Dominica

Government
Parliamentary democracy.

Geography
Dominica is a mountainous island of volcanic origin of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, south of Guadeloupe and north of Martinique.

Historical Background
France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, Mary Eugenia CHARLES, became the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, improved adminstation in the country, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.

Capital

Roseau

Government

Parliamentary republic

Language

English

Area

Total 750 km2 (184th) 290 sq mi

Population

72,660 (195th) 2003 census 71,727 Density 105/km2 (95th) 272/sq mi

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

GDP

Total $362 million