Dominica

**The Commonwealth of Dominica** is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It is an English-speaking country. It is between the French-speaking territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique. The island is 751 km² (290 mi²) in area. Roseau is its capital. Portsmouth is another main town. Almost 70,000 people live on the island.

The currency of the island is the East Caribbean dollar.

The island's name comes from the Latin for Sunday, _Dies Dominica_. It is not the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic in the Greater Antilles.

The country is nicknamed the _Nature Island of the Caribbean_.

Dominica is most famously depicted in Jean Rhys' classic prequel to _Jane Eyre_, _Wide Sargasso Sea_.

## History

The indigenous Carib people lived in Dominca before it was found by Europeans. They called it _Wai‘tu kubuli_, which means "Tall is her body."

Christopher Columbus came to Dominica in 1493. In 1763, it became a territory of the United Kingdom from which its independence was received on 3 November 1978.

In August 1979, Hurricane David, wiped out its entire infrastructure. On 21 November 2004, the island was hit by its most destructive earthquake in history; Portsmouth and the northern area were deeply affected.

On 18 September 2018, Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit the island, severely damaged its infrastructure and cut off all its communications to the outside world. The Assessment Capacities Project estimates that the hurricane has caused $1.37 billion in losses across the island, which is equal to 226 percent of its 2016 GDP. As of April 12, there are 65 fatalities confirmed across the island, including 34 who are missing and presumed to be dead.

In 1980, Dame Eugenia Charles became its prime minister, the first female government leader in the West Indies.

## Geography

Dominica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It is the northernmost of the Windward Islands.

Dominica is largely covered by rainforest. It is home to the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a tropical forest with scenic volcanic features. It was recognised as a World Heritage Site on 4 April 1995.

## Administrative divisions

Dominica is divided into 10 parishes, given below with their 2011 Census populations:
- Saint Andrew Parish (9,471)
- Saint David Parish (6,043)
- Saint George Parish (21,241)
- Saint John Parish (6,561)
- Saint Joseph Parish (5,637)
- Saint Luke Parish (1,668)
- Saint Mark Parish (1,834)
- Saint Patrick Parish (7,622)
- Saint Paul Parish (9,786)
- Saint Peter Parish (1,430)

## Sports

Cricket is a popular sport on the island. Dominica competes in test cricket as part of the West Indies cricket team.

Netball, basketball, rugby, tennis and association football are gaining popularity as well.

## Related pages

- Dominica at the Olympics
- Dominica national football team
- List of rivers of Dominica

## Other websites

- Dominica in the News
- SaKaFete
- Official Tourism Website
- World Creole Music Festival

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Commonwealth of Dominica
- **common name**: Dominica
- **image flag**: Flag of Dominica.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Dominica.svg
- **image map**: LocationDominica.svg
- **national motto**: _"Après Bondie, C'est La Ter"_<small>(Antillean Creole)
"After God is the Earth"
"Après le Bon Dieu, c'est la Terre"</small>
- **national anthem**: _Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour_
- **official languages**: English language, English
- **demonym**: Dominican
- **ethnic groups**: Black 86.8%
Mixed 8.9%
Carib Amerindian 2.9%
White 0.8%
Other 0.7%
- **ethnic groups year**: 2001
- **capital**: Roseau
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Parliamentary republic
- **leader title1**: President of Dominica, President
- **leader name1**: Sylvanie Burton
- **leader title2**: Prime Minister of Dominica, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Roosevelt Skerrit
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **established event1**: from the United Kingdom
- **established date1**: 3 November 1978
- **area rank**: 184th
- **area km2**: 790
- **area sq mi**: 290
- **percent water**: 1.6
- **population estimate**: 72,660
- **population estimate rank**: 195th
- **population estimate year**: July 2009
- **population census**: 71,293
- **population census year**: 2011
- **population density km2**: 105
- **population density sq mi**: 272
- **population density rank**: 95th
- **gdp ppp**: $977 million
- **gdp ppp year**: 2011
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $13,815
- **gdp nominal**: $489 million
- **gdp nominal year**: 2011
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $6,909
- **hdi**: 0.724
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 73rd
- **hdi year**: 2007
- **currency**: East Caribbean dollar
- **currency code**: XCD
- **time zone**: Eastern Caribbean Time Zone, Eastern Caribbean
- **utc offset**: –4
- **drives on**: left
- **cctld**: .dm
- **calling code**: Area code 767, +1-767
- **footnote1**: Rank based on 2005 UN estimate.