Caribbean
Country Profiles
Dominica
The
Commonwealth of Dominica is the largest of the Windward
Islands. There are some 3,000 Carib Indians still living
in the country, the only remaining pre-Columbian population
in the eastern Caribbean. Boiling Lake is the second
largest thermally active lake in the world.
Dominica has an area of 754 square kilometres and is covered
in rugged mountains. There are five active volcanoes on the
island. The climate is tropical with heavy rainfall most
of the year. The country is vulnerable to volcanic eruptions,
hurricanes and flash floods.
Dominica is a parliamentary democracy, part of the British
Commonwealth. The capital city is Roseau and there are 10
parishes. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and Prime
Minister Pierre Charles is the head of government. Elections
are scheduled to be held by July 2005.
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People
|
|
|
Human Development Index Ranking (out of 173)
|
61
|
|
Population (millions)
|
0.1
|
|
Population growth rate (%)
|
(.)
|
|
Adult literacy rate (% age 15 and above)
|
96.4
|
|
Health
|
|
|
Life expectancy
|
72.9
|
|
Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)
|
14
|
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People living with HIV/AIDS (% adults 15-49)
|
---
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Population using improved water sources (%)
|
97
|
|
Population using adequate sanitation facilities
(%)
|
---
|
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Economy
|
|
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GDP (US$ billions)
|
0.3
|
|
Population living below national poverty line (%)
|
---
|
Source: United Nation Human Development Reports,
Human Development Indicators 2002
--- indicates information not available
|
