Photo: Rita Nerwall · CC0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 06 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Dominica: Development & Human Capital
Is a country turning its resources into better lives?
Dominica is placed 96th of 196 countries on development & human capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Social Protection Coverage 53.2 (2025); Maternal Mortality Ratio 35.55 (2023).
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Development & Human Capital
96th
of 196 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
Not placed in the Country Index 2026 overall: measured on too few topics.
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Dominica on development & human capital — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 2 of 3
Maternal Mortality Ratio
UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
35.55
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Lower is better
Dominica: 35.55. Across the 195 countries in this edition, values run from 0.11 (Cook Islands) to 992.83 (Nigeria); the world median is 46.65.
- World median
- 46.65
- Best in Caribbean
- 11.03 Puerto Rico
Key 3 of 3
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report Office
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.761
HDI score (0–1)
Higher is better
Ranked 98th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office
Dominica: 0.761. Across the 193 countries in this edition, values run from 0.388 (South Sudan) to 0.972 (Iceland); the world median is 0.762.
- World median
- 0.762
- Best in Caribbean
- 0.851 Antigua and Barbuda
02Over time
Which way Dominica is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Maternal Mortality Ratio
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births · lower is better
DominicaWorld median
Dominica fell from 61.06 in 2000 to 35.55 in 2023; the world median went from 70.99 to 46.65.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominica World median 2023 35.55 46.7 2022 43.89 53.0 2021 110.22 76.6 2020 46.64 56.0 2019 40.82 48.4 2018 42.63 49.3 2017 43.59 47.2 2016 47.79 50.6 2015 62.77 51.9 2014 52.84 52.8 2013 49.85 53.3 2012 51.43 54.6 2011 49.29 55.0 2010 49.90 56.1 2009 49.94 56.3 2008 52.52 55.8 2007 53.11 56.8 2006 53.76 58.1 2005 53.83 60.1 2004 54.47 63.0 2003 55.23 66.8 2002 56.36 66.0 2001 58.22 68.1 2000 61.06 71.0 Human Development Index
HDI score (0–1) · higher is better
DominicaWorld median
Dominica rose from 0.721 in 2000 to 0.761 in 2023; the world median went from 0.672 to 0.762.
Every year’s figures
Year Dominica World median 2023 0.761 0.7620 2022 0.759 0.7610 2021 0.749 0.7450 2020 0.753 0.7425 2019 0.758 0.7515 2018 0.755 0.7520 2017 0.735 0.7480 2016 0.751 0.7500 2015 0.741 0.7430 2014 0.748 0.7410 2013 0.745 0.7390 2012 0.745 0.7350 2011 0.745 0.7250 2010 0.747 0.7250 2009 0.746 0.7220 2008 0.745 0.7180 2007 0.740 0.7100 2006 0.737 0.7045 2005 0.732 0.6960 2004 0.730 0.6960 2003 0.728 0.6910 2002 0.724 0.6845 2001 0.725 0.6770 2000 0.721 0.6720
03In context
Dominica beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 196 countries on development & human capital, never a place within the region.
Dominica and Caribbean
Dominica has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 196; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Social Protection CoveragePopulation covered by at least one social protection benefit (%) | Maternal Mortality RatioMaternal deaths per 100,000 live births | Human Development IndexHDI score (0–1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Puerto Rico | 63rd | 58.9 | 11.03 | — |
 Antigua and Barbuda | 66th | 65.4 | 34.57 | 0.851 |
 Saint Kitts and Nevis | 67th | 90.2 | 73.52 | 0.84 |
 Barbados | 79th | 56.7 | 34.88 | 0.811 |
 Cuba | 83rd | 63.9 | 34.79 | 0.762 |
 Trinidad and Tobago | =85th | 57.2 | 54.08 | 0.807 |
 Grenada | 92nd | 54.3 | 48.25 | 0.791 |
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 95th | 52 | 55.84 | 0.798 |
| Dominica | 96th | 53.2 | 35.55 | 0.761 |
 Bahamas | 99th | 49.1 | 75.95 | 0.82 |
 Dominican Republic | =106th | 61 | 124.47 | 0.776 |
 Saint Lucia | =110th | 40.1 | 43.96 | 0.748 |
 Jamaica | 132nd | 32.6 | 130.14 | 0.72 |
 Haiti | 177th | 6.6 | 327.56 | 0.554 |
 Anguilla | not placed | 68.9 | — | — |
 Aruba | not placed | 94.3 | — | — |
 British Virgin Islands | not placed | 78.3 | — | — |
 Cayman Islands | not placed | 94.2 | — | — |
 Curaçao | not placed | 47.9 | — | — |
 Montserrat | not placed | 81.2 | — | — |
 Saint Martin | not placed | — | — | — |
 Sint Maarten | not placed | — | — | — |
 Turks and Caicos Islands | not placed | 52.1 | — | — |
 United States Virgin Islands | not placed | 66.7 | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Caribbean
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 196.
- Puerto Rico63rd
- Antigua and Barbuda66th
- Saint Kitts and Nevis67th
- Barbados79th
- Cuba83rd
- Trinidad and Tobago=85th
- Grenada92nd
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines95th
- Dominica96th
- Bahamas99th
- Dominican Republic=106th
- Saint Lucia=110th
- Jamaica132nd
- Haiti177th
- Anguillanot placed
- Arubanot placed
- British Virgin Islandsnot placed
- Cayman Islandsnot placed
- Curaçaonot placed
- Montserratnot placed
- Saint Martinnot placed
- Sint Maartennot placed
- Turks and Caicos Islandsnot placed
- United States Virgin Islandsnot placed
Placed either side on development & human capital
The countries immediately above and below Dominica in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Dominica is ahead of the world, and behind
27 more statistics filed under development & human capital, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median9
Statistics on which Dominica does better than the middle country measured.
Country Policy and Institutional AssessmentWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.2463.5083.246▼ Worsened since 2015
Dominica: 3.508 · world median 3.246 · IDA Resource Allocation Index (1 = low to 6 = high). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.617 to 4.225; higher is better.
Position 19th of 78 · derived.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6528.8818.65No earlier reading
Dominica: 28.88 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6752.0146.67▲ Improved since 2012
Dominica: 52.01 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 66th of 195 · derived.
Old-Age Pension CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 80.892.780.8No earlier reading
Dominica: 92.7 · world median 80.8 · People above statutory pensionable age receiving an old-age pension (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.963.345.9No earlier reading
Dominica: 63.3 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3414.1513.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominica: 14.15 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 195 · derived.
GDP per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 17,26519,40917,265No real change since 2015
Dominica: 19,409 · world median 17,265 · GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1,067 to 139,593; higher is better.
Position 85th of 185 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.5572.858▲ Improved since 2014
Dominica: 2.557 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 107th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93310.139.933No real change since 2013
Dominica: 10.13 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 193 · derived.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Dominica does worse than the middle country measured.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919091▼ Worsened since 2015
Dominica: 90 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.5450.564▼ Worsened since 2018
Dominica: 0.545 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 94th of 172 · derived.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,8908,88012,890No real change since 2012
Dominica: 8,880 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 98th of 166 · derived.
Life Expectancy at BirthUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 74.6371.1374.63▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominica: 71.13 · world median 74.63 · Years a newborn would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 54.46 to 86.37; higher is better.
Position 150th of 222 · derived.
Disability Benefit CoverageILO · 2025 · world median 43.911.843.9No earlier reading
Dominica: 11.8 · world median 43.9 · People with severe disabilities receiving disability benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.16312.558.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominica: 12.55 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 58th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908090▼ Worsened since 2015
Dominica: 80 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Under-Five Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 14.5435.6614.54▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominica: 35.66 · world median 14.54 · Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.26 to 115.65; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Cereal YieldFAO · 2023 · world median 3,0721,6823,072▼ Worsened since 2013
Dominica: 1,682 · world median 3,072 · Cereal yield (kg per hectare). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 23 to 29,147; higher is better.
Position 137th of 179 · derived.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2633.3512.26▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominica: 33.35 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 39th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Child and Family Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 23.750.723.75No earlier reading
Dominica: 0.7 · world median 23.75 · Children or households with children receiving child or family cash benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Statistical Performance IndicatorsWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 69.340.7169.3▼ Worsened since 2020
Dominica: 40.71 · world median 69.3 · SPI overall score (0–100). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 27.12 to 94.14; higher is better.
Position 177th of 188 · derived.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.13431.078.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Dominica: 31.07 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 10th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare3
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▲ Improved since 2014
Dominica: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100No real change since 2020
Dominica: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Dominica: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Official Development Assistance ReceivedOECD Development Assistance Committee · 2023 · world median 2.5797.9892.579Moved since 2013
Dominica: 7.989 · world median 2.579 · Net ODA received (% of GNI). OECD Development Assistance Committee, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -0.001 to 101.78.
Position 28th of 130 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 11.264.77911.26Moved since 2015
Dominica: 4.779 · world median 11.26 · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.481 to 43.97.
Position 118th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Dominica
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Child Marriage, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Human Inequality, Completeness of Birth Registration, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Foundational ID Ownership, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2021), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, Violent Discipline of Children and Wasting Prevalence in Children Under Five. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Development & Human Capital among Dominica’s 10 topics
Development & Human Capital is Dominica’s 7th best-placed topic of 10. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Education & Knowledge50th of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 50th of 1863/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Libertiesjoint 62nd of 1982/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade58th of 1772/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience64th of 1933/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture64th of 1843/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital96th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions100th of 1943/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing144th of 2002/4 keys
- Digital & Technology145th of 1983/4 keys
No standing on Economy & Innovation, Work & Labour, Gender & Equality, Peace & Security, Poverty & Inequality, Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on development & human capital
The three countries placed highest of 196, and the leaders Dominica can most readily be measured against.
1
Cook IslandsPolynesia
1st of 196 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Benedict Adam · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
NorwayNorthern Europe
2nd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
DenmarkNorthern Europe
3rd of 196 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: User:Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
Canada=27th3/3 keysHighest in Caribbean
Puerto Rico63rd2/3 keysThis page
Dominica96th3/3 keys
Positions out of 196 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Dominica and development & human capital
On development & human capital
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On development & human capital
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
08Questions
Dominica on development & human capital: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Dominica rank on development & human capital?
Dominica is placed 96th of 196 countries on Development & Human Capital in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Social Protection Coverage, Maternal Mortality Ratio and Human Development Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Social Protection Coverage figure for Dominica?
53.2 in 2025 (population covered by at least one social protection benefit (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 52.1.
What is the latest Maternal Mortality Ratio figure for Dominica?
35.55 in 2023 (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births), according to UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG). The world median in the same edition was 46.65.
How have Dominica’s development & human capital figures changed?
Maternal Mortality Ratio fell from 61.06 in 2000 to 35.55 in 2023; Human Development Index rose from 0.721 in 2000 to 0.761 in 2023.
Which development & human capital statistics are missing for Dominica?
No current reading is published for Dominica on Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, Child Marriage, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Human Inequality, Completeness of Birth Registration, Comprehensive Wealth per Capita, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Foundational ID Ownership, Gender Development Index, Gender Inequality Index, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, GNI per Capita (PPP), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index, Low Birthweight Prevalence, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Multidimensional Poverty Measure, Official Development Assistance Given (% of GNI), Planetary pressures-adjusted HDI, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up Estimates, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a Day, Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a Day, Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a Day, Prosperity Gap, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, Violent Discipline of Children and Wasting Prevalence in Children Under Five. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Poverty lines, inequality and aid received are published here as context rather than as keys, often because they cover fewer countries or are measured too rarely. Development is also not the same as economic size or growth, which belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Development & Human Capital standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The development & human capital method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Social Protection Coverage — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Maternal Mortality Ratio — UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Human Development Index — UNDP Human Development Report Office, CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 27 statistics on this page come from 10 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Dominica’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Dominica (banner) — Rita Nerwall, CC0
- Cook Islands — Benedict Adam, CC BY 2.0
- Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Denmark — User:Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Dominica: Development & Human Capital — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/dominica/development