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Dominica - People

The U.S. government estimates the total population at 74,000 (July 2015 estimate). Almost all Dominicans are descendants of enslaved Africans brought in by colonial planters in the 18th century. Dominica is the only island in the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Columbian population--the Carib Indians--about 3,000 of whom live on the island's east coast. The population growth rate is very low, due primarily to emigration to more prosperous Caribbean Islands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

English is the official language; however, because of historic French domination, the most widely spoken dialect is a French-based Creole. Nearly 80% of the population is Catholic. In recent years, a number of Protestant churches have been established.

According to the 2001 census, approximately 61 percent of the population is Roman Catholic. Protestants comprise 20 percent of the population, with the largest groups being Seventh-day Adventists and Pentecostals with 6 percent each, and Baptists and Methodists with 4 percent each. Other, smaller religious groups include Anglicans, Bahais, Christian Brethren, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, Nazarenes, Rastafarians, and members of the Church of Christ. Six percent of the population professes no religious affiliation.

While Rastafarians are not banned from entering Dominica, they are not always looked upon kindly by Dominican immigration officials. A "dread law" forbidding dreadlocks (braided hair) was repealed in the 1980s, but harassment of Rastafarians still occurs occasionally.

Rastafarians disagree with the government’s prohibition of marijuana use, which they described as integral to their religious rituals. Rastafarians also stated they faced extra scrutiny from police and immigration officials. Unlike members of this cult elsewhere, who are generally pacific, the Dreads in Dominica have been engaged since 1974 in murders, kidnappings, robberies and shootouts with the police, after which they melt away into the dense forests where they live.

The government subsidized teacher salaries at schools affiliated with the Catholic, Methodist, and Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Christian prayer took place during morning assembly in public schools, although non-Christian students were not required to participate.

Dominica is the only island in the Eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Colombian population - the Carib Indians - about 3,000 of whom live on the island's East Coast. Most live on a 3,700-acre reservation created in 1903. The Kalinago population was estimated at 3,000 persons, most of whom lived in the 3,782-acre Kalinago Territory. The government recognizes their special status, and their rights are protected in law and practice. They actively participated in decisions affecting them, their land, and their resources.

The Ministry of Kalinago Affairs was headed by a Kalinago. There were four preschools and two primary schools in the Kalinago Territory and two secondary schools in nearby communities attended by Kalinago children. This included Isulukati Special Needs School, which provided specialized curricula for students with intellectual or mental disabilities in the Kalinago Territory. Government support programs existed for Kalinago students in the areas of school feeding, transport, and transition into higher education.

The Ministry of Education covered tuition for Kalinago students at the Dominica State College and awarded scholarships to Kalinago students for study throughout the Caribbean. In addition, the students were eligible for scholarships provided by the Barbados government for indigenous students attending the University of the West Indies.

The Carib Act states that any child of a Kalinago is also Kalinago. Non-Kalinagos may become Kalinagos if they are invited to live in the Kalinago Territory and do so continuously for 12 years. Kalinagos older than 18 who reside in the territory may vote for the chief and six members of the council of advisors. They also are eligible to vote in national elections. For the latter, persons registered in the district but resident outside it, either in another part of the country or abroad, may vote in Kalinago Territory elections.

Despite improvements, the Kalinago people, particularly women, continued to experience some societal discrimination. Unemployment in the territory was higher than in the rest of the country, and Kalinago mean income was below the national mean.

In 2000 there were 47 physicians, 353 nurses, 11 dentists, and 30 pharmacists. The one general hospital on Dominica is in Roseau, the 195-bed Princess Margaret Hospital. There are 7 health centers and 44 clinics scattered across the island. Serious tropical diseases such as yaws and malaria have been eradicated, but owing to the high humidity and rainy conditions, tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases continue to be a problem. Intestinal parasites afflict particularly those in the early years of life.

Dominica has a growing young population with children below 14 years accounting for slightly more than a quarter of the population. Approximately 41.9% of the population was comprised of children and youth below 25 years while the elderly population (60 years and above) accounted for 14.8%. Children 0 - 4 years recorded the highest population accounting for 9.3% of the population compared to the 9-5 year age group registering 10.6% of the total population in the 2001 Census.

The Parish of St. David recorded the highest sex (male:female) ratio of 118:100, followed by St. Andrew recording 111:100 and St. Joseph registering 110:100. Among the Communities, the Carib Territory (Kalinago Territory) recorded the highest sex ratio of 130.100 followed by Good Hope with 124:100. Penville also recorded a significantly high sex ratio of 123:100.