Dominica
Dominica sits in the eastern Caribbean Sea between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south.
Dominica sits in the eastern Caribbean Sea between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. International organisations identify it with a stable set of codes: UN M49 numeric code 212, ISO alpha-2 DM, ISO alpha-3 DMA, UN region Americas, UN subregion Latin America and the Caribbean, and full UN member state status. The seat of government is Roseau, as recorded in the World Bank’s country field. These identifiers are statistical conventions maintained by the UN Statistics Division; they are not political or territorial claims about sovereignty or disputed boundaries.
What you need to know first
Dominica is a parliamentary republic and a Commonwealth member, built on a volcanic ridge with rugged mountains and the world’s second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake. It is often called the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean because of its extensive rainforests and protected areas. Do not confuse it with the Dominican Republic, a separate nation on Hispaniola; the two share part of a name but differ in government, currency and statistical identity.
The table below lists the stable identifiers used by international organisations.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| UN M49 code | 212 |
| ISO alpha-2 | DM |
| ISO alpha-3 | DMA |
| UN region | Americas |
| UN subregion | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| UN member state | Yes |
| World Bank capital field | Roseau |
Source: UN Statistics Division M49 classification and World Bank country API. The UN M49 overview (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/) defines the region and subregion assignments used by UN agencies. The World Bank country API provides the capital field and a stable country code list.
How to verify current facts about Dominica
Official figures shift with each reporting cycle, and no single webpage stays permanently accurate. The sections below explain which source to check for each category and why the number you see depends on the reference year and the agency producing it.
Inhabitants
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes estimates and projections in the World Population Prospects. The figure for Dominica is an estimate, not a census count; the most recent census was conducted by the Dominica Central Statistical Office, and census data are typically several years old when published. The World Bank’s country page provides a population series with definitions and underlying sources. Always check the reference year next to any headcount, because estimates change annually and are not directly comparable to a census tally.
Seat of government
Roseau is the administrative centre of Dominica. This is a stable fact, not a volatile statistic. The World Bank capital field lists Roseau; the UN M49 overview classifies Dominica under the Americas, region Latin America and the Caribbean. No territorial claim is implied by that classification.
Languages
Dominica’s official language is English. Antillean Creole, a French-based patois, is also widely used in daily life. Language data is collected by national censuses and surveys; for current figures, consult the Dominica Statistical Office or the most recent census report, and compare with Ethnologue or UNESCO language data if you need a secondary source. Language figures change slowly, but the definition of “first language” versus “spoken at home” varies by source, so state which definition you are using.
Currency
The Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD) is the currency of Dominica. It is issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Exchange rates change daily; for a current value, use the central bank or a reliable market-rate source and cite the date you checked. Do not assume the XCD is pegged to a specific currency without verifying the current official arrangement.
Government
Dominica is a parliamentary republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. The head of state is the president, and the head of government is the prime minister. The nation belongs to the United Nations and the Commonwealth. For current leadership, elections and legal changes, consult the official government website of Dominica or a current edition of the CIA World Factbook. Political classifications are descriptive, not evaluative, and can change through constitutional processes.
Economy
Dominica’s economy is classified by the World Bank as upper-middle-income. Official GDP figures are compiled by the Central Statistical Office of Dominica and reported to international bodies. The World Bank’s country API provides standardised economic indicators; use the API to pull current data rather than relying on static tables. GDP per capita (PPP) is the more meaningful comparison for living standards because it adjusts for price differences, but it still does not show distribution. For income inequality, check the Gini index; for human development, the UNDP’s HDI. Each source uses different definitions and reference years, so do not mix datasets.
Travel requirements
Entry rules change with little notice. Before planning travel, check the official Dominica government immigration page and your own government’s travel advisory for visa, health and customs requirements. Confirm passport validity rules, because many Caribbean destinations require six months of validity beyond the intended stay. Health entry requirements, including vaccination or testing rules, should be verified with a clinic or official health ministry source close to your departure date.
Classification facts at a glance
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| UN M49 code | 212 |
| ISO alpha-2 | DM |
| ISO alpha-3 | DMA |
| UN region | Americas |
| UN subregion | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| UN member state | Yes |
| World Bank capital field | Roseau |
These codes are statistical classifications, not political or territorial claims. The UN M49 overview (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/) defines the region and subregion assignments used by UN agencies. The World Bank country API provides the capital field and a stable country code list.
How the identifiers are used
International bodies rely on these codes to aggregate data, allocate aid and produce cross-national comparisons. When you see Dominica grouped under “Latin America and the Caribbean,” that grouping follows the UN M49 standard. The ISO codes appear on passports, shipping manifests and banking systems. Knowing the codes lets you pull the correct series from the World Bank API, UNdata and other repositories without confusing Dominica with similarly named places.
Where to get the latest data
- UN World Population Prospects for demographic estimates
- World Bank country page for economic indicators and the capital field
- Dominica Central Statistical Office for census and survey results
- Eastern Caribbean Central Bank for exchange rates and monetary policy
- Official Dominica government site for visas, immigration and legal changes
- CIA World Factbook for a structured political and economic summary
- Ethnologue and UNESCO for language data
Each source carries a publication or reference date. Record that date when you collect a figure; a number without its year is not usable for comparison.
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