Dominica is projected to have a zero percent annual population growth rate for the first half of this decade, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
Dominica, which has an estimated population of 72,000, falls at the bottom of ranking with St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Belize is expected to have the highest population growth in Caricom at 2 percent. It is followed by Haiti, at 1.3 percent, St Kitts and Nevis at 1.2 percent, is the third-fastest rate in the report.
The Bahamas is fourth with a projected rate of 1.1 percent from 2010 to 2015.
Below is the full list for 2010-2015 according to the United Nations Development Fund.
thats because every body run to the united states to have their baby
de Dr.talk about use of condoms as a barrier to STD’s so everybody covering up no chances for babies.It’s a choice no Babies or STDS. Does this explain anything in our stagnancy in birth rates . is it migration,cost of living or D/cans are not sexing? Iknow they text too much eveybody have to and three cell phones.More sexting and texting and less real sex.
Gov’t should pay them to make babies get the money from passport sales. Some lawyers get/getting too much money from their new branch of legal practice.They build huge houses divorce their wives no settlement as to who will live in the mega mansions so they have to sell it, or the mafia passport selling lawyers refuse to pay to have their ex-wives live in it with a new boyfriend so they don’t pay the morgage banks take the houses chines purchase them. Or these lawyers rent to able denizens and go rent elsewher. Do you know any of those lawyers?
population brings about more consumers more commerce if the jobs are provided,but since the awareness of the sexually transmitted hiv virus,a lot people do not seem to be taken any chances,everyone seem to be condoms
they ensured that they had markets for the birth control. Now it’s taking effect they show their concern. What would they like us to implement reversed migration? The social services are not equiped to deal with the influx.
The figure of 72,000 is based on a U.N. projection or estimate, and the latest figure quoted by the CIA, using that estimate is 72,969 (for July of this year). However, the database of the World Bank, which I personally prefer as more reliable shows a population of 67,757 for 2010. Clearly, there is a consireable difference and it would be useful for our own govt. statiscal dept. to release census figures to provide clarity. Note that population count, normally includes all individuals resident (not visiting) at the time the count is made. A real-time total is (…should be!) then maintained by subtracting deaths & departures and adding births &arrivals using data from the registrar’s office and immigration service. What is indisputable is that, over a 50 year period we have seen, first some growth from 60,000 in 1960 to a peak of 76,000 in 1982 and after that a decline to fewer than 70,000 today, going by the World Bank data.
Any merits of this pattern, I leave for others to debate.
… UN and World Bank they are one and the same they all fall under the United Nations body…
Zero population growth? Can someone explain this to me please!! Have we been looking at the number of pregnant women (and children) parading our streets and going in and out of our clinics? We must be in dreamland!!
People in Dominica go to the States to have their babies, that’s why there is no increase in the population.
wellll……. many of us would love to have some kids and help increase the population..however how are we gunna take care of kids when pampers n similac so damn expensive..daycare too expensive and becuz things tight granny can’t retire..rent killing us n we can’t afford a mortgage….15% vat is the ultimate killer..also unemployment numbers r rising within dsc graduates..so when more jobs r created n vat gone or decreased, we will increase the population like we’re rabbitas until then birth control n condoms taking blows
Why does that information surprise anyone? In the late 60’s when I went to Roseau Boy’s School the population of Dominica was listed as 65,000. The population census of 1991 listed a population of about 72,000. In the 2001 census the population was listed at about 71,500. The 2011 census should probably show a slight increase or decrease depending on how many Haitians of Santo Domingans were on island during the survey.
Problem: We have too many beer drinking in this place. Man walking arround with big beer belly like they pregnant and peepeeing too much instead of producing sperm.
Conclusion: Too much beer weakening the sperm.
Recommendation: Man should not drink any beers at least 3-4 hours before sexual intercourse.
the politicians should refrain from run shop talks and look at the stats before they talk rubbish. The Dominica economy is terrible. The only thing thats selling in DOminica is COndoms.
Everybody running, America, UK, Caribbean.
lol people like to sewo so no babies to keep them back.
I don’t think this article is specific enough – is it 72000 people or 72000 Dominicans? Is the zero-growth a result of migration of Dominicans abroad? Or high mortality rate?
There are certainly many, many children being born , especially in the poorer areas of the country, so IS the stable population due to the migration of Dominicans abroad? (I have read there are 50,000 Dominicans living here, and 200,000 living abroad)
If so, surely what needs to be done is to entice educated Dominicans to stay in Dominica, or encourage them to return back to their homeland, bringing with them their pensions, plans for new houses etc, and as a result of this increased revenue. eventually there will be more work Island-wide, with less of the younger population leaving.
Also retired people of any nationalities should be encouraged here (as with some of the other Caribbean Islands) as these are people who bring considerable income which is all spent on the island. Although retired people obviously do not affect the birth rate, their revenue means that there is more work for Dominica.
Many many? Have you seen the schools? They are closing down. I know of communities where there is now no school. In my community everyone is moving out… I can take a look at one little hamlet that is now empty. Sorry but I am not sure about many many children being born. Most families now have 1 or 2 children.. no more. The few people who choose to have 8 still can’t fill up the country fast enough.
Retire here? With insipid, home grown tomatoes retailing atE.C.$1.95/lb (Brizee), when you can pick up a kilo (2.2 lb) of them from Tesco’s in London for the equivalent of only E.C./$5.94 (i.e E.C.2.70/lb, and that country has a VAT rate of 20% as opposed to our 15%. This is only one example (bottled water being another). Dominica is not cheap, especially if you have to live on a pension.
correction: tomatoes retailing at E.C.$.9.95/lb (Brizee).
The things is people want more. No ;onger are people satisfied with a minimal standard of living. The number of primary school students with a black berry or thousand dollar psp (not even sure if the name is correct), is astounding.
You have to look at the U.N. this way. It wants less than 0 population growth. It’s mission is to wipe out most of the people on the planet.
What you all have against U.N.? We do have an ambassador there. Without that government would not be able to make extra money peddling our vote.
With no increase i would like to see that jobs are available. Currently we have unemployment and the government keeps talking about new jobs. So with no increase in population i expect to see unemployment decrease.
This could be great news…
If it means that women or couples are practising family planning and not making children that they cannot support in all the right ways, that is great. If it means that Government will not have to pick up the slack for parents who made children and are unable to provide and care for them, that is also great.
If it further means that fewer parents are making children and migrating, leaving these children on their own or with grandparents to later on cause problems for law abiding citizens, then that is super.
If on the other hand, it is that productive (not defined by retirement age) persons are dying as fast as unsupported babies are being born, then our social problems have just begun.
0% population growth is a serious problem and clearly speaks of where we are heading as a country. I know many of you are make joke out of it and tend to blame it on women not making children but this information clearly says that our future doen not look good because you need people to invest and move the economy foward.
Is it really true that we are not making enough children as some have suggested? In reading an article from DNO entitled “Heath Talk,” Dr Victor Emanuel was concerned about the amount of unwed ladies that are pregnant. So it seems to me that people are still making children. Our problem is migration and people migrate because they don’t see a better future ahead.
When we take a close look at the report we will see that Dominica and St Vincent, which are the two poorest countries in the English speaking caribbean, are in the bottom while Haiti, and others at the top. It’s easy for us to say that Haiti is poor but for those of you that have never been to Haiti let me inform you that parts of Haiti are as developed as any US city, with big houses, good highways etc. Infact since the earth quake many Haitians and foreigners have moved back to Haiti because they see a future there. There problem is more political than anything else.
Many of you Dominicans that visit the island for two weeks during festive times like Christmas, canival, world creole where the atmostphere is charged, live people with impression that life is good in DA, but the true test is to stay for 3 months and all your $US finish, you can’t get a job, things expensive, then you would see how sweet the country really is. On the other hand, some of you left DA when we were still going to Roseau on 3ton trucks, lived in a small wooden house without toilet and did not know what a bank looked like; now you guys are coming back and see that people have big houses, with car garage, and we ride a bus to Roseau, so you all just conclude that is Skeritt that working.
Our problem is, why are our people not staying in Dominica? The answer is simple. Inspite all the work all you say Skeritt working, people are running everyday because the is not work for those that graduated from high school and college, University students are encouraged by this administration to stay in the US because they do not have a job for them and farmers have abandoned their farms due to no assistance from the government.
So this is the root of our problem and don’t blame it on our ladies because whether we go to St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, belieze or any of the islands with a better growth percentage than us, you will find that their ladies are not making too many children either. The difference is, people migrate to their islands and as a result their population keeps increasing.
Excellent point! I have friends on file.. friends with what we would consider “big jobs” and they can not wait to get out.
that is so true
See what I talking about? See Haiti poverty situation and look at the number of people that’s already there to feed. I Feel sorry for them for certain things but I DON”T FEEL SORRY FOR THEM for other reasons….. TEACH THESE PEOPLE TO USE A CONDOM AND STOP Making all these children they already cannot feed. YOu really find those that are unable to provide are the ones that are creating an army of kids!!! Well if we keep giving them food, of course they gonna want to continue to rely on aid. I’m not saying take away the bread from them, NO! What I’m saying is practice SAFE SEX AND CONTRACEPTION! STUEPS!
These people have a way of making strange statements which are misleading. Am I to conclude that the UN Development Programme means that babies are not being born in Dominica which will increase the population?
Hey! Any pregnant women in DA?
Is this UN referring to Dominica allowing migration to its country?
I can assure you for the size of the country Dominica does not need any such migration other than its very own who are also overseas. Otherwise this would pose an employment situation in DA.
Dominica has welcomed some investors and other nationals in time of crisis. I do think it has done its part and more than its part.
Keep DA just as it is. There are enough people in it. What Dominicans have to do is to assist their country to develop and to be progressive.
If this UN Development Program has anything to do with the United Nations, I would inform them to stay out of the affairs of Dominica. Since when have they been putting their faces, mouths and interest in the affairs of DA and West Indian countries for that matter? Where were they in bygone years when they were really needed?
Too many abortions.
If you don’t get pregnant in the first place you don’t need to abort!
Another good point. It’s like drinking water I’m told. People don’t want the work or others will tell you they can’t afford a child at this time.
I SUBMIT THAT THIS LACK OF POPULATION IS THE GREATEST DETREMENT TO GROWTH. IT IS WHAT PREVENTS MACROECONOMIC EXPANSION (GDP ETC)EG. YOU HAVE A BAKERY SELLING BREAD FOR TEN PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE. WHERE R U GONNA GET EXTRA SALES FROM ON ANY GIVEN DAY UNLESS SOMEONE COME FROM FOREIGN. PLUS WHEN THINGS TIGHT 3 FAMILIES MAKING BAKES DATZ Y MOST STARTUPS IN DA FAIL, WE CALL IT “TOU CHAUD TOU FLAM”. ALSO, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AS THE POPULATION AGES PRODUCTIVITY DECREASES, COUPLED WITH THAT WE ARE LOSING MOST OF THE BRAIN TALENT AS THEY PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES OVERSEAS. I AM HAPPY 2 C THIS ARTICLE BUT SAD THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED AS THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO THE PROGRESS THAT WE ALL WISH TO C FOR OUR COUNTRY. I DONT THINK WE CAN PROCREATE OUR WAY TO THE SOLUTION EITHER. HAITI, DOMINICAN REP, AND ESPECIALLY CHINA ARE VIABLE OPTIONS FOR DOMINICA’S SIZE AROUND 150 THOUSAND WOULD SURELY GET THINGS MOVING. THE DEMAND FOR GOODS AND SERVICES (CONSUMPTION) WILL DRIVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, THINK ABOUT IT.
What happened nuh, everybody turned gay?
condoms dem use like so
HARD TIMES.
yeah
LOL! Everybody is leaving or fleeing abroad for a so-called better life. By my estimates the population or the amount of people on the island hasn’t increased in well over 20-years and there are more Dominicans living abroad than at home.
72,000 people is manageable, and at least it’s not decreasing. AND as for the poverty everyone seems to be harping on about REMEMBER it costs money to have the Internet and watch and own TV…how many Dominicans don’t even have light (electricity) these days, and that’s despite DOMLEC’s extortionate mercenary prices???
Haiti = poverty, and Dominica doesn’t even come close to that hole!
Wey papa.. another point again.. so many reasons haha
weeeeell… the world does have 7 billion people now… so that’s not exactly a bad thing IMO.
people things so bad in dominicas economy, no jobs, buiness slow 15% vat on every thing how people going to take of more children you have to be rich. if you have them already you have to push for them to survive in todays society its very costly, schools require children to use internet for school work, you have to take a loan about $3000 to buy the computer plus pay lime $130.00 for the internet connection etc. so thats how is hard to take care of children now in that type of ecomomy we have in dominica so people are very careful about breeding..lol.. these daze in dominica.
Why people believe population growth is a good thing. We have 72000 and at leat 30 percent leave in poverty, why would you want that to increase,do we want more poverty. It’s a fact that the poor people of any country always have the most children. How many rich people in Dominica you know with 5 or more children after 1980. I guess the would not be more than what you can count on one hand. Now, if you ask about poor people with 5 or more, you would have to get a calculator. So slow population growth is good for us. We do not need to have anymore people scrunting to make ends meet.
Make children Dominicans, but slowly…..take your time and look at your pockets…..don’t just make and few months after things are so bad you cannot feed them.
who tell all you we have 72000 pure dominicans i have heard about that figure since i was in primary school it has not change up or down but i believe that count includes the haitians & spanish people that we have dominica i also think that the true count is like 65000 pure dominicans,why because since 2003 people have migrated to other countries for a better life because of the state of that economy in dominica.
your solution is “let us dash that under the rug” and live it there! but it is not technical look beyond the problem to find the right answers to the stats
Kids are being born every day. Does the mortality rate and migration account for the zero growth? What’s the impact of the mortality rate?
this is bad for the economy, the more people the more tax payers which is better for the govt and it’s development. Observe China, Brazil and India’s population boom, these are the countries who are now competing with the US. Population growth is very important for a country. A country with no or little population is detrimental for it’s economy. I think Govt will have to pay our ladies to have more babies; multiply to develop the country in terms of constructions etc
Pay our married ladies! I would not recommend paying single ladies to have kids. Just saying…
the country where i’m now residing pay us to have children, i gave them five and we are not suffering. should we have to run overseas to help populate the countries of others?…
Christiana, where have you been? China still has a “one child per couple” policy in place. In India the government also has a birth control programme, mostly favouring female steralisation, which is also promoted by the Brazilian govt. in addition to a heavily subsidized birth control pill distribution, despite heavy opposition from the church in this predominantly catholic country. An oversupply of labour depresses wages – our legal min. wage is only E.C.$5.00/hr. In Dominica a lot of people are too poor to even be liable for income tax. People without gainful employment do not contribute to the revenue of a country, yet are a cost factor. As China, India and Brazil have come to realize unfettered population growth was a hindrance to their economic growth. A harsh reality!
DDS look out in the next 20 years u will be under water.
Dominica could boast to be the Nature Island of the Caribbean up to this date thanks to the small population, increase in population means more destruction to our nature isle….
False!
no wonder dominican woman fighting all over f.b so…. aaahhhh…. few men and many women……
Where in the article did they say few men and many women?
cmon… if u know d.a u know there’s 3 women to 1 man…
You don’t live in DA, he does. Does the article really have to say that to him?
Just check the price of a baby soap
This is a GOOD thing…we are good the way we are. no over crowding and more love to go around. LOVE it!
please into consideration those who are passing every day also the amount of seniors who are to pass
googness!!
I’m thinking it’s because of migration….because birth rate is very high….still too many people though…..TEENAGERS, POOR PEOPLE, WICKED PEOPLE….STOP HAVING KIDS…MARRIED COUPLES…THREE IS OK..cause you need to spend time with them and how are your gonna do that with 5 and 6
Turn all lights off by 6:oclock, and watch our population. Now ladies one child is no longer an option; you must have six as minimum. Fellas…hurry up past d law.
How do you decide to maintain six children today; what are the means in place to supply their means. pay their college tuition etc children are not dolls. we have to plan to have them thanks to the “contraceptives in place. (i have five kids)
@ Christiana
Every era has its problems. We must look forward and not backward and act as progressive people while recognizing the Law of God and the teachings of the Church. Ask yourself, how did our parents of bygone years maintain their children. In those days some parents had a lot of children. They made sacrifices. They did not have to pay for TV and telephone services; did not have all those electric and electronic products and gadgets as we have today; did not have a vehicle. They did not go on holidays or few did. The majority of them were responsible parents. Many of the wives did not work outside of the home. They were housewives and were dependent on their husbands’ measly salary.
I am informing you and/or reminding you, many of those children were properly disciplined and respectable; were/are religious; went to church, did not question their parents about disciplining them and about going to church; many excelled in school and later proved to be law-abiding citizens and the list goes on…
So what is occurring today in this so-called modern and progressive society? For further information, if you are a Christian and a practicing one at that, God does not approve of contraceptives. It is a sin to use contraceptives. It is sold and people purchase it but according to the Law of God and the teachings of the genuine Christian Church, it is wrong and not acceptable. This is de-populating DA of all. Some people like you are ignorant of this.
In years gone by some of them used “the rhythm system” which means abstaining at certain times where the woman is concerned.
I realize that times have changed but keep in mind that Jesus Christ is the Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever. You will say that it is not in the Bible. Keep in mind that in those early years there were no contraceptives. Obviously, it is not in the Bible. Since contraceptives have been manufactured and sold the Church has condemned it and rightfully so because it is a suppressant of procreation. How do you expect the world to continue and as we age and die if babies are not born? We have a responsibility not only to ourselves but to our country, the environment in which we reside in. Why did God create man and woman and married ones at that? The problem is that people think only of themselves in today’s selfish and self-centered society.
I have always stated that humanity will destroy itself, not only by wars and murders but also by utilizing contraceptives. This will be God’s punishment on the human race which many people are contributing to.
If you do not know about that ask someone who is well-versed in this matter. It is no laughing matter and one to be taken seriously.
The trend in this era is, have as much sex as one possibly could and many times a day and night and use contraceptives so as not to procreate children. This is merely self-fulfillment which is a dead end and leads to a dead end.
If it were not for contraceptives, as Dominicans of all migrate to other lands, DA would have been more populated and more progressive.
I recall when the population of DA was 100,000. I was surprised to know that it is approximately 70,000. Note the decrease.
Today people are following their own ways and understanding and believe that it is OK to use contraceptives. One has to be ignorant of their faith and teachings of same and what God wants for them, for their country and the world to think and act in such a manner.
I recognize that no one is perfect but we must tell it like it is and face the facts if we are Christians and practicing ones at that.
Know that God will hold people responsible for this, their sins. Mark my words. Pray to God for this enlightenment. May He grant you this vision and enlightenment.
that’s sad….why?
oh boy… is that good or bad…. i’ve said many times b4… we need to bring in more people… sound the call to D.R and haiti.. with the proper back ground check… and yes a college degree u can come to d.a for a new future… within 10 years you will be granted citizenship… if married to a born dominican… u can get citizenship in 5 years…. the clause is… u can’t own land unless you are married to a born dominican… and if u are married to a dominican then only one lot of land u can own in your name… wow we running from d.a… brain drain… no wonder d.n.o bloggers in d.a posting so much rubbish… the system making young people run for their lives… they make it almost impossible to have like the ‘one set’… we the young people don’t want to be politically aligned like our parents and grand parents of past… so we’ll not agree to bow to any party just to pursue our dreams…. the revolution is coming….
One thing mots I echo your sentiments.
We need to do something to bring our people back home. Our peopel hate the weather up there and still work in that -10 degree whether- why.. nothing at home. It is time that we try to get our people home instead of just begging bread from every and any body like some prostitute. One of these days we may just get up and realized that we are worn out and used and still have nothing of our own.. or that we are owned by someone and there’s no way out. It’s time that we put people in government to think up plans and strategies and not just how to beg.
Well no doubt that we are under-populated. I heard that the gov’t had plans to allow a huge influx of Chinese in the Portsmouth area.
I’ve never fully been able to wrap my brains around if this would be good or bad for the country. I mean if they pay taxes, pay Domlec and Dowasco bills, import vehicles and pay the same taxes as Dominicans, use our airports, wouldn’t that bring significant new revenue into the country?
I’d like to have a discussion about this with an open mind, to weigh the pros and the cons.
I think this would be very good idea for the economy and to keep Dominica alive except for the fact that after some years we as Dominicans will eradicated. Our children children will be all mixed up.
bad chinese spoil everything they come in contact and have no respect for the earth or black people…..
our girls too fresh in D/A. We need breed them some more..give them some bellies.. the lord will provide..haha
lol…. d.a woman was always tight… until i became a responsible man (working lol)… then it was all a breeze… i guess our women know what they want… it’s just that once we finish college is overs we flying… doh wanna beg skerro for a lil $500…
It does’nt matter where you are you will have to beg the Govt for “…” Think!?
Stop saying those stupid comments….Don’t you all realise that the educated and persons with money are only having 1 and 2 kids max…Why? Because it is very expensive in our economy to support a child the the best that you can…Do you realize that only those who cannot afford are the ones having 5 and 6 children..Why? Because they say to themselves the welfare and the government will give me…WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR ECONOMY AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE IT hence making things better for others to help repopulate our island.
welfare does not make people have children. there is no welfare in most parts of africa yet people frequently have 10 kids. look in the states they started welfare reform thinking that would stop poor women from having children. guess what it didnt. the government no longer gives women more money for more babies yet they bellies keep getting big.
i was born and brought up in your context and had to run because of extreme poverty at the age of 15 therefore i don’t share your opinion. Children deserve maintenance, breeding girls equals to responsibilities
I wonder if that’s the reason why Dominica is one of the most economical growth country in the caribbean…our economy might not be as it was 10 years ago…but i still have reasons to say we have to be gratful for what we still have, that some countries don’t have!!
You are correct. I have a song on tape which is entitled: “”Be grateful for what you’ve got.” The situation could be worst.