Dominica is renowned as the Caribbean island that resisted European colonization until the 18th century. It then came under French control, passing to the British from 1759. It is known as the "Nature Island" due to its spectacular, lush, and abundant flora and fauna, protected by extensive national parks, The most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, Dominica is located between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the West Indian Windward Islands group. Its volcanic origin has given it very fertile soils and the second-largest boiling lake in the world.

The majority of Dominicans are descendants of Africans brought over to work the banana plantations. The Carib Territory on the northeast of the island contains the only surviving Carib population in the Caribbean.

Strengths

Bananas, though this sector has declined since the loss of EU preferential access. Offshore business center and "economic citizenship" scheme. Growing services sector.

Weaknesses

Dependence on US and EU markets for its banana crop, threatened by WTO ruling. Low productivity in public sector. Poor infrastructure.

Politicians tend to come from the professional classes – usually young lawyers and doctors. Occasionally the larger farmers, who provide most party funding, stand for election. The center-left DUWP narrowly won the 1995 elections, ending 15 consecutive years of rule by the right-wing DFP. A further swing to the left produced a DLP victory in January 2000, and its leader Rosie Douglas became prime minister. On his sudden death in October Pierre Charles replaced him. The main political issue is how to cope with the ending of preferential banana exports to the EU.

Dominica has close links with France and the USA. Preferential access to the EU for Caribbean bananas, crucial for Dominica's economy, was lost after a successful protest by the USA.

Dominica has no armed forces, but it does participate in the US-sponsored Regional Security System.

Dominica has no natural resources. A hydroelectric power plant in the Morne Trois Pitons national park provides most of the island's power.

Increased agriculture and timber harvesting is threatening Dominica's rainforest; already there is more land under cultivation than planned by the government. The current promotion of the rainforest as a tourist attraction poses a threat, as does a possible expansion in HEP generators. Two species of parrot – the imperial, or sisserou, and the red-necked – are threatened, despite conservation orders. Endangered hawksbill turtles, living on coral reefs off the island, are traditionally hunted.

Both airports take only small propeller aircraft. Roads are well maintained. There is no speed limit in rural areas.

There are numerous health centers, but difficult communications hamper emergency hospital access for people living in the interior.

Education is based on the British system, and retains the selective 11-plus exam for entrance to high school. Students go on to the University of the West Indies or, increasingly, to colleges in the USA and the UK.

Dominica has a lower crime rate than most of its Caribbean neighbors. Burglary and armed robbery are the major concerns; murders are rare. Justice is based on British common law and administered by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, which is based in St. Lucia.

Wealth disparities are not as marked in Dominica as they are on the larger Caribbean islands, but the alleviation of poverty has become a major plank of government policy. Measures taken include increased benefits and help for pensioners.

The national parks, with their rare indigenous birds, hot springs, and sulfur pools, are a major attraction for tourists. However, the lack of an airport able to take commercial jetliners (visitors use connecting flights from Barbados or Antigua) has made Dominica less accessible to mass-market tourism than its neighbors.

Colonized first by the French, Dominica came under British control in 1759.

• 1975 Morne Trois Pitons national park established.
• 1978 Independence from UK. Patrick John first prime minister.
• 1980 Eugenia Charles becomes the Caribbean's first woman prime minister.
• 1981 Two coup attempts, backed by Patrick John, foiled.
• 1995 Opposition DUWP defeats DFP. Dame Eugenia Charles retires after 27 years in politics.
• 2000 DLP wins elections.