qual bands - the vertical
part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal
part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center
of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10
green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent
the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Economy
Dominica

Economy - overview:

The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and
remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international
economic developments. Tourism has increased as the government seeks
to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. In 2003, the
government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy -
including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state
banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic
and financial crisis of 2001-02 and to meet IMF targets. This
restructuring paved the way for the current economic recovery - real
growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and will help to reduce
the debt burden, which remains at about 100% of GDP. In order to
diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting
to develop an offshore financial sector and is researching
Dominica's capability to export geothermal energy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$648 million (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$311 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,000 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 49.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

25,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

23% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million (2001)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.17% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$73.71 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$269.1 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$193.1 million (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products: