History

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. In 1967, Dominica became an associated state of the UK, formally taking responsibility for its internal affairs, and the country gained its independence in 1978. In 1980, Dominica's fortunes improved when Mary Eugenia CHARLES -- the first female prime minister in the Caribbean -- replaced a corrupt and tyrannical administration, and she served for the next 15 years. In 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island, causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.

Environment

Area: 751 km2

Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)

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%, 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.)

Government

Capital: Roseau

Government type: parliamentary republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Sylvanie BURTON (since 2 October 2023)

Head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime ministerelections/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 27 September 2023 (next to be held in October 2028); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: 2023: parliament elects Sylvanie BURTON (DLP) with 20 votes for and five against2018: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed 

Legislative branch

Description: legislature name: House of Assemblylegislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 32 (21 directly elected; 9 appointed)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 5 yearsmost recent election date: 12/6/2022parties elected and seats per party: Dominica Labor Party (DLP) (19); Independents (2)percentage of women in chamber: 40.6%expected date of next election: December 2027