Population and Demographics

Almost all of the 70,000 nationals of Dominica today are descendants of African slaves, brought in by colonial planters in the 18th century. After many years of brutal treatment by the Spanish, French and English, Dominica is the only Eastern Caribbean island that still has a population of pre-Columbian native Caribs. There are only about 3,000 Caribs remaining. They live in eight villages on the East Coast of Dominica. This special Carib Territory was granted by the English Queen in 1903.

The population growth rate of Dominica is very low, due primarily to emigration to other Caribbean islands, the United Kingdom, the United States or Canada. English is the official language of Dominica and is universally understood; however, because of historic French domination, Antillean Creole "Patois", a French-based creole language, is the mother tongue of 80% of the Dominican people. Dominica is therefore a member of the Francophonie organisation. About 80% of the population is Catholic, though in recent years a number of Protestant churches have been established.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 72,386
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 25.6% (male 9,481/female 9,048)
  • 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 23,822/female 22,656)
  • 65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,165/female 4,214)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 29.1 years
  • Male: 28.7 years
  • Female: 29.6 years
• Population Growth Rate: 0.184%
• Birth Rate: 15.75 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 8.44 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -5.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.048 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.051 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.751 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.015 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 14.61 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 19.68 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 9.29 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 75.1 years
  • Male: 72.17 years
  • Female: 78.18 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 2.12 children born/woman
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Black
  • Mixed black and European,
  • European
  • Syrian
  • Carib Amerindian
• Religions:
  • Roman Catholic 77%
  • Protestant 15%
  • Methodist 5%
  • Pentecostal 3%
  • Seventh-Day Adventist 3%
  • Baptist 2%
  • Other Christian 2%
  • Other 6%
  • None 2%
• Languages:
  • English (official)
  • French patois
• Literacy:
  Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  • Total population: 94%
  • Male: 94%
  • Female: 94%