The Commonwealth of Dominica is classified by the World Bank as an upper-middle-income developing country, though its economy is small and highly vulnerable to natural disasters. It is often confused with the much larger and wealthier Dominican Republic. Dominica’s economy relies heavily on agriculture (particularly bananas) and a growing ecotourism sector, as well as its "Citizenship by Investment" program which provides a significant portion of government revenue. While it is not "poor" by global standards, the island faces significant challenges due to its rugged terrain and frequent hurricanes, such as Hurricane Maria in 2017 which caused damage exceeding 200% of its GDP. In 2026, the country is focusing on becoming the world's first "climate-resilient nation" by investing in geothermal energy and resilient infrastructure. While poverty still exists in certain rural communities, the government provides universal healthcare and primary education, placing it in a "developing" but stable economic bracket.