DOMINICA Country Profile

INDEPENDENT CARICOM MEMBER CDEMA PARTICIPATING STATE STATE STATE OPERATIONAL PRESENCE 1 UN AGENCIES Office of Disaster NGOs Management (ODM) 6 1

Coverage from UN RC’s Office in Barbados Coordination KEY FIGURES 100+ POPULATION 2 71,293 90-94 80-84 70-74 60-64 50-54 40-44 30-34 20-24 10-14 10 0-4 SEASONAL RISK RECENT DISASTERS GDP PER CAPITA 3 URBAN POPULATION 4 JAN 1979 HURRICANES DAVID & US$7,031 70.2% FREDERIC PEOPLE (Middle Income) 72.1K AFFECTED FEB POVERTY RATE 5 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX 4 1995 HURRICANE IRIS 28.8% 0.715 5K PEOPLE (98 out of 189 countries) MAR AFFECTED COVID-19 2007 HURRICANE DEAN The economy and people of Dominica, still reeling from the impact of Hurricanes Irma APR and Maria, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. The sudden stop in tourism, which 7.5K PEOPLE contributes 36.3 per cent of total GDP and makes up 32.9 per cent of total employment, AFFECTED 6 has had a serious impact on jobs and livelihoods. In a recent WFP-led survey, 58 per cent 2015 TROP. ERIKA of respondents reported job losses or reduced incomes during the pandemic, while 59 per MAY cent reported increases in food prices,7 both phenomenon which will likely result in the 28.5K PEOPLE deterioration of an already dire livelihood and food security situation in the country. AFFECTED JUN For the most recent update on the COVID-19 caseload, see the PAHO daily reported 2017 HURRICANE MARIA COVID-19 data. For the latest information on curfews and other measures, click here. PEOPLE JUL 71.2K KEY ISSUES AFFECTED MOST COMMON DISASTER SOCIO-ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY AUG TYPE (2000-2019) 10 Unemployment, poverty and inequality are expected to have risen drastically after Hurricane Maria, given the devastation to livelihood sources such as agriculture, fisheries 5 and tourism. It is estimated that a proportional drop in income as high as -41 per cent SEP may have occured in the aftermath of the storm, contributing to a decline in the overall STORM quality of life between 20-36 per cent across parishes, with rural communities and 4 indigenous peoples most affected.5 OCT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY FOOD INSECURITY DISASTERS (2000-2019) 10 More than 40 per cent of the population is vulnerable to food insecurity, especially the NOV working poor, farmers and fisherfolk and indigenous peoples; some 24,000 people faced 108K severe food insecurity after Hurricane Maria.5 Food production is sensitive to climate TOTAL DAMAGES CAUSED change and natural hazards, with drought having caused significant losses in agriculture BY DISASTERS (2000-2019) 10 in the recent past (18 per cent of GDP in 2010).8 Moreover, Dominica’s dependence on DEC imported foods exposes people to the volatility of food price shocks. $1.96B EMIGRATION AND REMITTANCES LAC INFORM RISK 11 Dominica has one of the highest net emigration rates in the world.5 Underemployment (Max 10) has significantly contributed to the exodus of its productive population (i.e. ‘brain drain’),9 which has only been exacerbated after Hurricane Maria. Remittances are an important source of support for Dominicans (7.6 per cent, personal remittances received as a percentage of GDP),3 making them vulnerable to fluctuations in remittance flows.5 TSUNAMI CYCLONE EARTHQUAKE 9.1 8.2 4.0

The numbers presented are for orientation and not conclusive. Sources: 1. OCHA 3W as of June 2020 / 2. Central Statistical Office (Dominica) / 3. World Bank / 4. UNDP / 5. Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica / 6. Inter-American Development Bank / 7. WFP, FAO, CARICOM / 8. Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology / 9. UNICEF / 10. CRED EM-DAT / 11. http://www.inform-index.org. Creation date: July 2020. Feedback: [email protected].