 est.) 46.078 (2016 est.) 46.078 (2015 est.) 45.052 (2014 est.) 43.556 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | 1 July - 30 June | calendar year |
| Public debt | 82.7% of GDP (2017 est.) 71.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | 37.2% of GDP (2017 est.) 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $212.3 million (31 December 2017 est.) $221.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.873 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $6.134 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$70 million (2017 est.) $5 million (2016 est.) | -$165 million (2017 est.) -$815 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $557 million (2017 est.) | $88.956 billion (2019 est.) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 60.5 (2020) Starting a Business score: 89.3 (2020) Trading score: 74.3 (2020) Enforcement score: 57.5 (2020) | Overall score: 60 (2020) Starting a Business score: 85.4 (2020) Trading score: 83.5 (2020) Enforcement score: 50.6 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 40.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 14.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -5.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 60.6% (2017 est.) government consumption: 26.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 54.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -62.7% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 69.3% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 24.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -28.1% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 10.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 20% of GDP (2016 est.) 14.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 23.8% of GDP (2019 est.) 23.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 22% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 111.4 million kWh (2016 est.) | 18.03 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 103.6 million kWh (2016 est.) | 15.64 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,980 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 1.161 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 27,800 kW (2016 est.) | 3.839 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 72% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 77% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 3% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 7% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 16,060 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 1,300 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 134,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 1,237 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 108,500 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 2,751 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3.71 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 1,211,081 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.65 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 78,437 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105.79 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 8,948,107 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 86.05 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .dm | .do |
| Internet users | total: 51,538 percent of population: 69.62% (July 2018 est.) | total: 7,705,529 percent of population: 74.82% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: fully automatic network; there are multiple competing operators licensed to provide services, most of them are small and localized; the telecom sector across the Caribbean region remains one of the key growth areas; (2020) domestic: fixed-line connections continue to decline slowly with only two active operators providing about 4 fixed-line connections per 100 persons; subscribership among the three mobile-cellular providers is about 106 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-767; landing points for the ECFS and the Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables providing connectivity to other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad and to the US; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: the Dominican Republic's fixed-line tele-density is well below the Latin American average due to lack of infrastructure; distribution of telephony services is proportionate to income inequalities; small, localized operators provide services; telecom and mobile broadband growing with LTE available to most of the population; government program aims for universal access to broadband services, and development of a national backbone; 5G launch anticipated in 2021 (2021) (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 11 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of 83 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 1-809; 1-829; 1-849; landing point for the ARCOS-1, Antillas 1, AMX-1, SAm-1, East-West, Deep Blue Cable and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 11,514 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2018 est.) | total: 951,970 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9.15 (2019 est.) |
| 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 (2019) | combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately owned radio stations with more than 300 radio stations operating (2019) |
Transportation
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 1,512 km (2018) paved: 762 km (2018) unpaved: 750 km (2018) | total: 19,705 km (2002) paved: 9,872 km (2002) unpaved: 9,833 km (2002) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Portsmouth, Roseau | major seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo oil terminal(s): Punta Nizao oil terminal LNG terminal(s) (import): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica) |
| Merchant marine | total: 98 by type: general cargo 28, oil tanker 22, other 48 (2020) | total: 38 by type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 34 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 2 (2020) | total: 36 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 2 (2019) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | total: 16 (2017) over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2017) under 914 m: 1 (2017) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | J7 | HI |
Military
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2020) | Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army (Ejercito Nacional, EN), Navy (Marina de Guerra, MdG, includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD); National Police (Policia Nacional) (2021) note: in addition to the military, the Ministry of Armed Forces directs the Airport Security Authority and Civil Aviation, Port Security Authority, and Border Security Corps |
| Military - note | Dominica participates in the Regional Security System (RSS) an international agreement for the defense and security of the eastern Caribbean region | the military's primary focuses are countering illegal immigration and refugees along its 350km-long border with Haiti and interdicting air and maritime narcotics trafficking, as well as disaster relief |
Transnational Issues
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer | transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption |
Environment
| Dominica | Dominican Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 18.17 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.18 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.04 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 12.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 25.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 8.1 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 19 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 855 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 659.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 7.563 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 13,176 tons (2013 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,063,910 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 333,241 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8.2% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
