Key Facts

  • Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom on November 3, 1978.

  • Known as the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" due to its lush rainforests, rivers, and volcanic features.

  • The country's official name is the Commonwealth of Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic).

  • Dominica is the only Eastern Caribbean island still with a population of pre-Columbian Kalinago (Carib) people.

  • English is the official language, though Dominican Creole French (Kwéyòl) is widely spoken.

  • The country has 365 rivers - "one for every day of the year."

  • Dominica is one of the few Caribbean islands where the original Carib name (Waitukubuli, meaning "tall is her body") is still known.

  • The country is home to the second-largest boiling lake in the world, located in Morne Trois Pitons National Park.

  • Houses the Kalinago Territory (formerly known as the Carib Reserve), a 3,700-acre territory that is home to the largest remaining population of Kalinago people in the Caribbean.

Did You Know That.......

  • Is home to the world's longest hiking trail in the Caribbean - the Waitukubuli National Trail, stretching 115 miles across the island.

  • Has the highest concentration of dormant volcanoes in the world, with nine active volcanic centers.

  • Is the first country in the world to have an entire site (Morne Trois Pitons National Park) designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean.

  • Was used as a primary filming location for major scenes in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" and "At World's End."

  • Has the largest remaining population of the Imperial Amazon parrot (Sisserou), which is found only in Dominica and appears on the national flag.

  • Is one of the best places in the world to see sperm whales, with a 95% success rate in spotting them year-round.

  • Has championed sustainable tourism and aims to become the world's first climate-resilient nation.