The Human Truth Foundation

Dominica (Commonwealth of Dominica)

http://www.humantruth.info/dominica.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#dominica

Dominica
Commonwealth of Dominica
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index117th best
CapitalRoseau
Land Area 750km21
LocationNorth America, The Americas, The Caribbean
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population71 6252
Life Expectancy72.81yrs (2017)3
GNI$11 488 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesDM, DMA, 2125
Internet Domain.dm6
CurrencyDollar (XCD)7
Telephone+8

1. Overview

#france

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 Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, 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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverWith waterfalls, jungle, sulfur springs, secret swimming holes, rivers, reefs and coastline, this untamed and mass-tourism-free `nature island´ promises unusual experiences and adventures. On Dominica, nature has been as creative and prolific as Picasso in his prime. Much of this volcanic island is blanketed by untamed rainforest that embraces you with the loft and grandeur of a Gothic cathedral. Experiences await that will forever etch themselves into your memory: an intense trek to a bubbling lake, soothing your muscles in hot sulfur springs, getting pummeled by a waterfall, snorkeling in a glass of `champagne,´ swimming up a narrow gorge -the list of possible ecoadventures goes on.

In many ways, Dominica is the `anti-Caribbean´ island. It has been spared the mass tourism, in large part because there are very few sandy beaches, no flashy resorts and no direct international flights. The locals are so friendly that they often stop visitors just to wish them a good visit. Just as uniquely, Dominica is also home to about 2200 Caribs, the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Dominica National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
100=Suriname0.730
101Uzbekistan0.727
102=Jordan0.720
102=Dominica0.720
104Libya0.718
105Paraguay0.717
106=St Lucia0.715
106=Palestine0.715
The Americas Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
100St Lucia$12 048
101St Vincent & Grenadines$11 961
102Egypt$11 732
103Dominica$11 488
104Indonesia$11 466
105Algeria$10 800
106Mongolia$10 588
107Ecuador$10 312
The Americas Avg$16 628
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
114Nicaragua92.3
115Azerbaijan92.7
116St Lucia92.9
117Dominica93.2
118Algeria93.7
119Egypt94.3
120Nepal94.3
121Botswana96.2
The Americas Avg81.6
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Dominica's Demographics and Migration

#health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #population

Population:

Dominica's population is predicted to fall to 69 000 by 2030.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
184Seychelles97 096
185Antigua & Barbuda96 286
186Andorra77 006
187Dominica71 625
188Marshall Islands58 413
189St Kitts & Nevis52 441
190Monaco38 682
191Liechtenstein37 910
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
82N. Korea73.3
83Trinidad & Tobago73.0
84Colombia72.8
85Dominica72.8
86Samoa72.8
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
89Oman72.5
World Avg71.28
q=195.

Migration:

Immigrants13
Pos.2017
%13
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
58Malta10.6%
59Italy10.0%
60Gambia9.8%
61Dominica9.2%
62Serbia9.1%
63Ivory Coast9.0%
64Malaysia8.5%
65Portugal8.5%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants14
Pos.2010
%14
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
6Guyana56.9%
7Monaco56.3%
8Antigua & Barbuda47.6%
9Tonga45.4%
10Albania45.4%
11Barbados41.0%
12Suriname39.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Dominica's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to The Americas (2020)15
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15
1Canada21.0
2Uruguay26.5
3Costa Rica36.5
...
27Belize93.9
28Cuba97.4
29=Guyana102.7
30Antigua & Barbuda105.0
31=Bahamas105.0
32Dominica105.2
33St Lucia116.0
34=St Kitts & Nevis123.0
35Grenada128.2
The Americas Avg73.9
q=35.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)15
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank15
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
127Rwanda104.1
128=Bahamas105.0
128=Antigua & Barbuda105.0
130Dominica105.2
131Kuwait106.5
132Nigeria106.9
133Togo107.6
134Laos108.1
World Avg87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark16. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu16.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe16, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia16.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better17
Pos.2009
Treaties17
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
136Djibouti13
137Ethiopia12
138=Haiti12
138=Dominica12
138=Central African Rep.12
138=Bahrain12
138=Israel12
138=Angola12
The Americas Avg16.5
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better18
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty18
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
111Tajikistan11.08
112Ethiopia11.13
113Slovenia11.13
114Dominica11.14
115Benin11.15
116Chad11.23
117Slovakia11.24
118Burundi11.27
The Americas Avg8.45
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Dominica and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting.

See:

Year Women Can Vote
Lower is better
Pos.0
Year
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
85=Antigua & Barbuda1951
85=Grenada1951
85=Nepal1951
85=Dominica1951
85=St Kitts & Nevis1951
85=St Vincent & Grenadines1951
91Bolivia1952
92=Ivory Coast1952
The Americas Avg1947
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
19
Pos.2017
Score19
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
123Bahrain-2
124Sierra Leone-3
125=Grenada-5
125=Dominica-5
125=Namibia-5
125=Kiribati-5
125=Jamaica-5
125=Cook Islands-5
The Americas Avg26.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
20
Pos.202120
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
64Austria2.7
65Kyrgyzstan2.8
66=Denmark2.8
66=Dominica2.8
66=Latvia2.8
66=Peru2.8
66=Lithuania2.8
66=Estonia2.8
The Americas Avg2.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Dominica's Health

#alcohol #Dominica #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #vaccines

Compared to The Americas (2020)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21
1Antigua & Barbuda75.6
2=Brazil82.1
3Cuba82.4
...
16Costa Rica93.8
17Peru96.5
18St Vincent & Grenadines96.8
19Dominica98.0
20=Panama98.1
21Paraguay98.4
22Chile99.1
23=Suriname100.0
24Colombia100.3
The Americas Avg96.2
q=35.
Health (2020)21
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank21
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
110Cape Verde97.3
111Seychelles97.3
112Andorra97.8
113Dominica98.0
114=Panama98.1
114=Kazakhstan98.1
116Paraguay98.4
117Niue98.7
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives22. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau22.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean22, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa22.

For more, see:

Health:

Dominica does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Dominica does better than average in its immunizations take-up23 and in its average life expectancy11. And finally, it does worse than average in terms of its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance24 and in its alcohol consumption rate25. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Dominica improved by +3.7yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
82N. Korea73.3
83Trinidad & Tobago73.0
84Colombia72.8
85Dominica72.8
86Samoa72.8
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
89Oman72.5
The Americas Avg72.58
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
25
Pos.2016
Per Capita25
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
121=Macedonia8.1
122Burkina Faso8.2
123=St Vincent & Grenadines8.2
123=Dominica8.2
125Thailand8.3
126=Ivory Coast8.4
126=Botswana8.4
126=Trinidad & Tobago8.4
The Americas Avg6.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
24
Pos.2017
Rank24
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
108Central African Rep.108
109Benin109
110Costa Rica110
111Dominica111
112Romania112
113Peru113
114Kenya114
115Haiti115
The Americas Avg94.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better26
Pos.2016
%26
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
138=Lithuania59.6
138=Croatia59.6
140El Salvador59.9
141Dominica60.3
142Morocco60.4
143Ireland60.6
144Dominican Rep.61.2
145Syria61.4
The Americas Avg57.4
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
23
Pos.2015
Avg %23
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
27Greece97.3
28=Turkmenistan97.2
28=St Vincent & Grenadines97.2
30Dominica97.1
31=Kazakhstan97.1
32Albania97.1
33Andorra97.1
34Russia97.0
The Americas Avg91.3
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Dominica's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to The Americas (2023)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Uruguay48.0
2Peru48.2
3Costa Rica49.6
...
23St Lucia86.3
24St Kitts & Nevis86.5
25Honduras88.3
26Dominica91.7
27Bahamas93.0
28Barbados97.0
29Jamaica99.7
30=Guyana108.0
31USA111.0
The Americas Avg80.1
q=35.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
113Cambodia90.0
114Thailand90.4
115Syria91.0
116Dominica91.7
117Israel92.0
118Turkey92.2
119Cape Verde92.3
120Pakistan92.4
World Avg85.7
q=188.
When it comes to its responsibility towards the environment, Dominica is positioned 116th in the world. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. Dominica does better than average when it comes to how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in its environmental performance28. And finally, it does worse than average in its forested percent change 1990-201529 and in annual meat consumption per person30.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
29
Pos.2015
%29
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
144Guinea-12.4
145Mozambique-12.5
146Bolivia-12.8
147Dominica-13.3
148Liberia-15.2
149Belize-15.5
150Equatorial Guinea-15.7
151Haiti-16.4
The Americas Avg-00.2
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
28
Pos.201828
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
70Sri Lanka60.6
71Equatorial Guinea60.4
72Mexico59.7
73Dominica59.4
74Argentina59.3
75Malaysia59.2
76Antigua & Barbuda59.2
77UAE58.9
The Americas Avg58.8
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
52Namibia1997 Aug 14
53Sri Lanka1994 Jun 21
54Ethiopia1994 Jul 04
55Dominica1994 Jul 05
56Italy1994 Jul 14
57Bangladesh1994 Aug 01
58Luxembourg1994 Aug 07
59=Georgia1994 Aug 31
The Americas Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
30
Pos.2021
kg30
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
145Kuwait81.3
146New Zealand81.4
147S. Korea81.5
148Dominica81.6
149Hungary82.1
150UK82.3
151Czechia82.4
152Bahrain82.8
The Americas Avg70.3
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Dominica's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to The Americas (2020)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Canada21.6
2USA29.3
3Argentina43.8
...
19Cuba80.3
20Cayman Islands82.0
21Dominican Rep.83.4
22Dominica83.8
23Ecuador83.9
24Antigua & Barbuda84.0
25=US Virgin Islands86.0
25=Belize86.0
27Venezuela87.1
The Americas Avg81.7
q=41.
Modernity & Learning (2020)31
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
103Philippines81.8
104Cayman Islands82.0
105Dominican Rep.83.4
106Dominica83.8
107Ecuador83.9
108Antigua & Barbuda84.0
109Lebanon85.7
110Mauritius85.8
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
32
Pos.2021
Years32
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
97Sao Tome & Principe13.4
98Palestine13.4
99Malaysia13.3
100Dominica13.3
101Andorra13.3
102Bhutan13.2
103Turkmenistan13.2
104Kyrgyzstan13.2
The Americas Avg14.2
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
24
Pos.2017
Rank24
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
48Montenegro48
49Norway49
50Fiji50
51Dominica51
52Malaysia52
53Russia53
54St Lucia54
55Turkey55
The Americas Avg99.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
33
Pos.201633
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
63Portugal67%
64Brazil66%
65St Kitts & Nevis66%
66Dominica66%
67Italy66%
68=Uruguay65%
68=Antigua & Barbuda65%
70Greece65%
The Americas Avg56.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
34
Pos.2017
Ratio34
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
165=Gabon0.0
165=Lebanon0.0
165=St Lucia0.0
165=Dominica0.0
165=Cuba0.0
165=St Vincent & Grenadines0.0
165=Montenegro0.0
165=Libya0.0
The Americas Avg3.36
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

Dominica has an adequate long-term record on corruption.

Corruption
Higher is better
35
Pos.2022
Points35
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
42Georgia56.0
43=Italy56.0
43=Slovenia56.0
45Dominica55.0
46=Poland55.0
46=St Lucia55.0
48Costa Rica54.0
49=Fiji53.0
The Americas Avg42.97
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
24
Pos.2017
Rank24
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
70Tonga70
71Trinidad & Tobago71
72Botswana72
73Dominica73
74Antigua & Barbuda74
75Turkey75
76Kyrgyzstan76
77Togo77
The Americas Avg80.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
24
Pos.2017
Rank24
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
101Seychelles101
102Australia102
103Madagascar103
104Dominica104
105Iceland105
106Bolivia106
107Ghana107
108Mexico108
The Americas Avg100.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
24
Pos.2017
Rank24
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
134El Salvador134
135Macedonia135
136Armenia136
137Dominica137
138Cape Verde138
139St Lucia139
140Kuwait140
141Saudi Arabia141
The Americas Avg82.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
24
Pos.2017
Rank24
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
113Belize113
114Morocco114
115Iraq115
116Dominica116
117Saudi Arabia117
118Lesotho118
119Oman119
120Egypt120
The Americas Avg91.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

10. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below36:

Christian94.4%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion3%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 20.6% (Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)37.

Links: