Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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 Britain in 1763, and Dominica became a British colony 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 first part of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958.
- Capital
- Roseau
- Government
- parliamentary republic
- Population
- 74,661
- Area
- 751 sq km
- Location
- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
- Climate
- tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
- Natural resources
- timber; hydropower; arable land
- Languages
- English (official); French patois
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 52.7%; Protestant 29.7% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%; Pentecostal 6.1%; Baptist 5.2%…
- Independence
- 3 November 1978 (from the UK)
- Administrative divisions
- 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, S…
- Currency
- East Caribbean dollars (XCD)
- Export partners
- Bahamas; The 13%; Saudi Arabia 11%; Iceland 10%…
- Import partners
- USA 24%; China 11%; Indonesia 8%; Trinidad & Tobago 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain