Chapter 30
GDP per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1993 est.)
Labor force: 282,000 by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $164 million expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16 million (1993 est.)
Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 170 million kWh consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) partners: Somalia 48%, Yemen 42%
Imports: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products partners: France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea
External debt: $227 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 2,879 km paved: 363 km unpaved: 2,516 km (1991 est.)
Ports: Djibouti
Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 11 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 7,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network international: submarine cable to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 17,000 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 102,528 males fit for military service: 60,076 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA% of GDP (1989)
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@Dominica --------
Map ---
Location: 13 30 N, 61 20 W -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Flag ----
Description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 750 sq km land area: 750 sq km comparative area: more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 41% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
People ------
Population: 82,926 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 11,986; female 11,521) 15-64 years: 64% (male 27,206; female 25,841) 65 years and over: 8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 18.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.4 years male: 74.55 years female: 80.4 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.) total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Roseau
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 UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution: 3 November 1978
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly; election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - percent of vote NA head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995); prime minister is appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly: elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11, DLP 5, DFP 5
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES
Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica does not have an embassy in the US consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy -------
Economic overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The newly elected government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $200 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,450 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: NA% services: NA% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1995)
Labor force: 25,000 by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $80 million expenditures: $95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 7,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer
Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges partners: UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US
Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals partners: US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada
External debt: $92.8 million (1992)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation --------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 800 km paved: 500 km unpaved: 300 km
Ports: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: fully automatic network international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 cable
Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Dominican Republic ------------------
Map ---
Location: 19 00 N, 70 40 W -- Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Flag ----
Description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Geography ---------
Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total area: 48,730 sq km land area: 48,380 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 275 km border country: Haiti 275 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use: arable land: 23% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 13% other: 14%
Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1989)
Environment: current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People ------
Population: 8,088,881 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 1,401,322; female 1,355,530) 15-64 years: 62% (male 2,541,356; female 2,460,509) 65 years and over: 4% (male 156,238; female 173,926) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.73% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.06 years male: 66.89 years female: 71.34 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic divisions: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.) total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2%
Government ----------
Name of country: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none
Data code: DR
Type of government: republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil codes
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August 1994); Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO Garrigoza (since 16 August 1994); president is elected for a four-year term by direct vote; election last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held 16 May 1996); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 13.2%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI) 2.3% cabinet: Cabinet was nominated by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) Senate (Senado): elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14 Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): elections last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Lidio CADET; Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA; Democratic Union (UD), Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures
Other political or pressure groups: Collective of Popular Organizations (COP)
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Donna Jean HRINAK embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
Flag: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Economy -------
Economic overview: Economic reforms launched in late 1994 contributed to exchange rate stabilization, reduced inflation, and relatively strong GDP growth in 1995. Output growth was concentrated in the tourism and free trade zone (ftz) sectors while sugar and non-ftz manufacturing declined last year. Drought in early 1995 hurt agricultural production but favorable world prices for export commodities helped mitigate the impact. Sugar refining was devastated by a disastrous harvest resulting from the drought and ongoing problems at the state-owned sugar company. Unreliable electric supplies continue to hamper expansion in manufacturing; small and medium-sized retail firms also suffer due to the dismal power situation. A presidential election scheduled for May 1996 could lead to increased government spending before and in the immediate aftermath of the vote, raising the potential for rising inflation and increased pressure on the Dominican peso.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (1995)
Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 1,450,000 kW production: 5.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 651 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, meat, eggs
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Exports: $837.7 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 47.5%, EC 22%, Puerto Rico 8.4%, Asia 6.7% (1994)
Imports: $2.867 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 60% (1993)
External debt: $4.6 billion (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $21 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 13.589 (December 1995), 13.617 (1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.676 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation --------------
Railways: total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
Highways: total: 11,931 km paved: 5,766 km unpaved: 6,165 km (1987 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Macoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports: total: 31 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3 with paved runways under 914 m: 14 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications --------------
Telephones: 190,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 18 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 728,000 (1993 est.)
Defense -------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police