ars
female: 80.4 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican

Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians

Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%,
Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%),
none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Languages: English (official), French patois

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica

Data code: DO

Type of government: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Roseau

Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution: 3 November 1978

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October
1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly;
election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998);
results - percent of vote NA
head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June
1995); prime minister is appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held
by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30
total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11,
DLP 5, DFP 5

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa
Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside
over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian
ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers
Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement
(DLM), a small leftist group

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, I